Young Cub Scouts in Memphis have been spending a lot of time with student volunteers from The U of M--and its paying off.
Sophomore business management major Talmadge Jackson, who spends his Wednesday nights volunteering as a Cub Scout master at Bickford Community Center, said he feels volunteering has definitely made him a better person and taught him leadership skills.
"My responsibilities as a Cub Scout master include organizing Cub Scout meetings and attending various types of fund-raisers," Jackson said.
Jackson, once a Cub Scout himself, said the program has enhanced his leadership skills.
"The program has taught me how to be a better role model and how to be more responsible around young children," he said.
The Cub Scout program teaches young boys skills such as camping, swimming and first aid.
Dominique Wooten, a second grader at Caldwell Elementary, said what he likes most about Cub Scouts is that it teaches him about the world. He said he enjoys playing games and reading information about how to get his badges.
"This is my favorite place to go," Wooten said.
The Boy Scouts of America, with the sponsorship of the DAY Foundation, created the Bailey Scholars program which allows male freshmen and sophomore students to work in the community as cub masters and assistant scout masters.
Scout Reach executive Jake Allen said freshman participants are selected based on a recommendation from their high school counselors. The U of M also sends a list of potential applicants to the agency.
According to Allen, the recommendations reflect the students' personality and community involvement. The students must also come for an interview.
"The program pays for half of the student's tuition and covers $300 dollars in books," he said.
According to Allen, participating students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.4. He said this is the second year for the scholarship program.
Students who participate in the program have a variety of duties. They must teach various skills to the scouts so the boys can earn their merit badges.
"Scout masters' duties include teaching the scouts the scout oath, camping skills and morals," Allen said. "Cub masters teach the younger boys how to get along with other cub members and encourage others to be scouts."
Eagle scout Curtis Franklin also volunteers at the Bickford Community Center as a scout master.
Franklin, a sophomore psychology major, is in charge of Boy Scouts 11 years of age and up.
"I help the young boys acquire important leadership skills," Franklin said.
Franklin said he disciplines his scouts by making them do push-ups.
Westside High School seventh grader Markeith Swain said he enjoys the camping trips, but dislikes the push-ups.
"The Scouts have taught me how to respect people," Swain said.
Allen said scouting helps the young men feel like they are a part of something. He encourages young men to join the Scouts instead of gangs. He said young men usually start joining gangs around the ages of 11 to 18.
"Scouting is a gang itself," Allen said. "Except we teach just the opposite--a positive, instead of a negative."
Some parents of the program said they enjoy what the Scouts are doing for their sons.
Cub Scout parent Lois Thomas said her son loves the program.
"It gives him something to do," Thomas said. "It's a good program if they continue it."
Allen said the program tries to instill religious values in its members.
Bailey scholars said participants undergo training throughout the year in cub basics and scout master fundamentals.
"The most beneficial aspect is that if one young man can go to college, it means another one can too," Allen said. "We need more men to train our young men on how to become role models. It allows them to put something back in the community, whether you came from that community or not."
