Those who serve

 When it comes to the Camp Geiger Staff, and thus a reflection of Camp Geiger, the Pony Express Council, and the Boy Scouts of America itself, there is something amazing happening right here in this part of northwest Missouri.

I have highlighted many times the fact that nearly all members of the Geiger Staff are Eagle Scouts, or are nearly Eagle (present company excepted). But let me tell you about some other aspects of the Staff that you may not know.

As a leader, I have attended Camp Geiger, as well as other Scout Camps. The average age for staff members is considerably older at Geiger, and if the instructor of a Merit Badge is too young to be a Merit Badge Councilor, the Area Director is a councilor for those badges. That is a significant difference, as Merit Badges that are completed are signed off, not just with progress sheets, but actual Merit Badge cards, by Merit Badge Councilors, that are good anywhere in the BSA. Any leader that has tried to chase down a Merit Badge for Eagle candidates can attest to how important that is.

Having older scouts, as the staff is usually at least 15 and older, also provides excellent role models for the youth, particularly young men. They set the standard, and truthfully, are not paid very much for their cameo appearances. They do it for a number of reasons.

I have written many times about my desire to give back, once I retired from my job as an Air Traffic Controller/Facility Manager for 28 years. Many of these young men (almost all are young to me, though there are a few that consider me "young") are sacrificing financially to be here, and for those without jobs to earn the money to buy the uniforms, the pay likely does not even cover that expense, and yet here they are.

It would take some research, and some honest anonymous questioning, but one of the things that I have noticed is that the number of the college/post graduate age staff members  who go into teaching at some level is likely much higher than other groups of youth. Of course, the benefit of the teaching profession is that they have the summer "off", where they can pursue other activities, such as being on the Camp Geiger Staff. I would even go so far as to wonder if some choose that career path so as to be able to serve on the Staff. What do you think?

There is no question that the Tribe of Mic-O-Say factors into a youth's decision to continue on in the program, and more, to continue to serve on Staff. It is a feature of that program, which was specifically designed to encourage young men, and now young women to stay active in their units, transitioning from youth leadership to adult leadership. It has been very successful at keeping them engaged, always to help those as they were helped, sometimes years, or decades ago. As a youth, it is all about advancement in Scouts and in the Tribe. For those who reach adulthood, and the heavy responsibilities that go along with the advancement, it becomes a burden not to be taken lightly. But it is taken, and willingly.

Last year, during the COVID pandemic, Camp Geiger was one of about 20% of the camps nationally to open its gates. The protocols put in place to mitigate the risk of being a ground zero were enforced by the staff. While the protocols this year are not as severe as last, the revised rules are equally enforced. It is with some pride that the Pony Express Council and Camp Geiger can report that there was not on instance of a reported positive COVID test necessitating contact tracing. Like its staff being top tier, the various committees that work to make camp successful are the best there are.

Mic-O-Say advancement requires Scout advancement. Scout advancement requires service. Whether that service is to the community in general, a church or other organization with seemingly endless needs, or targeted community service, all benefit because of the program on the "Hills above the River." 

Helping other people, training youth so that they become responsible adults, is what Scouting is all about.