Boy Scouts teach Cub Scouts

Photo By Sgt. Erik Brooks | Boy Scouts render a scout salute to the American flag during the opening ceremony of the Ryukyu Rendezvous at Kin Blue Beach Oct. 29. During the rendezvous, the Boy Scouts taught the Cub Scouts the fundamentals of scouting.  

KIN BLUE BEACH, OKINAWA, JAPAN

11.03.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Erik Brooks 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

OKINAWA, Japan - The Scouts swarmed from their tents with the rising sun. The camp quickly came to life as they prepared the morning meal, cooking fires ignited, and the smell of breakfast filled the air. The Scouts were ready to start the day.

Approximately 50 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, sons of service members stationed at various military installations on Okinawa, participated in the Ryukyu Rendezvous, an annual scouting event, at Kin Blue Beach Oct. 28-30.

The rendezvous’ purpose was to bring the Boy Scouts, ages 13-18, and Cub Scouts, ages 5-13, together, so the Cub Scouts could learn from the Boy Scouts, said Kelly Johnson, the district commissioner for the Okinawa District, Far East Council, Boy Scouts of America.

During the trip, the Boy Scouts taught the Cub Scouts the fundamentals of scouting.

“The fundamentals of being a Boy Scout are: training leaders, first aid, swimming and making the boys self-reliant,” said Daniel J. Richard, the district executive for the Okinawa district, Far East Council, Boy Scouts of America.

The Scouts started the day with an opening ceremony including the posting of the American flag, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Scouts’ oath. After the ceremony, they took part in a contest, challenging the scouts’ knowledge.

The challenge was set up in similar fashion to CBS television’s "The Amazing Race," said Johnson.

During the challenge, the Boy Scouts taught the younger boys four different scout skills: knot tying, stretcher making, starting a fire, and lashing. Each task was at a different location, requiring the scouts to use land navigation skills to get from station to station.

Each obstacle had its own challenges. The knot-tying station brought the challenge of executing all of the required knots within a limited amount of time. With the stretcher, it was being able to secure the blanket to the poles. Fire starting was challenging in that the scouts had to start one with one match and each additional match was counted against their time. Lastly, the lashing had the scouts bind logs together using ropes to make a platform to stand on.

“Best part about Boy Scouts for me is camping,” said Anthony J. Keller, a 12-year-old Boy Scout with Troop 110. “I like to be around other troop members doing all the fun activities.”

“These camping trips give the [boys] the ability to showcase the skills that they know,” said Johnson. “These skills that the Boy Scouts are teaching are the basic scout skills that the Cub Scouts will need to know.”

• Date Taken: 11.03.2011
• Date Posted: 11.03.2011 02:47
• Story ID: 79486
• Location: KIN BLUE BEACH, OKINAWA, JP