Scouting Returns to Olney

Scouting has not been in Olney for some time, however, that will change soon!

Chris Garcia, post commander of American Legion Post 414 in Olney, along with Megan Sila with the North Texas Council of Boy Scouts of America, now known as Scouting America,are trying to start a troop and/or pack in our town.

This all started a few months back when Ms. Sila reached out to Mr. Garcia, proposing that scouting be brought back to Olney, which has a great history with the organization reflecting in the monument to scouting on Main Street. The monument honors Scout Troop 584 for having the largest number of Scouts to reach the Eagle Scout rank at one time. That number was 24 and it set a national record in 1970.

This is great news to me, especially, because I am an Eagle Scout.

I started in what was Troop 763 stationed in Newcastle with about six other scouts back in 2019. We all went on different adventures as a troop, like hiking and camping out at the Wichita Mountains, going to summer camp, going to merit badge colleges, and so much more! Scouting turned out to be less intimidating than I thought it would be at first, as it was just an open door to limitless adventure and opportunities.

Later on down the road, I began to staff at summer camp to make leaders out of those scouts who had just bridged over from Cub Scouts. With this in mind, it is important to know that not only can you be made into a leader, but you get an opportunity to make leaders out of your fellow scouts as well!

As for who can join, the focus is mainly on a Cub Scout pack at the moment, which involves elementary-aged kids – both boys and girls – up until the end of fifth grade.

However, if there is enough interest, a troop, which is a unit of older Scouts, could definitely be formed. Flyers will be sent home with elementary school parents during an upcoming informational night. Anyone interested in forming a pack or volunteering as an adult leader should text 940-235-6947 for more information.