Clay Prosise, a Monacan High School student, knows how he has benefited from his years as a Boy Scout. In his last few days spent as a Senior Patrol Leader with Troop 800, the now 18-year-old reflected on his 11-year experience. “Scouting has been with me ever since I was 7 years old,” Prosise said. “I’m about to age out of scouting and the other night, in thinking about it, I wouldn’t be the person I am today without Scouting because of all the things I’ve learned – the leadership, the friendships, everything. It has been such a great thing for me.”

It’s the positive leadership and wilderness skills taught in Boy Scouts that Prosise hopes other young teenage boys in the Midlothian area will take advantage of at the “Webelos to Scout Transition Day” held at Camp Justis in Powhatan County on Saturday, Nov. 15. “The November camp is where we let a bunch of Webelos come and see what Scouting is really about. It’s a great experience for them to really learn how scouts do things and how it is different from Webelos and Cub Scouts. At the same time, it’s great for the Boy Scouts,” Prosise said.

For Cole Suddarth, a Tomahawk Creek student, the camp last year offered a lot of activities from camping demonstrations to BB Target shooting. “I like the activities they had. The zip line, tomahawk throwing – I thought it might be scary; I learned,” Suddarth said about throwing the axe from 15-feet at a target. “I was sometimes accurate; The zip line was fun because you can go upside down and go over the top of a lake. It’s safe and pretty high too,” he said.

Suddarth, who has been in Scouts for two to three years, revels in the outdoor activities such as camping. “If I went camping with my family, not with a Boy Scout Troop, I would know what to do. If I saw poison ivy, or something, I would be able to tell my parents or other kids not to go over there,” he said.

Besides learning about “everyday life and in God and stuff too,” Suddarth has learned survival skills in the wilderness. ‘Shelter first’ is one of the biggest lessons. “Put up your tent nice. My friend, last month, he put up his tent wrong and it poured … it was so bad that the tent got flooded so they couldn’t sleep in the tent anymore. It was so bad that the quartermaster had to take a picture to show Scouts not what to do,” he said.

Fellow Scouts Chris Russotti and Harrison Seaborn have recently joined Troop 800. Both are soaking up the wilderness survival skills. “I’d like to know what plants are poisonous and how to start a fire, and stuff,” Russotti said.

Seaborn looks forward to a lesson in collecting water or finding water to drink that will not make a person sick. 

Suddarth’s survival skills were also put to the test last summer, when he encountered a snake. Although he went as fast as his feet could carry him in the opposite direction of the reptile, he was able to identify it as a non-poisonous black rat snake because of a summer camp with Scouts. “It [Scouts] tells you how to treat snake bites – that you’re not going to die right when you get bitten by a snake,” he said.

Assistant Scout Leader Joe Murdock has been with Troop 800 for the last 7 years because of his teenage sons. “My 18-year-old got his Eagle and I have one that is 16. He’s in Troop 800,” Murdock said.

The development of the kids and the leadership development capabilities and skill sets gained throughout their time in scouting has been a source of pride. Murdock stressed the “Webelos to Scout Transition Day” is not just for Troop 800. “This is more about awareness for the Scouts … for the kids and Scouting and to join a Troop wherever and not about Troop 800. It’s more about letting the community know what’s out there for Boy Scouts,” Murdock said.

The deadline for registration for the free day camp, with lunch included is Saturday, Nov. 8. For more information about the day camp filled with activities and programs on Saturday, Nov. 15, held from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., visit http://www.bsatroop800.net/index.html. The event is open to all second-year Webelos, which are boys who have completed fifth grade or have reached age 10, and for any boy interested in learning more about what the Boy Scouts has to offer.