Scout's Honor: A Father's Unlikely Foray Into the Woods

I have accused the author of having a mole in our troop. Can the experience for boys and parents associated with Boy Scouting be so universal? I have purchased 6 copies to provide to eagle scouts from 18 yr.s to 60 yr.s.,agree or disagree with the author's opinions on today's scouting image, Peter has us laughing and talking about today's and tomorrow's scouting experience.

Having been greeted with "Guess what! They made me the Cubmaster!" about nine years ago, I can honestly say that this book accurately portrays my and my husband's experience and opinion of Scouting. It's bittersweet today, with my son (an Eagle Scout) leaving high school and entering the Air Force (an institution into which he will enter at a higher rank thanks to his Eagle achievement).We would never trade our Scouting experience, including the both the ups (upon his "crossing over" to Boy Scouts, presenting my son the axe his grandfather had machined before Kyle was born and realizing the sheath was made for a left-hander--which Kyle is) and the downs (watching the Weather Channel for days before a campout).Mr. Applebome also hit home with his reluctance to support an organization which practices intolerance. My brother is an Eagle Scout (after all, you're an Eagle Scout forever, right?), but as an openly gay man, could never become involved with troop leadership.Although the BSA has all the problems associated with any large organization (dependency on enrollment numbers, outside pressures, funding, etc.), it still can be a valuable experience for any young man in this country. If you want to know what Scouting is all about, grab a copy of Scout's Honor and set aside some time. Just like Scouting, you'll be glad you made the effort!

Unlike many writers of first-person accounts, Peter Applebome has done his homework. He is an excellent reporter with a keen eye for detail, whether he's describing the history of scouting, its contemporary existence or the evolution of his relationship with his son, Ben, through scouting.Mr. Applebome truly understands the essence of scouting and the Boy Scouts of America - not just the often shrill opinions of their many advocates and detractors, and he conveys that understanding in a way that will captivate readers. Those same readers - especially parents and children from their mid-teens on up - will also benefit greatly from the author's insights into his own growth as a parent, not to mention his son's increasing wisdom and maturity.

I am a suburban mom with a 10 year old son (non-scout, couch potato). I could not put this book down. I laughed out loud and I cried. Applebome's personal growth and conflicts within the Boy Scouts had me on a roller coaster. At one moment the wholesome, back to nature bonding he enjoyed with his son had me wanting to sign my son up with the local troop, while a few pages later, his honest discussions with other Scoutmasters about the moral dilemmas they found themselves in had me considering a letter of protest to the same local troop. His(kinder, gentler) Woody Allen comedic humor toward all outdoor adventures made the moments of enlightenment all the more sweet. This book will make you want to drag your kids away from the computer screen and run to the nearest park for a hike in the woods. My only regret is tht I didn't wait a few more weeks to pick it up because I doubt I'll be able to find a more enjoyable summer read.

You don't have to be a dad or even have a son to thoroughly enjoy Peter Applebome's, Scout's Honor. A laugh-out-loud, wonderfully crafted exploration of a dad's childhood memories and suburban life versus his son's desire to create his own sense of self and belonging in the Boy Scout's and the wilderness. Incorporating his own suburban foibles and observations, Mr. Applebome shares stories of his own outdoors inadequacies and how the total experience of being in the wilderness with his son transformed him into a true believer of the teachings of the Scouts and forever forged a special bond with his son.