But one boy reported it to his father, an evangelical minister, and there was a huge blowup. It was done in the harmless spirit of sharing useful information. On one camping trip, a new patrol leader (he was 12) taught his young charges (all 11) how to masturbate. Johnson, the assistant scoutmaster, was the loud one) yet he kept firm control of a pack of unruly adolescents.
The father of two daughters and a son, he worked at the Navy shipyard. Much of this was due to our scoutmaster, Mr. We could also be kind and protective of one another. All teenagers can be cruel, even Boy Scouts, yet bullying was softened here, reduced to teasing. Scouting gave us more breathing room than we had at junior high. We were the uncool kids, a little nerdy or geeky or unconventional. I belonged to Troop 66, and we met once a week at the local Episcopal church. I was in the Scouts from 1963 to 1970, between the ages of 11 and 18. This was in Kempsville, Va., a suburb of Norfolk. I earned enough merit badges to reach the rank of Eagle.
I became a patrol leader, a senior patrol leader, and eventually a junior assistant scoutmaster. It gave me confidence and social skills, friends and responsibilities. But being a scout got me out of myself and into the world. I was also gay, although I didn't know it yet. I was a bookish, introverted kid, shy and withdrawn, unhappy and easily bullied.
