Scouts BSA Troop 88 at USAG Humphreys: Discovering the Best of Myself

At the Mongolia campout, a bird specialist brought eagles, vultures, and hawks for us to handle. A bald eagle is shown sitting on my head in this picture.

Joining Scouts BSA (formerly Boy Scouts of America) at USAG Humphreys has helped me discover the best version of myself. Even though I haven’t been a member for very long and I'm still working my way up the ranks, I truly enjoy the activities and our Sunday night meetings with Troop 88 where we plan, talk, and have fun.

Our Scoutmaster, Mr. Nicholas—also known as the "Not an Adult Scoutmaster"—is a fantastic role model and a leader all of us look up to. He’s not only funny and hairy but also a great person who provides clear direction in all our scouting adventures. He helps us navigate the requirements and challenges with a smile, teaching us valuable lessons along the way. (Most of the time.)

Troop 88 assigned to the Color Guard flag raising and lowering in Mongolia.

Scouts BSA Troop 88 USAG Humphreys is fortunate to have amazing adult volunteers like Mr. Hinson, who handles all the finances, and Ms. Hinson, who keeps our parents informed, organized, and updated with timely reminders. She ensures that everyone is aware of the exciting activities happening at Troop 88. The best part? They’re both soldiers, protecting our nation and allies, yet they still dedicate their time when they could be chillin' at home. Their commitment to helping scouts like me is truly inspiring. 

Mr. and Ms. Ebersole are another pair of incredible volunteers. They devote countless hours to making sure everything runs smoothly. Ms. Ebersole keeps our scout hut functioning by handling all the inspections I didn’t even know were necessary! Mr. Ebersole, an Eagle Scout himself, brings valuable experience and insight to our troop. Also, Ms. Ebersole not only volunteers with BSA but also helps at Humphreys Middle School, even though her son no longer attends. She organizes and shelves books in the school library, making sure all the middle schoolers can easily find what the need.

This photo shows the scouts attending the Ending Ceremony during our campout in Mongolia.

In the summer of 2024, Scouts BSA had the incredible opportunity to visit Mongolia for an Asia troop meet. I got to ride a camel, hold an eagle (even had one on my head!), ride a horse, and practice archery. It was an unforgettable experience, and one day I will return as an adult volunteer to help guide younger scouts. The Asia section hosts a "Trilogy Camp," where scouts rotate between Mongolia, Thailand, and Cambodia each year for a week-long camp, working on badge achievements and meeting scouts from across Asia and around the world.

Troop 88 held their Court of Honor Ceremony at Humphreys in September. During this ceremony, the troop gives out awards for the many achievements of the scouts and they also receive rank advancement when earned.

Scouting is something I truly enjoy, and here are my thoughts. Part of Scouting is learning to express yourself, share ideas, and respect others' choices. But for me, the most important thing is to have fun. With all of these amazing things, there is one thing that I dislike about scouts; it’s that I didn’t join sooner. Meeting all my friends at Troop 88 has been life-changing. I never knew that camping was this fun, I always thought it was just looking at stars, talking about life, and burning wood. But it’s a wonderful place to hang out, even better than a theme park because of how much freedom and time we have.

Troop 88 holding their troop flag at the campout in Mongolia this past summer.

Right now, my goal is to complete my family badge by doing chores and my cooking badge by preparing meals for my family, among many other achievements as I work toward the Eagle rank. I know these experiences will make me a better person. However, I also need to focus on my varsity matches with the Blackhawk tennis team and practice my double bass for concerts with the Humphreys Youth Orchestra. There are so many opportunities for people like me to explore their passions all around the Republic of Korea and it’s all thanks to the wonderful adult volunteers who make it possible. THANK YOU!!!!!!

I salute all our amazing adults who continue to selflessly volunteer their time. Thank you for being a part of my journey here at USAG Humphreys! You all are truly the best.

Find Scouting Near You: https://beascout.scouting.org/