Back to Gilwell Happy Land!

My Dearest Bobwhites -

What an amazing journey we have had going through Wood Badge!  There have been many lessons learned and friendships gained.  I cherish the time we've spent together and look forward to years of friendship and service as we continue this great journey to be positive influences in the lives of boys. It is my sincere hope that you have a deep desire to leave a legacy in scouting for all who cross your path.

As you begin working your ticket back to Gilwell, I want to assure you all of my support and encouragement along the way.  My role over the course of the training changed from Den Chief to Troop Guide and now I am a "Ticket Counselor".  It is my responsibility and privilege to help each of you over the next 18 months with the completion of the ticket you have created for yourselves.  If there are questions, concerns, struggles, failures, or successes I want to know about them!  Stretch yourselves and do hard things or you'll never know what you are capable of!

In an effort to stay in touch, I have created this blog and plan to post once a month something of value to help each of you along the way to success.  It may be an inspirational story, something from the course syllabus, a reminder of experiences we had together, or something else I feel inspired to share.  In any case, I hope it finds you well, happy, and engaged.

God bless each of you as you work your tickets back to Gilwell, that happy land, where the brotherhood of Scouting lives on in the hearts of all who have entered it's verdant field.

YIS - Tom Brand - The Regal Eagle

 - THE OAK TREE -
A mighty wind blew night and day.
It stole the oak trees leaves away.
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark.
Until the oak was tired and stark
But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around.
The weary wind gave up and spoke,
"How can you still be standing Oak?"
The Oak Tree said,
"I know that you can break each branch of mine in two,
Carry every leaf away,
Shake my limbs and make me sway,
But I have roots stretched in the earth,
Growing stronger since my birth.
You'll never touch them, for you see,
They are the deepest part of me.
Until today I wasn't sure
Of just how much I could endure.
But now I've found with thanks to you,
I'm stronger than I ever knew.
 - Johnny J. Rider Jr.