THE EARLY YEARS
My experience outdoors started as a kid, trailer camping with my family. During the summer we would take month long trips. Over 5 years, we would visit almost every state. My parents gave me this opportunity to see and experience this great nation early on in life.
Along with the camping trips, I would spend time with my dad alpine skiing. We spent years, and many trips skiing at almost every ski resort west of the Mississippi river.
SCOUTING AS A YOUTH
I learned of scouting at school. Soon enough I was a brand new Cub scout and on my way to great adventures. Back then in Cub scouts, we didn't camp much. In fact we didn't camp at all, except one time, as an Arrow of Light.
I crossed over into a Scout Troop right after elementary school. This is where i started learning how to camp. Our Troop camped every month, except during the summer. Rain or shine, we were camping. And rain it did! It rained on every single campout that entire first year. I didn't quit. I learned. I learned that when properly equipped, and equipped with the right skills, rain doesn't matter.
HIGH ADVENTURE TRIPS
My first high adventure trip was backpacking with my troop in the Weminuche Wilderness, near Durango, Colorado. We rode the famous narrow gauge railroad up into the mountains, where we deboarded and began out backpacking adventure up to the headwaters of the Rio Grande river. A lot was learned over those next six days. I learned that I loved backpacking!
My second high adventure trip took us to Philmont in New Mexico. Philmont was a magical place. So many adventures to choose from. So much to do. So much history. So many scouts!
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES
After earning my Eagle, I stayed active in my Troop as Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, helping prepare the next generation of Scouts. When I became an adult, I became an Assistant Scoutmaster. When that next group of Scouts was ready, we took them to Philmont: my first experience at Philmont as an adult. A short time later, we would take a group to Kanick, the winter program at Philmont.
BEYOND SCOUTING
When I was old enough to drive, I started working at a local specialty backpacking / mountaineering store. We sold everything. Literally anything you needed. From basic equipment, to high end clothing and equipment for long distance through hikes, like the Appalachian trail. Going to climbing in the Himalia's or Alaska. Headed out to NOLES or Outward bound, we had everything you needed, in the store. I met some really fascinating people working at the store. Employees from The North Face and Patagonia would come around and visit: asking for opinions on equipment and clothing. I met professional climbers. I helped Beck Weathers order his carbon fiber Grivel mountaineering ax which was with him on the now infamous Mount Everest disaster of 1996. Many fascinating people and stories.
This is where my introduction of high adventure through Scouting, grew into a world of exploration, that wasn't available in Scouting (for good reason because of the extreme risk). Over the years, I would enjoy backcountry skiing, winter mountaineering, climbing, and of course, a lot of backpacking.
BACK TO SCOUTING
When my son was old enough to join Cub Scouts, we did. Suffice to say, that the next years were filled with magical adventures, taking my son, and now daughter, on adventures in Scouts.
GIVING BACK
I have benefitted so much throughout my entire life from the Scouting program. Leadership. Confidence. So many qualities were developed by dedicated Scoutmasters and adults, that helped shape me into the person I am today. I truly enjoy giving back to the Scouting community. Now, as an adult Scouter, I have the privilege of watching youth develop and grow into their full potential.
THE IDEA
So how did the idea for The Friendly Scoutmaster come about? I was traveling around our area giving presentations to Webelos about to transition into a Scout Troop. These presentations centered around what they needed to be successful at camping. I realized I could only reach so many, through direct presentations, and that's where the idea for a You tube channel came from.
THE NAME
I was a Scoutmaster at the time. And Just calling myself the Scoutmaster didn't seem right. After all there are many great Scoutmasters. I liked the word friendly. Friendly is in the Scout Law. And a friend, a true friend, helps you grow, corrects you when needed, offers encouragement, cheers you on. A true friend will still be your friend, even if we don't agree on something. So the word Friendly really resonated with me. In that sense, i wanted to be a Friendly Scoutmaster.
GIVING BACK AGAIN. IN A NEW WAY.
The channel has offered a way to share all of my hard earned experiences with people across the globe. I have learned so many lessons from my adventures. Some not to be repeated! I try very hard to assimilate all of the collective wisdom I've learned over 40+ years, and present what I think is the most well rounded content. Know that whatever is presented, it is given with the utmost care and concern for your trip to be a great success!
THE LOGO
The logo is a combination of the first three letters of The Friendly Scoutmasters. Each of these letters represents an environment of outdoor adventures. If you have watched the videos on You Tube, T grows into a tree in the forest. F is shaped like a mountain, and transitions from the summer to winter snow capped peak. S is a stream representing water.