A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. These are the 12 principles for Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA. Here at the Cathedral of St. Peter, we offer Cub Scouts for boys and girls in kindergarten to fifth grade, and Scouts BSA for boys and girls ages 10 ½ to 18 or having just finished fifth grade.
Kim Schwarzkopf leads the Cub Scouts Pack. She is a lifelong member of Girl Scouts, and her younger brother was an Eagle Scout. So, when her youngest child started kindergarten, it was only natural for her to continue the tradition with her family.
“What the kids learn in Cub Scouts are the building blocks for what they will learn in Scouts BSA and life,” Kim says.
In particular, Kim loves that as Cub Scouts move through the program, they become more and more independent. They learn valuable skills like first aid, pocketknife safety, and how to use various tools. They also get involved with service projects like a food drive, cemetery cleanup, and putting out flags for Veteran’s Day, which teaches them how to be good citizens.
“When the kids cross over to Scouts BSA, they will have developed the skills to take on leadership roles since Scouts BSA is scout-run,” Kim says.
It’s nice to have both of these programs under the umbrella of the Cathedral because teaching the Catholic faith is an added component. Scouts also have an opportunity to earn specific Catholic badges.
“We encourage scouts to be faithful in their religious duties as well as to respect the beliefs of others,” Kim says.
Terry Grime leads the Scouts BSA, and girls were added to the program earlier this year. The group meets on Sunday nights and rotates through social night, skills night, Merit Badge night, and Patrol Leaders Council. They also go camping about once per month. The scouts primarily lead the program. The leaders take a back seat and supervise.
“Leadership is the most important element,” Terry says. “This program gives young adults something to do besides being on screens. It gets them out and about, and they learn valuable things.”
Terry has been a member of the Boy Scouts or Scouts BSA for 43 years.
“It’s a good program,” he says. “I like to see the kids grow and excel — that’s why I still do it. It’s fun to take them in the woods and get them comfortable. They start doing things themselves instead of watching.”
The service project every year is helping put the flags in the cemetery for Memorial Day. Terry says this aligns wonderfully with the principle of reverence.
“Being reverent is part of the Scout Law,” he says. “There’s no better way to be reverent than to be associated with a church and attend that church.”
Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA is open to all, Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
To get your child involved in Cub Scouts, contact Kim Schwarzkopf at 541-324-0584. To get your child engaged in Scouts BSA, call Terry Grime at 618-791-1227.