To the Board of Review

Isaac is an interesting character.

He has an immense capacity to learn and memorize seemingly obscure bits of information, but if the information isn’t immediately pertinent to what he wants to do, he doesn’t bother.

As his father, I’ve seen him use that ability time and again on topics he’s passionate about – and I’ve seen him ignore that ability when the passion isn’t there.

That’s one of the reasons I’m thrilled to see him participate in Scouting.

When he began collecting Scout patches, for example, he could tell you at a glance what patches were valuable to a collector, and which could be passed on at patch swaps without a second glance. When we once worried about whether he’d surrender patches we thought were valuable on a whim, we now caution those who go to patch swaps with him to be aware he’s a bit of a patch shark.

When he saw his older brother and sister participate as counselors in training and then as full counselors at Scout camps in the Grand Teton Council, he pined to join them – and learned quite a bit about the areas he wished to work in, even before he was eligible. When he became eligible, he used his capacity for learning and his passion for Scouting to quickly become a CIT to be reckoned with.

Scouting gives him focus, gives him the passion he needs to use his God-given abilities, all the while giving back to those who need to earn that certain merit badge, or who need a camp counselor they can count on to work hard where others might slack off or give up.

I’m grateful that Scouting gives him this focus, because as he sees his focus grow in Scouting, he sees where he can use his focus in his studies at school, or his efforts to become closer to his family and his God at home and at church.

I’m grateful for Scouting’s leaders, from Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, to Jeff Fullmer, Isaac’s most recent Scoutmaster, for first forming a program meant to help boys channel and focus their abilities into developing newfound passions, and also for helping these boys help others around them with the passions and knowledge Scouting helps them develop.

Though Isaac tries to deny it, I know he enjoys the leadership opportunities Scouting has given him. I look forward to watching Isaac continue to mature as Scouting continues to be a positive shaping influence on his character. Scouting has done things for Isaac that I alone as a father could not have done. I heartily recommend Isaac as an Eagle Scout, as the passion that brought him to this point is his.

Sincerely,

Brian Davidson