Boy Scouts need an assist

According to Troop leader Jennifer Collett, if new adult leaders are not in place sometime in November, Troop 384 will not be rechartered. Collett has been essentially running the Troop for the past year and a half, but with 13 boys to try to coordinate activities for, it's become much too much for one person to handle.

And as Collett herself points out, it's not fair to the youngsters involved in the program to have just one adult trying to handle everything. Scouts will learn much more and have a more diverse experience when they can tap the expertise of more than one or two leaders.

Scouting is a positive, character-building endeavor. Whether it's Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, or Girl Scouts, engaging in the activities these organizations helps teach kids important life skills. It always teaches them about responsibility, about being leaders, and about helping others.

We all have our lives and busy schedules. We have meetings and family responsibilities, and often it's far from easy to find time to assist in one more activity. That's understandable. Yet in the Bingen-White Salmon community, it is difficult to imagine that there are not three or four adults willing and able to volunteer a few hours of their time each month to help these boys learn new skills and gain fresh confidence in their abilities. It's certainly a very good cause.

After 60 years, it would be a real tragedy to lose our local band of Boy Scouts. As it is, there are too few positive, fun activities for young people to get involved with, and losing this part of our heritage would be more than unfortunate. If we don't have time to help guide our young people in positive directions, what will that mean for our future as a society?

Collett is asking for any adults interested in helping -- male or female -- to give her a call at 493-3948.

JB