Scouting Teaches Character, Perseverance, and Duty to God and Country

Did you know that involvement in Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts can tie right into how we live out stewardship? After all, the Scout Oath itself can be read as a stewardship statement — “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”

Here at Queen of the Holy Rosary, we are blessed to have a Boy Scout program for ages 11 to 17. Younger boys, kindergarten to fifth grade, have the opportunity to participate in Cub Scouts through St. Pius X in Mission. Both of these programs help teach our youth important, lifelong lessons.

Carrie Setzkorn, Committee Chair of Pack 3184, has been involved with Cub Scouts for about 12 years. She loves seeing the kids grow and develop through the program. She also enjoys the yearly family campout.

“This program builds character in a fun way,” Carrie says.

Paul Cast, Scoutmaster for Troop 295, has been involved with Boy Scouts for about 30 years. He started as a boy when he was 11. Paul loves being able to teach boys about the outdoors. The group gets together each month for an activity, everything from camping to canoeing to a family Thanksgiving dinner. They also meet on Monday nights.

“Through the Boy Scout program, young men can achieve the core objectives of strengthening character, personal fitness and good citizenship,” Paul says.

Despite restrictions related to COVID-19, the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts have continued meeting in small groups. For the Boy Scouts, when COVID-19 restrictions were first into place, the group took a break. However, parents started to ask Paul to plan some outdoor meetings as the boys were anxious to get together.

One yearly highlight for Paul is the trip to Philmont, a high adventure base in northeast New Mexico where youth backpack in the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains for 12 days. While the group was not able to go last summer, due to the pandemic, a group will be going there this summer

“Nothing I have done in scouting changes a young man more than Philmont,” Paul says. “Ask any mom who has had a boy go. They grow up a ton.”

Paul has greatly enjoyed his years in Boy Scouts, and he appreciates seeing how the youth mature and grow over the years. He also enjoys being outdoors with the youth and teaching them that they don’t need electronics to have fun.

“I enjoy helping them learn leadership and find their moral compass,” Paul says. “Boy Scouts is a great teacher of character, perseverance, self-reliance, and duty to God and country.”

Both Paul and Carrie look forward to the day when those favorite scouting events can go on as normal. They invite any boy to get more information and get involved.

If you would like to get involved in Cub Scouts, please contact Carrie Setzkorn at lovemyscouts4@gmail.com. If you would like to get involved in Boy Scouts, simply come to a meeting or call Paul Cast at 913-909-9549.

Scouts hike the Ozark Highlands Trail in northwest Arkansas.

As the sun sets, a scout goes wakeboarding.