Side of Ranch: Jay Heater

What is your fondest memory of being involved in Scouting?

It probably has something to do with fishing, hiking, making crafts or S'mores.

I doubt if public service rushes into your memory banks, even if that is a big reason the Scouting organizations exist.

When you are that young, you don't understand that ever-so-subtly, you are being brainwashed into being a good person. Don't worry, it's a good thing.

To give you an example, we had this event called the Klondike Derby back in Orange County, N.Y., that was held every January or February in the bitter cold. If this was a college course, it would have been called "Frostbite 101."

The Scouts acted as the dogs on a sled, pulling it around about five miles in the crusty snow. Along the way, you could make these pit stops, and Scout leaders would determine grades as you built a fire, cooked your lunch, sent your fellow sledders signals with a flag or, of course, tied knots.

I don't remember if we received a decent score, but I do remember that I never, ever again wanted to participate in such a stupid, freezing, waste of time.

Guess what? It actually was kind of fun. Those of you who have run half-marathons or marathons understand what I am talking about. While it is happening, it stinks. Then a week later, you can't wait to do it again. Go figure.

What's a couple of toes?

I didn't know we were learning about teamwork, learning to depend on that guy next to you. Kind of big stuff when you enter the working world.

My other example of a somewhat painful Scouting experience that eventually turned meaningful was the day I had to complete a Boy Scout service project. I had chosen to paint a mile's worth of fire hydrants in town ... in July.

By the time I had reached my 40th hydrant, I was spending more time laying on the ground than I was upright. The grass around the hydrants bore a nice coat of red paint, although the hydrants themselves were benefitting as well. Sloppiness was not an issue.

I spent a lot of time that day in my own personal pity party, thinking "Poor me" as cars drove past on their way to parades, or swimming sessions or family reunions. Why didn't I just join a soccer club?

Eventually, as I drove through town 10 years later, those fire hydrants still looked pretty good. Hey, I painted those.

All those old memories came rushing back to me a few days before Thanksgiving as I checked out some local Cub Scouts as they gave out turkeys and other food at the Manatee Baptist Church in Bradenton. Cheryl Fair, who runs the church's food pantry, enlisted the help of Pack 126, which is mainly made up of students from Gullett and Gene Witt elementary schools.

They handed out 142 turkeys and 400 chickens to those who utilized from the food bank.

I talked to the boys a bit, and it was obvious they were like me when I was a Cub Scout, hyper-active and somewhat goofy.

Even so, they got the job done. Alas, it' was a day that they probably won't remember until years from now because they have their minds set on campouts, making Pinewood Derby cars and swimming.

I guarantee you, though, that something very important was happening as they handed out that food, even if they won't remember it.

The fact is, those who picked it up, will.