A Letter from the Scoutmaster

Welcome to the Troop 58 website! We developed and maintain the site for two purposes. First, as an information tool for current members of the troop and their families, because we feel that good communication is a central component to good organization. To that end, you will find our most recent newsletter, an updated calendar, necessary forms and other materials. Second, as a resource for anyone looking to learn more about Troop 58, the Glaciers Edge Council or the Boy Scouts of America.

The image of a Boy Scout helping an elderly woman across the street is a quaint, somewhat dated vision of what Boy Scouting is all about. But today, even after nearly 100 years of Scouting history, the image still holds true. Community service, the idea of helping others simply for the sake of being helpful, is a central component to what we try to instill in the members of our troop. In our local area, this takes the shape of assisting with our community food pantry, cleaning up a nearby stretch of highway twice annually, working at the local library and much, much more. By developing community-mindedness at an early age, we feel we're developing the kinds of neighbors and friends we'd all like to be surrounded by in the future.

But another very basic belief we have is that Boy Scouting is about the outdoors. Naturally, we love to camp and plan monthly camping trips throughout the year. We are blessed to live in an area with a vast array of camping opportunities and do our best to explore a variety of camping experiences. This includes traditional tent camping at some of Wisconsin's greatest state parks, overnighting in caves and even spending a few nights outdoors in the depths of winter. Yet we also like to extend our range every now and then, with recent extended trips to Missouri, South Dakota and a circumnavigation of Lake Michigan. Learning skills like how to build a fire, create safe drinking water, cook meals, treat injuries and more is fun, for sure. Yet those same skills can be useful and, in some extreme cases, even life-saving.

Finally, Scouting is about leadership. It's amazing what teenaged boys can accomplish with a little knowledge, training and experience. I think most people would agree that our world is woefully short of good leaders these days. Anything we can do to help alleviate that is nothing but good, in my book. And whether it's as President of the United State of America (Gerald Ford), a noted adventurer (Stephen Fossett), a famous movie-maker (Steven Spielberg) or as a simple scout troop leader, the qualities of good leadership learned in the Boy Scouts will result in phenomenal achievements.

Jeff Kirchman, Scoutmaster
Troop 58, Mazomanie WI