Stratton’s service to Boy Scouts began with sons

By Matt Bewley | The Daily Journal

Published Thursday, April 12, 2007

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has been helping young people grow into responsible, well-rounded citizens for nearly a century, thanks to volunteer adults and parents like Jim Stratton.

“I got into Scouting when my first son, Jason, signed up for Cub Scouts,” he said. “After that, my other son, Timothy, joined. I was a volunteer with them all the way through Eagle Scout.”

He saw Scouting as a platform for staying involved in his sons’ lives as they grew older.

“Scouting picks up where ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) leaves off,” he said. “Parents are expected to volunteer time in making the organization function. In return, they get to work hand-in-hand with their boy.”

The Boy Scouts of America makes sure the parents have all the tools to build stronger relationships with their children, Stratton said.

“The books and training helps them to communicate with their sons,” he said. “I can remember when my boys were that age. They were going a mile a minute, and had the attention span of about a millisecond. You run out of ways to communicate and talk about things with your boys. Scouting gives the parents that vehicle — the means to communicate with their boys — and things to do together, like projects.”

The Scouts have long been known for their Pinewood Derby and Space Derby races. They go on camp-outs, picnics and participate many outdoor-related projects. They build bird houses and boot removers and “all those hands-on projects boys love to do with a hammer and nails,” Stratton said.

The adults are with the young scouts every step of they way, enjoying time with their kids. At the Boy Scout level, it changes a little.

“The Boy Scout’s parent is involved in the committees and the overall operation of that troop,” Stratton said, “but the troop is run by the boys. Leadership is taught by the parents. They are the role models. They emulate that character, that type of person we want our sons to be like.”

Cub Scouts is open to boys when they enter first grade or turn 6 years old. Boy Scouts have completed fifth grade or are at least 11 years old.

Venture Scouts, a newer program for older scouts, invites both boys and girls to join into a group with shared interests.

“All of these programs require volunteers that are willing to spend any amount of time in helping to develop young boys and girls into responsible adults,” he said. “Part of the mission of Scouting is to instill values into our youth. Without our adult volunteers, we would not be able to have a Scouting program.”

The BSA gives each local troop all the expertise, training, books and videos to run a successful local organization. The chartered organizations “own” the troop, pack or venture crew, he said. They are responsible for a safe place, to help select leadership and for insuring that the group operates within the philosophical guidelines of Scouting.

“We want responsible people, from age 18 to 100, that are willing to spend some spare time to help develop our youth into the responsible young adults we all hope they will be,” he said. “We don’t expect that these volunteers have all that expertise. We would train those people in the position they would choose to fill.”

Today, Jason is a project manager for an Egan logistics company and Timothy is a research chemist in Sunnyvale, Calif. Stratton finished 23 years of volunteer work last year to take a district position with the Scouts.

Stratton believes a combination of the Scout program and parental time helping them help mold young boys into well-rounded adults.

To volunteer with the Boy Scout program, call Stratton at 320-808-5096.