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I attended White Stag as a youth participant in June, 1997 at Ransburg Scout Reservation. At the time, this was the only session of White Stag. White Stag was held at Ransburg in 1997 because of the degradation and questionable future of Camp Redwing. Redwing, of course, has since been made better than ever, thanks to the efforts of Firecrafter, Order of the Arrow, and extensive help from the council and other concerned individuals.
I attended White Stag at the advice of Mr. Gary Jones, who was my former home troop scoutmaster, and a former White Stag course director and legendary White Stag staffer. I didn't really understand what White Stag was all about. I learned really fast. I was in Troop 973, Yellow Patrol. I made it through the week successfully. It was the most fun I'd had in a long time, and I learned more than I ever knew there was to know about scouting.
I was elected permanent patrol leader of 973 Yellow. In 1998, I was asked to return to White Stag as a staff member. Through my participation on staff, especially my first year, I learned so much more about actually applying and using the skills I had learned as a participant in 1997. When asked what I wanted to do as a job on White Stag staff in 1998, I said I had no idea. The only position remaining was that of Food Quartermaster, to which I was so assigned.
Over the past seven years on White Stag staff, with an exception of a one-year absence from the job in 2000, I have always been involved in working in the kitchen. It may be a surprise to some who know me that I came by that position totally by chance. Since I've been on White Stag staff for several years continuously, all of my experiences seem to be running together. I thought it would be easier to make a list of my experience in White Stag; at the very least, it will be more understandable.
I was presented with the James Carmichael Silver Stag Award on June 7, 2003. The Silver Stag Award is presented by the White Stag Committee each year to honor those youth staff members who have rendered outstanding service to the White Stag program. I wish to thank those who felt I was worthy of this fine honor, and it is greatly appreciated. However, I would like to point out the fact that I was just doing my job.
In 2007, I decided to return to White Stag Staff, again as a Food Quartermaster. It is my small contribution to what I hope will continue to be a successful program.
In addition to all of this, I have performed many informal services for White Stag, such as carrying a canoe with Josh at the 1999 council awards dinner, and helping with outpost support at the 2002 Woods and Water Session with Todd Plewa and Bruce Henry. I was also slated to be a Senior Patrol Leader for the July Session in 2001. I backed out, however, and ended up being a JASM in June that year. If I hadn't done that, I probably wouldn't have gone on to serve on adult staff, so it was a good choice for me, although it didn't seem so at the time. I ended up helping July eventually anyway. Their food quartermaster became otherwise occupied at the last minute, so I ended up taking his place for the course. I can't say enough good things about the adult staff on the July session in 2002. They're all great people to work with and I really appreciate being given the opportunity to do so. We had a great time!
Special thanks are in order to all the members of the White Stag committee and all of those who take time out of their schedule to help the White Stag staff put on one of the best junior leader training conferences in the country every year. You know who you are! Without your help and support in all areas, our great conference would not be possible. Special thanks to our engineering staff, the our God-like staff, and all the legendary figures that keep us up and running! When things go wrong, these special people get things squared away no matter what. They are the best people in the world to work with and have that "get-it-done-no-matter-what" attitude, even in tough situations. The best part about being on White Stag staff is the people we can count on to make great things happen day after day, year after year. This is a big part of what scouting is all about.
© 2004-2008, Dennis M. Boyle. All rights reserved.