Scouts

Boy Scouts — Troop 25

The next two paragraphs are paraphrased from Wikipedia under Boy Scouts.  The full details of this explanation of the early years of scouting are available at this free website.

In 1909 a Chicago publisher by the name of Boyce was visiting London, where he learned of the Scouting movement. Soon after his return to the U.S., Boyce incorporated the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910. Two gentlemen, Edgar M. Robinson and Lee F. Hammer, became interested in the nascent BSA movement and convinced Boyce to turn the program over to the YMCA for development in April 1910. Robinson enlisted Seton Beard, Charles Eastman and other prominent leaders in the early youth movements. In January 1911, Robinson turned the movement over to James E. West who became the first Chief Scout Executive and Scouting began to expand in the U.S.

The BSA’s stated purpose at its incorporation in 1910 was “to teach [boys] patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred values.” Later, in 1937, Deputy Chief Scout Executive George J. Fisher expressed the BSA’s mission; “Each generation as it comes to maturity has no more important duty than that of teaching high ideals and proper behavior to the generation which follows.” The current mission statement of the BSA is “to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”   The scout oath is as follows:

“On my honor, I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country; To obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”

In Boy Scouting today there are three divisions known as Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the Adventuring Group.  Richard and Margaret R. Howell were the first den parents of Chuckatuck Cub Scout Pack 25. Cub Scouting is available to boys from 5-11 years of age.  Boy Scouts are from 11-18 years of age with a sub-area of High Adventure for those 14-18 years of age.  The third group, the adventuring group, has co-ed over the past few years.  It is available to boys and girls from the age of 13-21 years old.  A sub-program to Adventuring is the Sea Scouts which focuses on nautical activities.  Chuckatuck Troop 25 covers each of these areas in its group except for Sea Scouts.

Troop 25 had its official beginning circa 1925.  The Honorable Mills E. Godwin, Jr. remembers going to Camp Waters in Surry, Virginia with the troop in 1928 or 1929.  In 1935 C.C. Johnson was the Scout Master and in 1937 the Chuckatuck Ruritan Club became an official sponsor and has continued that support each year since then.  In 1937 the charter of Troop 25 was rewritten and Stokes Kirk became the Scout Master until 1941 when his service to his country required him to leave.  Joshua Pretlow took over those duties and remained Scout Master until 1943 when the title was passed to W.G. Saunders, Jr. until 1945.  For years the Scout meeting was held over the main store of Saunders Supply.  Between 1955 and 1962, Clyde E. Kelly was the Scout Master.  In 1962 he turned the reins over to John Kirk for the next six years.  Bruce Kirk, Senior patrol leader of the troop, served as acting Scout Master from 1968 when he became an Eagle Scout and remained in that position until replaced by Larry Mizelle in 1969.  Larry Mizelle was Scout Master until 1978 when he was relieved by Parker Howell who served as Scout Master until 1979.   Francis Clements took over until 1980 and remained in that position until William Spence took over in 2000.  George Fly was Scout Master from 2000-2004, Bill Evans 2005, and Tim Warren 2006-2007.  Tracy Stewart from 2008-2010 and the current Scout Master is XXXXXXXX. Boy Scout Troop 25 folded in 2020 due to the effects of COVID. Alex Shearin was the last Eagle Scout of Troop 25.

The following is paraphrased from the web site Wikepedia on Eagle Scouts.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy scouting program.  A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men. The title of Eagle Scout is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase “Once an Eagle, always an Eagle”.

Requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating Scout Spirit through the Boy Scout Oath and Law, service, and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads and manages. Eagle Scouts are presented with a medal and a badge that visibly recognizes the accomplishments of the Scout.

As a troop, Chuckatuck has graduated significant members from Tenderfoot to Eagle, the highest award earned in scouting.  The first of those were Leroy Howell in 1946, G.L. “Spunk” Gwaltney 1946, Harvey Saunders, Jr. 1947,  Michaux “Shack” Raine 1950,  William W. Pretlow  1958, Joshua Pretlow, Jr. 1963, Bruce R. Kirk 1968, William Hovaanic 1971, James E. Spady  1972, Clyde E. Kelly Jr. 1973, James Haycraft 1974, Ralph Howell, Jr. 1977 and William Brady in 1981.  In 1986 Russell B. Rose, Brent O. Gayle, Keith A. Pope, and John R. Rose all made the honor.  Richard Clements 1990, Jason Hughson 1993, and in 1994 Joshua Kirk, William Kessinger and Alec Pope were added to this list.  In 1997 Jarrette Thomas Campbell II, Joshua Bell and William T. Spence, Jr.  were awarded their Eagle badge.  Jason Bell 1998, Robert Lee Everett and Steven Garner, Jr. in 1999.  William “Jay” Saunders and James Saunders in 2000.  In 2001 Jonathan Martin, Justin Ray and Steve Gwaltney became Eagle Scouts.  In 2002 William Justin Ballou and in 2003 Cody Branden, Patrick McDonald and Christopher Savedge.  The year of 2004 Eagle Scouts were Robert Fly, Joseph  Kalis, William Fly, Averyl Diggs, David Brad Cromis, Adrin Diggs and Adron Diggs.  Matthew Yandle in 2005, Austin Fly and Julius R. Buckley in 2006.  Benjamin  A. Stephenson 2007, and in 2009 Robert Warton, Christopher Childs, Gabriel A. Rosa, John F. Neff-Warren, Herbert Owen West, Dylan P. Frickanisce, Nicholas E. Martin and Timothy J. Martin.

Troop 25 has a total of 56 Eagle Scouts.  National average is around 2 percent of total population.  However, Troop 25 is well above the national average.  The scout leadership can be credited with giving their individual troop members the necessary stimulus to move up the ladder of success within scouting.

Chuckatuck Troop 25 has been a leader in the Colonial Trail Council since its merger and all of the District meetings take place within the Troop 25 area.  Adventuring (Crew 25) started in 2001 and is a co-ed unit that is self-led with adult leadership advice.  Crew 25 had the first female, Lauren Howell, earn the Silver Award in the Colonial Trail Council.  This award is comparable to the Eagle Scout award for boys.  She was also the first female in the Colonial Trail Council to receive the “Ranger” award.  This award is all about outdoorsman  ship.  Other Silver Awards have gone to Lauren Langford, Robert and William Fly, Becky Wonderland and Heather Watson.

The Norfolk Virginian Pilot cover story on 03-06-08 by Devon Hubbard Sorlie, was titled “Troop 25 gets a Stewart boost”.  Tracy Stewart was praised for his enthusiasm, energy and absolute devotion to Boy Scouting that had earned him Scoutmaster of the Year in January.  “He put the “outing” back in Scouting” explained Colonial Trail District Commissioner George Fly.  George went on to say that “Stewart incorporates so many activities in his program, the Scouts don’t even know they are advancing (in rank) until they get a patch.”  “He lets the boys take credit for their actions.  That’s how he got to be Scoutmaster of the year.”

During an informal meeting with George Fly I asked him to give us a few of his thoughts on his time with the scouts in Chuckatuck.  His association goes back much farther than this as you will see from his comments.

“My earliest memories as a scout start in the city of Portsmouth VA in troop 256. It was through my father’s contact with W.G. Saunders, Sr. via Farmers Feed and Seed in downtown Suffolk that a little troop from Portsmouth, VA was connected with the scouting of Chuckatuck.  W.G. Saunders, Sr. was a great scouter, willing to support scouts when and where he could. He invited my troop to camp on the five mile farm located south of the village of Chuckatuck. Some of the adventures of my life were on that farm during our camping trips. Did you know that if you try to capture a baby pig that its mother will come after you? Yes, one of our rights of becoming a scout was trying to capture a baby pig but never caught one.  One of the great games was capture the flag that were held at that farm. Many a trip my uncle would take us camping and point to the lake and say “There’s your breakfast, lunch, and dinner”. Have you ever eaten fresh water fish with no salt? It is an acquired taste. We pulled up sassafras roots and boiled them to make what we call “Sassafras Tea”. My fondest memory of scouting on the five mile farm was one winter camp I think in 1971, we retired for the night with a lite rain falling and it was cold. When we woke up it was like being in a winter wonderland. All the trees were frozen with ice. Our tents were frozen, equipment, shoes, (I had left my mine outside my tent), no fire, cold food, but what a sight. Bill Saunders, Jr. had to come and get us out with his tractor.

I was a scout from 1966 to 1976 including cub scouts. I took a leave from scouting from 1976 until 1996 when my twin sons asked if they could join the Cub Scout Pack. That pack was Pack 25 located here in Chuckatuck. Billy Gardner was the Cub Master at the time and Connie Branden was his assistant. To this day, my favorite time as an adult scouter was the Tiger Cub years with my twin sons Robert and William Fly. No matter what activity or event you were a hero in their eyes. I was asked to be Cub Master in 1996 taking over the top job from Billy Gardner.  In the beginning of my tenure as Cub Master, our membership was about thirty cubs, small enough to hold the Pack Meeting at Wesley Chapel Church. By the end of 1997 we had grown to over 75 Cub Scouts and had moved to Oakland Church. By the end of my years has Cub Master, Pack 25 had moved to Oakland School for its meetings with over 130 Cubs Scouts.  We sent one of the Webelos dens to restart troop 42 in Crittenden Va. We split the pack, starting a pack at the King’s Fork Ruritan Club, and still had over 75 Cub Scouts. Jim Martin relieved me as Cub Master. In 2000 Bill Spence asked if I was ready to take his place as Scout Master because he wanted to start a Venture Crew. I said yes and in 2001 I became Scout Master of Troop 25.

Many a boy has passed through Troop 25 over the years, many have remained in the community and some have left but they all take the pride of saying “I was a scout in Chuckatuck”. We grew the troop a point were it was unmanageable and an impact on our camping areas. So we started to send boys who lived outside of the greater Chuckatuck area to troop 16 in Driver, troop 36 Carrollton, troop 3 Smithfield and troop 7 Smithfield. We produced approximately 17 eagle scouts, represented at the 2001 and 2005 National Jamboree, Order of the Arrow and had many leaders assigned positions at the District and Council level position.

Scouting means a lot to me, it is one of the answers for “why Johnny can’t read, why Johnny can’t get along, and why Johnny has low grade scores in school.”

Chuckatuck Girl Scouts

In 1930 Mrs. Harry Lee Cross of Suffolk became Chairman of the Suffolk Girl Scouts.  Within this troop was a young girl by the name of Betty Cross.  This young girl would ultimately become Mrs. Joshua Pretlow and would start her adult Girl Scout activities in 1958 as a troop committee member in Chuckatuck.  She served as troop leader in 1959 and 1960 and in 1663 became president of the Tri-County Girl Scout Council.  There was a merger underway between Tri-County Girl Scout Council and the Virginia Tidewater Chapter to form a new Greater Tidewater Girl Scout Council in 1964 of which Mrs. Pretlow would be the president.   Mrs. Carrie Saunders was a leader and held meetings in her home.  Edna Saunders, Dorothy Bradshaw, Virginia Kelly, Peggy Bradshaw, Mary Jernigan, Betty Glasscock, Lynn Rose, Margie Knight, Margaret Saunders, Kay Pickins, Pam Saunders and Linda Bunch, were leaders keeping the program alive for the many girls to follow. Wesley Chapel Methodist Church was a meeting place for years.  In 1976 Karla Smith from Hobson worked with the girls to earn the boating badge.  Ginny Bagnell from Crittenden worked with the girls for their swimming badge.  Cookies were now being sold for $.50 cents a box up from $.18 cents in 1942.  In 2011 those same cookies will go for $2.50 per box with a couple of additional selections.

In 1996 Johnice Mitchell and Kitty Martin started a troop/group 5563, meeting at Oakland Elementary School and ultimately at the Oakland Christian Church.  The Chuckatuck Ruritan Club and Oakland Christian Church have been long time supporters of the Girl Scouts.  Support has allowed the girls to go on trips and attend events while utilizing the church van for transportation.  Currently there are 25 active members, including ages from Kindergarten to seniors in high school and at times have had as many as 45 members.  There are six levels for the girl scouts:  Daisey, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador.  Each level has certain requirements for badges, traditions, outdoors activities, and trips.  Ultimately they can achieve a Bronze, Silver, or Gold award.  Some of their activities have been a “Gypsy Hike” that allows the girls to look for a silver star somewhere in the community.  This Silver Star is the secret gypsy sign of a handout for a job well done.  The star was found on the door of Mrs. Gerald Saunders and the results of picking up some sticks was a drink to compliment their lunch which they carried in a “nose bag”.  This is a bag on a stick somewhat like a hobo would carry.  There were Tea Sipping’s, planting of tulip bulbs at the Chuckatuck High School around the flag pole and a winner in the redesign of a new patch for Girl Scouts by a Brownie.  Michelle Martin from Group 5563 designed a patch for the Explorer Suffolk Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast Patch.  In 1976 Lisa Glasscock was selected to attend a “Wider Opportunity” program called “Saddle Straddle” in Wyoming.  She was selected because of her riding ability and camping experience.  When selected she was a Cadette in Troop 786 in Chuckatuck.

In 2001 eight year old Michelle Martin, a member of Brownie Troop 5563, won a contest to design a new patch for the Explorer Suffolk Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast.  Michelle as a Brownie had the opportunity to present a patch to members of the Suffolk City Council.  As part of a community project in 1999 Girl Scout Troop 5563 planted a live oak at Oakland Christian Church which is a supporter of the Girl Scouts.

As in any Girl Scout troop the leaders are essential and in the case of the Chuckatuck troop in the early years Mrs. Joshua Pretlow spent a great deal of her time on scouting issues and various committees.  She was awarded the “Thanks Badge”.  In an article in the Suffolk News Herald on October 3, 1963 the following is quoted “Merits of the girl Scout program have long ago been proven.  But the program’s assets could not be gained by the youngsters who participate without active and interested adult leadership.  This need has been filled by Mrs. Pretlow on all levels of the Girl Scout program, along with the many others who have served in similar capacities”.  The local Girl Scouts had a great asset in Camp Matoaka which was located on Lake Prince.  In fact, many of the Girl Scouts from Norfolk who came over by boat were then transported by a hay wagon to the camp.  Camp Matoaka has since been closed and now scouts go to a camp in Franklin.