You’ve got to be prepared when the Scouts pay you a visit, as they did on a recent Friday afternoon. 

 

You’ve got to be prepared when the Scouts pay you a visit, as they did on a recent Friday afternoon. We were ready with our questions for them: What does it mean to be a Boy Scout? What have you learned so far? What skills do you need to run a local newspaper?

 

Lots of hands were raised and energy expelled in the course of the Milton/Midland Troop (Den 16, Pack 2) visit to The Rye Record office.

 

Our staff learned that the boys, ages 6 and 7, meet as a den twice a month, and as a pack once a month. They enjoy the great outdoors on a regular basis (“We loved seeing the deer at the Marshlands, and our hike at the Nature Center, where we got as muddy as we could!”). They are also keen on indoor projects (“The Pinewood Derby!” “Scrapbook-making at Rye Rec!”).

 

All six members of the Troop knew the Boy Scout Promise by heart:

 

“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.”

 

Once they’d demonstrated the secret handshake and the proper way to salute the flag, they told us excitedly about their upcoming overnight trip to the Museum of Natural History, where they’d be sleeping under the blue whale.

 

We all paused long enough to enjoy cupcakes from 350° Classic Bakeshop.