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A park ranger at Martins Fork Lake recently spent a week camping,
leading, mentoring and educating Boy Scouts in the great outdoors at
Kia Kima Scout Reservation, which is nestled in the foothills of the
Ozark Mountains at Hardy, Ark.
Scoutmaster Dave Robinson
volunteered his time coaching, training, counseling, celebrating
successes and providing meaningful feedback at summer camp June 26
to July 2, 2016 with Boy Scout Troop 149, which is chartered to the First
Presbyterian Church of Harlan, Ky.
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June 26, 2016 - Boy Scouts Troop 149 leaders and scouts on a camping
trip at Kia Kima Scout Reservation in Hardy, Ark. In addition to the
scouts enjoying camping activities, they were mentored by a park
ranger at Martins Fork Lake, who educated the Boy Scouts about the
great outdoors. (U.S. Army courtesy photo)
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Six scouts, including his son, six adults, including his
father, made the trip where the boys earned 11 merit badges
and made great strides to their next ranks.
Robinson
said scout leaders shared their knowledge with scouts
earning merit badges in subjects such as environmental
science, Indian lore, space exploration, chemistry,
swimming, camping, pottery, and basketry. One scout
completed Kia Kima's Trailblazer program for new scouts.
Several others completed the Challenging Outdoor personal
Experience Course, Boy Scout ATV Safety program, and
Mountain Man Experience on Mount Masera.
“I train and
guide boy leaders,” Robinson said. “Seeing the scouts
working together, growing closer as a team, taking
responsibility for their actions and decisions, overcoming
the challenges they face – that's what makes being a
scoutmaster rewarding to me.”
As a Corps of Engineers
park ranger, Robinson cares for the natural resources at
Martins Fork Lake located in mountainous terrain at river
mile 15.6 on the Martins Fork of the Cumberland River in
Smith, Ky. The lake provides flood risk reduction benefits
and recreational opportunities for the public.
Although he spends a lot of time outside in his daily
duties, he attributes much of what he knows about the
outdoors to the Boy Scouts of America. Robinson joined the
organization in 1979 and achieved the Eagle Scout rank in
1983. He also worked at Kia Kima Scout Reservation each
summer from 1984 to 1989.
“I owe much of my way of
doing things to the experiences, mentors, and friends from
my scouting life. I feel it is my duty and responsibility to
pass along my skills to my son and our scout troop,”
Robinson said. “It was a blessing to me to be able to take
our troop to the place that had a big influence on me as a
teenager and young adult.”
Richard L. Fisher, Boy
Scouts of America Chickasaw Council scout executive and
chief executive officer, lauded Robinson's willingness to
teach leadership skills and for reinforcing positive
character traits that are part of what scout leaders do
best.
“All of his work is done in less than ideal
conditions,” Fisher said. “Limited Wi-Fi reception,
occasional air conditioning, hiking several miles per day
and sleeping under BSA canvas with really large and abundant
mosquitoes, chiggers and ticks would have made a lesser
person reconsider their volunteer opportunity.”
Kia
Kima Scout Reservation is celebrating its 100th anniversary
of serving scouts this year. Robinson said while on the trip
his scouts and other scout leaders spent the night at St.
John's Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tenn., ate supper at the
nationally renowned Bar-B-Q Shop, and spent an evening at
the Bass Pro Shop in the Pyramid.
This was the first
time many of the scouts had seen the Mississippi River as
well as seeing rice, soybeans, and cotton growing in the
fields. On the return trip to Harlan, the group went through
Missouri, crossed the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers at Cairo,
Ill., and crossed back into Kentucky.
Robinson said
he is responsible for ensuring the scouts have a strong
program, learn scouting methods and skills, provide
qualified leadership following the guidelines and policies
of the Boy Scouts of America and chartering organization.
He said he sees a lot of merit in putting scouts in
a great outdoor setting where scout leaders could educate
and develop them, and the scouts could work as a team,
participate in the many activities, develop leadership
skills and have fun participating in the activities.
Michael Lapina, Nashville District's Eastern Kentucky
operations manager, said Robinson has a passion for working
with young people, including scouts, and his passion goes
beyond just leadership and character building.
“Both
on and off the job, he gives special attention to promote
water safety to people of all ages,” Lapina said. “The
scouts are lucky to have Dave Robinson as a dedicated
volunteer and the Corps' Easter Kentucky Area is proud to
have him serve on our team.”
By Leon Roberts, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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