By Melody Brunson
His son Nick was 11 when he took him to his first Boy Scout meeting. There were no adults there to help out and Tod Long knew what he had to do. His wife wasn’t so sure at the time, but now Boy Scouts in the Long household has become a family affair.
A Scoutmaster now since 1998, Tod Long has been through all sorts of training.
His son, Nick, is one of four Boy Scouts under the tutelage of Tod to make Eagle Scout.
Now son Eric, 14, an eighth grader at Washington Junior High, is also a Boy Scout.
“I’ve enjoyed it all these years,” Long said.
Tucked away in the basement of the First Baptist Church, the Boy Scout Troop 472 gets together every Monday night at 7, where they recite the Pledge of Allegiance, the Scout Oath and then work on whatever project they might need to make their next rank.
First, Tenderfoot...
then Second Class Scout,
First Class Scout,
Star,
Life, and then finally...
Eagle Scout.
Only two of every 100 Boy Scouts makes Eagle.
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One can begin Boy Scouts at age 11 and-or after you’ve completed the fifth grade. Many times the Boy Scouts of America are the Cubs which have moved up. Webelos and Arrows of Light may join Boy Scouts at age 10 1/2.
If you start Boy Scouts at age 11, the earliest one can make Eagle Scout is age 13.
“Most of them really want to advance,” Long said.
Even before Boy Scout age, boys can start Cub Scouts at age 6, working your way up from Tiger, Bear, Wolf, Webelo and 2nd year Webelo.
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Local Troop 472 has two winter outings and a spring outing where they camp — primitive style.
“The coldest I’ve ever been was about 15 or 20 below, sleeping in tents, about three years ago down at Glendale,” Long recalled.
•••
Tod Long enjoys the every-four-year national Boy Scout Jamboree in West Virginia at Pete Hill. As a staffer for the event, Long plans to be there about two weeks this summer. Three local Boy Scouts, Eric Long, Jarrett Myers and Jacob Baxter, will also make the trip, along with Ship 472 leader Kevin Baxter, who will also serve as a staffer. The boys will be in tents for 10 days, along with 45,000 other Scouts — including some from overseas.
•••
Every two years there’s an outing at Peterloon, near Cincinnati, and the local Scouts usually attend.
“I love the outdoor thing,” Long said, “I look forward to summer camp.”
Then fun doesn’t end for local scouts after Troop 472 — there’s Ship 472 and Crew 472 for the older scouts. They do more high adventure outings like rock climbing, rappelling, canoeing and whitewater rafting.
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Scouting teaches boys leadership, citizenship, personal management, importance of family — LIFE.
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Odon Troop 481
Odon Boy Scout Troop 481 would like to encourage all scout age boys to consider becoming active members in Troop 481 to experience these special types of events and activities that create special friendships, important outdoor skills and lasting memories.
The troop meets at the Odon Lions Club Building on Monday nights at 7. Also, one can search for Odon Troop 481 online.
Interested youth and parents wanting more information on the Troop 481 program should contact newly appointed Troop Scoutmaster Mike Leighty at 295-8417 or Frank Dixon at 636-4888.
The Cub Scouts in Odon, Pack 441, are led by Jim Evans, who can be reached at 636-8195.
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Elnora has organized Pack and Troop also
The Elnora Cub Scouts are Pack 447 and led by David Holt ( 259-2392). Ron Hooker leads the Elnora Boy Scouts Troop 448. He can be reached at 699-0417.
