“The Scout Motto is “Be Prepared” — and I really feel the lessons I have learned have prepared me for my life ahead.”

By Rohan Wilmot

Rohan Wilmot

I was skeptical when I was introduced to Cub Scouts in the second grade. I felt Scouting was not for me. There were so many oaths to memorize, rules to follow, and commitments to make. The idea of going to meetings and getting requirements in a formal blue uniform was not appealing. Eventually, though, I started warming up to the process and making new friends. Scouting soon became an integral part of my life.

The most memorable moment from my early experience was the Pinewood Derby organized by Pack 700. This is an event in which Scouts race miniature wooden cars which they design and build themselves. I learned how to use many different tools including a bandsaw to cut the wood. I still remember how great it felt to stand up on the stage with a second-place medal in my hand.

One of the most thrilling activities is the annual Cub Mobile race where I raced in some really cool cars. Building and racing these soapbox cars helped shape what Scouting means for me. The teamwork, the handiwork, and the rush of racing down the hill at Jackson School, with my family cheering me on, was an awesome experience.

Rohan as a Cub Scout in a soapbox car in the Cub Mobile Race. Photo courtesy Rohan Wilmot

In fifth grade, I graduated with my Arrow of Light (the highest achievement in Cub Scouts) and moved on to Scouts BSA Troop 730. Three months after joining, I went on a week-long summer camp in the Sierra mountains. It was one of the reasons I decided to stick with Scouting. Earning those first merit badges gave me the confidence and sense of achievement I needed to embark on the next stage of my journey.

In 2020 and 2021 I earned the First Class, Star, and Life ranks in quick succession. During this time I assumed a number of leadership roles. I also went on another summer camp to Emerald Bay and a 50-mile backpacking trip in Yosemite. The 50-miler was especially memorable because I climbed Half Dome. Sitting on top of that giant granite rock and looking down upon the lush valley below after hiking 20 miles was awe-inspiring.

After this, I began working on my Eagle Scout rank. I designed and built a wildlife-friendly garden with paver paths and patios outside my 8th-grade language arts teacher’s classroom at Oakwood School. I led 17 volunteers during two days for a total of 136 work hours. This previously barren part of the school campus now has a dozen different species of drought-resistant plants which attract butterflies, bees, moths, and birds.

Looking back on my skeptical second-grade self, I realize I could not have been more wrong about Scouting. Every day of my seven-year adventure has been worth it. I now see those oaths I memorized are now my values, those rules I followed are now my principles, and those commitments I made became goals I have now completed. The Scout Motto is “Be Prepared” — and I really feel the lessons I have learned have prepared me for my life ahead. The greatest of these lessons is encapsulated in the Scout Slogan “Do a Good Turn Daily.” At its heart, Scouts is about doing good in the world.

I would like to thank my Cub Scout Den Leader and Assistant Den Leader, Mr. Wayne Perrier, and Mr. David den Boer. I would like to thank Scoutmaster Scott Jensen and all the adult leaders who helped me along the way, including Assistant Scoutmasters Mike Wargocki, and Brett Stocksick as well as Bill Bireley, Debbie Stocksick, Albert Catelani, and Lynn Liebschutz.

 

Oakwood student Rohan Wilmot recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout at age 15.