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According
to the National Council of the Boy Scouts, the purpose of Scouting is
to provide a program, which offers effective character, citizenship and
personal fitness training for youth. For those who become actively involved
in Scouts, it often becomes a life-affecting experience. Whether it's
the skills learned, friends made or adventures taken, becoming a Scout
touches each member differently. For the Frey family, the experience has
transcended into a nearly 10-year adventure of learning, growing and experiencing
Scouting to the fullest.
The
Frey family, mother Susan, father Dan, and sons Zach and Zane are all
involved in Scouts. Susan and Zach began the legacy when Zach joined the
Tiger Cubs with the newly formed Pack 999 in 1996. Susan volunteered as
Zach's Den leader and remained in that role for the next five years while
Zach was a Cub Scout. When Zach "crossed over" to Boy Scouts into Troop
641, Susan became a Committee Member and volunteered her time for the
Troop.
Then
came Zane. Zane joined the Tiger Cubs when Zach was in his last year of
Cub Scouts, and Susan became Den Leader of Zane's den for the next two
years. It was during this time that Susan went back to school at Kennesaw
State University for her EMBA, and she passed the torch of den leader
to Ed Mecum. She remained involved in Pack 999, however, as Assistant
Cubmaster for the 2003 - 2004 school year. She took the following year
off to focus on her studies but plans on returning to her Scout activities
once she graduates later this year.
Dan
has been involved behind the scenes with both boys' Dens and Troop as
well as the Packs and Troops as a whole. He has been instrumental in helping
the dens construct projects or with completing science or engineering
badges. He may not have any official "leader" titles under his belt, but
according to Susan, he has "owned" the Scouts Annual Pinewood Derby for
the past five years. He single-handedly built two different Pinewood Derby
racetracks and sets them up at the preliminary and final rounds each year.
The family, as a whole, typically
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The
Frey family on a recent cruise.
spends
the entire day at the derby event either by participating, administering
or announcing the race. The Pinewood Derby is an exciting and highly anticipated
event each year for the Cub Scouts, and without it, Scouts would simply
not be the same.
The
family's scouting experience doesn't stop when the school bell rings for
summer vacation. In fact, that's when the real fun kicks in! "In the rain,
in the snow and in the hot sun, our family has enjoyed numerous camping
experiences," recalled Susan. She has taken several weeks of vacation
to take both her boys to Webelos Encampment over four different summers.
She and Dan both have taken vacation time to help lead the weeklong Boy
Scout summer camp. They've been skiing in North Carolina, rafting in Tennessee
and rock climbing in Alabama. The fun never ends!
When
asked why she and her family dedicate so much time and effort to Scouting,
Susan replied, "I believe strongly in the moral and community values that
Scouting teaches the boys. It provides a positive and structured environment
for the boys to learn about their roles in their family and community."
She also believes Scouting teaches boys to think positively and to actively
contribute to the lives of those around them. "The wide variety of activities
gets the boys away from the TVs and video games," she continued. "Last
but not least," she said, "it teaches boys to respect the freedoms we
enjoy in the United States and to appreciate the sacrifices made by our
armed forces to protect these freedoms."
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