PITTSBORO — Patches, sashes, handbooks and old scouting uniforms filled the room of the Harold Boone Scout Hut on Saturday as the local Boy Scout Troop — Troop 93 — celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Each patch and sash was an ode to the history of the troop and the people who made its longevity possible.
One of those is Assistant Scoutmaster Randall Goodman, who’s been with the troop since 1979. His collection of scouting patches and old handbooks occupied three folding tables inside the Scout Hut — like a personal museum of the evolution of scouting. He said he comes back to the troop year after year because he loves watching the boys grow up.
“The part I appreciate most about scouting is when I run into one of my former scouts on the street,” Goodman said. “All he can talk about is the fun, the leadership and the learning he experienced in his time in scouting and why he wants his kids to experience that too.”
Over the 75 years of Troop 93, more than 1,100 scouts have gone through the program — including 80 who have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement or rank attainable in Boy Scouts. This number is especially impressive because nationally only 3.6% of scouts achieve the Eagle rank; in Troop 93 it’s 7.3%.
Goodman served as the scoutmaster of the troop for 11 years. Over his 43 total years of involvement with the troop, he said the core principles — character, leadership and brotherhood — have remained the same. Even as societal norms have shifted, the values of scouting have held firm, Goodman said.
There have been national changes in Boy Scouts of America over the years including a larger emphasis on diversity, environmental justice and the inclusion of women in scouting. Goodman said these changes have been a good thing and part of the natural evolution of the organization.
Troop 93 is also changing with the times and hopes to start its own all-girls troop next year.
It is also because of these changes that more parent volunteers got involved in Troop 93. One of them is Mack Thorpe, also an assistant scoutmaster in Troop 93. He was previously involved in scouting in Wilmington and has now been with Troop 93 for two and a half years. He said the negative press around BSA led him to want to make a difference.
“The fact that scouting had a risk of going under was concerning,” Thorpe said. “My fondest memories as a kid was in scouts. I played three sports in high school but I don’t remember anything from that; I remember camping in scouts.”
BSA’s national organization has been embroiled in controversy in recent years with allegations of widespread sexual abuse and conflict over allowing women in scouting. Those controversies also led to multiple lawsuits against the organization that threatened to leave it bankrupt.
Those national issues have never impacted Troop 93, but they did make Thorpe want to get involved on a local level to make sure scouts in Troop 93 formed the same great memories he did.
His own memorabilia collection on display features dozens of mugs and scarves from camps that he says were one-of-a-kind. While all these items are unique, none epitomize his experience more than a rotting, makeshift spatula.
The clearly hand-carved, now-chipped wooden device was given to Thorpe on a camping trip in the Cape Fear River when he was in scouts many years ago.
“My scoutmaster went in the woods with a hatchet and carved this so we could flip pancakes,” he said. “At the end of the trip, he gave it to the scout who best exemplified the spirit of scouting. I got it. It’s just such a fond memory to hold it in my hand.”
The troop currently has more than 40 active scouts and 15 adult supervisors who serve as assistant scoutmasters. According to several assistant scoutmasters, that level of adult involvement is rare in scouting. Thorpe said he believes the involvement is because of the rich history the troop has that makes people want to come back.
Many adults get involved in scouting because their children participated in the troop, but then the adults outlast the kids because they catch the bug for camping, leadership and teaching.
“These adults like me are just absolutely dedicated to it,” Thorpe said. “We are pretty darn close to fanatical because it is just so wonderful working with these kids and the other scoutmasters.”
Thorpe said the high level of cooperation makes scouting exciting for people of all ages because there is a consistent common goal of making sure the kids have fun and grow.
Will Zinn, 17, is a member of Troop 93. He’s been involved in scouting since he was 5 years old, and was forced to move to Troop 93 when his previous troop dissolved. He said getting involved in scouting has taught him important leadership skills.
“I love the outdoors and the camping trips; that’s what’s kept me in it,” Zinn said. “But all the stuff it teaches you has bled over into my life as I’ve gotten older.”
Zinn now serves as the senior patrol leader, meaning he oversees and plans all camping trips and social outings for the troop. He said that level of leadership has shown him he possesses the necessary skills to teach others and guide them down the right path.
The experiences of Zinn are not unique. Scout after scout has passed through Troop 93 and each gained valuable lessons in leadership, which has created a long line of brotherhood. Roger Dixon was previously an assistant scoutmaster in Troop 93 and drove all the way from Georgia to be in attendance at the 75th-anniversary celebration. He said making the trek was important to him because Troop 93 had become like a family to him.
“This is my home troop,” said Dixon, who’s been involved in scouting since 1980, despite never being in scouts himself. Dixon’s journey began when his neighbor “voluntold” him to get involved in the troop, despite having zero camping experience. Forty-two years later, he keeps coming back because he loves seeing the boys become men in scouts.
“I’ve seen a boy with (multiple sclerosis) learn to swim, two with autism make friends here and achieve Eagle,” Dixon said. “It’s about seeing the boys achieve the unimaginable. It’s amazing the confidence the kids can learn if you challenge them.”
Troop 93 will continue to help boys achieve the unimaginable for years to come. For more information about Troop 93, including upcoming events visit www.bstroop93.org.
Reporter Ben Rappaport can be reached at brappaport@chathamnr.com or on Twitter @b_rappaport.