Olney Scouting Needs Parents, Volunteers
I have proudly served as the Olney American Legion Post 414 Commander for over 4 years now. More recently I have assumed the role as the Cubmaster for Cub Scout Pack 414. These two roles have come together in a way that has been incredibly meaningful to me, my family, and to the City of Olney.
About a year ago, the members of Olney American Legion began talking about how we could bring Scouting back to Olney. The American Legion has supported Scouting nationally for generations, so the idea felt like a natural fit. Around the same time, our local post was going through a period of reflection and change. Last year, we made the decision to close our bar and canteen operations so we could refocus on what the American Legion truly stands for.
At its core, the American Legion is about service to veterans, support for our youth, patriotism, community involvement, and building strong future leaders. We wanted to invest our time and energy into programs that reflect those values. Supporting Scouting does exactly that.
Scouting has a long and proud history in Olney, but unfortunately it has been several years since there was an active group. That was something I wanted to help change. I was a Cub Scout myself as a kid, and some really great childhood memories came from those experiences. I learned teamwork, responsibility, and confidence, all while having a lot of fun. As a father, I wanted to make sure my own kids, and other kids here in Olney, had the chance to create those same kinds of memories.
When it came time to officially charter the new pack, we requested and were lucky enough to receive Pack Number 414 from the Northwest Texas Council. This was the perfect tribute to American Legion Post 414, a post that has been serving Olney for nearly 100 years.
Olney Cub Scout Pack 414 officially started meeting this past September, and it has been a blast ever since. Our Cub Scouts have been busy learning first aid, practicing fire safety, scavenger hunts, doing crafts, and most recently starting work on their Pinewood Derby cars. The excitement and pride on their faces make every meeting worth it. We also have a camping outing planned for the spring, with many more adventures ahead.
Right now, we have a Cub Scout Pack open to both boys and girls from kindergarten through 5th grade. As we look to the future, our goal is to eventually bring back an older Scout troop for youth in sixth through twelfth grade. We want Scouting to grow with our kids and give them opportunities all the way through their teenage years.
One of our biggest needs right now is parent and community involvement. Scouting is very much a family oriented organization. Parents help organize activities, plan adventures, assist with meetings, and support camping trips. The more parents we have involved, the more opportunities we can offer our youth. Those opportunities help kids build leadership skills, confidence, and lifelong friendships. You often hear people say “there’s nothing for kids to do in Olney” and we’re listening.
If you see these Scouts around town doing fundraisers or activities, I encourage you to support them if you can. If you have a specific skill that might be useful, whether it is outdoor skills, crafts, safety, or simply a willingness to help, please reach out. And if you have a child who might be interested in Scouting, we would love to hear from you.
Our normally scheduled meetings are the first and third Monday of every month. We have some upcoming meetings planned where parents are welcome to bring their kids and see firsthand what Scouting is all about. My hope is that together, as families, veterans, and neighbors, we can continue building something special for the youth of Olney. These kids are our future, and they deserve every opportunity we can give them.