Every Scouting America meeting at the Chadbourn Elementary after-school program begins like thousands of others across the country: with youngsters side by side in a line, on their feet, reciting the Scout Oath.
Cubmaster Eva Watts leads them.
“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.”
The 16 children, ages 9 to 11, who attended a recent meeting repeated the words back to her. They didn’t wear khaki shirts adorned with patches or neckerchiefs synonymous with the Scouts but had on their regular school clothes. They’ll get school-appropriate uniforms later. The hour-long meetups, Watts said, are not supposed to be formal.
The Scouting America Cape Fear Council has tried in past years to launch programs in Chadbourn, but issues with funding and leadership posed challenges. And some children didn’t have transportation to meetings.
So the council began in November meeting kids where they are—in the after-school program.The goal is to help them dip their toes into Scouting with the hope they’ll continue with the program.
The initiative is part of ScoutReach, which hopes to expand access to underserved communities in the Cape Fear Council’s eight-county region of Columbus, Bladen, Hoke, Robeson, Scotland, Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties.
Leaders visit the school twice a week. The program is free, largely thanks to a $$25,000 contribution from a Lumberton benefactor.
“All the kids I have that come to our meetings are always excited, and the parents seem to be excited when they pick the kids up,” Watts said. “And so it’s like we’re just trying to fill that gap. If they can’t come to us, we’re going to come to them.”
Nine-year-old Jada Vereen said the Scouting program has been fun because she can take a break from her homework and play with her friends.
“We do courageous, creative stuff,” he said. “We learn about the songs and Scout Law, the Scout Oath. It’s not boring like I thought it would be.”
Kevin O’Shea, executive director for the Cape Fear Council, said the group wants to expand the program to other schools.
“It’s important for young kids to unplug and get away from their cell phones and to enjoy outdoors and outdoor adventure,” he said. “It’s very important to enjoy going fishing, to go camping, to learn different merit badges. It’s important in shaping their own life skills.”
Second- and third-graders meet on Tuesdays, and fourth- and fifth-graders on Thursdays. Participants have learned about first-aid training, crafting, and cooking with air fryers.
At a recent Thursday meeting, Watts taught the children how to properly fold an American flag. She asked them a series of questions, like what the stars and stripes symbolize.
They shouted their answers. Then, starting with 10-year-old Brycen Huggins, they took turns folding the flag. There’s an art to it, they learned.
Huggins said he wants to join the Scouts BSA program, meant for children 11 to 17, if his mom can take him to the meetings. He loves any excuse to be outdoors..
“I like being outside,” he said.
