Wood Badge

In September 2015 I embarked in a journey which has given me tools and training both inside and outside of Scouting.  Wood Badge is a world-wide training course for adult scouters which teaches the participant about all aspects of the Scouting Program.  Participants will learn about the stages of building a team, group dynamics, programming and so much more.  This course does not take place just in a classroom, but is a 2 weekend intensive course involving classroom and practical applications. After the course the participants are given 18 months to complete "tickets" which they select to help them achieve a goal of theirs specific to scouting.

This has been a wonderful and changing experience.  I encourage each and everyone who is involved with scouting, go through this course and work those tickets.  On October 10, 2016 I was finally presented with my beads to complete my first Wood Badge Course.  I am sure I will be back to help staff a course in the future.

Support Group

For those who have been following me on Facebook know I have recently accepted a challenge to bring an awareness regarding Combat Veterans.  The challenge is known as the 22 for 22 challenge.  Here is a little background . . .  Roughly 22 Combat Veterans commit suicide a day.  The challenge is to commit to doing 22 push ups for 22 days in recognition of these fallen soldiers.  Now let's add to this that September is National Suicide Prevention Month and Sunday was 9-11.  I requested to talk to our boys briefly at our meeting and shared another story with them.

On Sunday, September 11, 2016, I had the privilege of working on a client who was at the towers when they fell 15 years ago.  I have seen this client for 2 years and we rarely discussed this event in his life.  He shared how New York provided counselors, how he sought help, but it had little to no effect.  He discovered acupuncture and bodywork and that it had a profound impact on his ability to cope and deal with the PTSD he struggled with.

In recognition of our former military in our Troop, for those soldiers, friends, and people we do not know, I asked the my Troop to join me, for the day, in doing the 22 for 22 challenge with me.  While only a couple hands went up in the air, what happened next was more than amazing.  25 Scouts and Adult Leaders showed their support, not just for me, but for all the fallen warriors, soldiers, friends, family, and those who are suffering with thoughts of suicide. 

Thank you Troop 606. All I can can is thank you!