Every Tuesday evening, rain or shine, James Weber is there at the Bow Community Center dressed in his tan-colored Scoutmaster uniform. As the Scouts fill the space one by one, he gathers them in a circle and leads the Scouts BSA Troop 75 in a pledge.
For Weber, who has worked as a Scoutmaster for almost eight years, the best part of the job is watching kids grow into self-assured young adults. He and the other adults he works with share the philosophy that scouting is a youth-driven organization.
“I’ve got a lot of satisfaction out of doing this [being a Scoutmaster] because I feel that I’ve made a positive impact on a lot of kids’ lives over all these years,” said Weber.
Growing up in rural South Georgia, Weber himself was a Scout. Taking part in outdoor adventures like canoeing and camping with his troop taught him basic survival skills, such as first aid, starting a fire and cooking. But most importantly, he learned to make sound decisions in less-than-ideal situations. That’s exactly what he wants to instill in his Scouts.
Weber relocated to New Hampshire 15 years ago and now resides in Bow. His day job is with the state’s environment department as a dam safety engineer. But he always devotes at least 15 to 20 per week to the Scouts.
Throughout Weber’s time as Scoutmaster, Robert Ives has worked alongside him as an assistant Scoutmaster. He has witnessed Weber make big plans for the Scouts and always supports them.
“He’s always right there behind the Scouts,” said Ives. “He’s just there for them all the time.”
Initially, Weber served as a den leader and then a cub master before becoming a Scoutmaster.
Challenges come with the role of a Scoutmaster but they have helped him learn a fair amount about himself. He said that as a Scoutmaster, he must let the Scouts make mistakes as long as they are not life-threatening or pose a safety risk because that is how they learn.
“As an adult, your tendency is to step in and say no, do it this way,” Weber explained. ” I had to learn a lot of restraint and a lot of patience.”
Scouting programs, according to Weber, are valuable because they have a constructive impact on children. He recalls working with a Cub Scout who emphasized the program’s value to him. The boy’s family faced numerous difficulties. As a result, the boy didn’t have many opportunities. He didn’t do anything outdoors either. But while at the scouting program, Weber said, he gained self-confidence and improved his physical fitness. The boy even went on to become an Eagle Scout, the highest scouting rank.
“I think the scouting program is extremely important because it gives us and especially today’s youth, who spend a lot of time on screens and not outside, an opportunity to grow and enjoy the outdoors, ” said Weber.
Ives has been involved in scouting programs for a long time and has never met a Scoutmaster who is such an excellent organizer as Weber. He said that when Weber proposes a trip or activity, it turns into a mammoth-sized project that always works out.
“He’s just that kind of charismatic guy,” Ives said. “He doesn’t try to force it”
Scouts, according to Weber, do more than just go on camping trips. They also participate in fundraising activities and community work. As part of their food scouting program, the troop recently collected nearly 14,000 food items.
Even though Weber takes the lead in coaching and providing direction to the Scouts, he insists it is a team effort.
“It takes a lot of volunteers and a lot of adults to support what we do as a troop and it’s certainly not just a one-man show,” said Weber.
