Ask This Old House cast member shares memories of Scouting, and other good news from this week

“I was a Scout pretty much my entire childhood,” says Nathan Gilbert, a carpenter on Ask This Old House, a spinoff of the classic This Old House TV series. “You learn a lot about everything, and that does carry on with you later in life.”

Gilbert’s interview comes at the beginning of episode 1, season 22 of Ask This Old House. In the episode, the crew helps a Girl Scout troop with a service project. This prompts Gilbert, an Eagle Scout, to reflect fondly on his own time in Scouting.

“Self-sufficiency was a really big thing I learned, and that’s something that without a doubt has gone with me the rest of my life,” he says. “How to handle situations. How to talk to people. It’s the leadership. It’s the self-sufficiency.”

You can watch Gilbert’s interview in its entirety below, or click here to stream the entire episode.

Scouts clear land to help geologist complete important project

Historians believe that dozens — maybe hundreds — of British soldiers were buried during the American Revolution in a graveyard at what is now a church in Summerfield, North Carolina.

The problem is, the ground is so overrun with vegetation and debris, it’s impossible for scientists to do the kind of testing needed to confirm the theory.

Enter Scouts BSA Troop 600, which volunteered to do the dirty work necessary to allow geologists to bring in ground-penetrating radar equipment.

“We’re clearing out all the twigs and logs, and some of the adults are cutting down trees with chainsaws,” says one Scout. “I think it’s really cool to be involved in something like this, and I think it’s crazy cool that our community has such big history just like this.”

Learn more about this project in this story from Fox 8 in High Point, N.C.

Cub Scouts meet city councilman

The Cub Scouts of Pack 589 from Sebastian, Florida, had questions, and Councilman Ed Dodd, thankfully, was happy to provide answers.

“They were highly interested in what steps the city is taking to protect the environment, how the city creates laws, what is the job of a council member, and what are the biggest problems facing the city,” Dodd says.

The Cub Scouts also asked Dodd about the city charter, wastewater management and stormwater runoff, and how the city handles big events such as the upcoming Sebastian Centennial Celebration and July 4th fireworks.

Read more about the inquisitive Cub Scouts in this story from the Sebastian Daily.


About Aaron Derr 504 Articles
Aaron Derr is the senior editor of Scout Life and Scouting magazines, and also a former Cubmaster and Scouts BSA volunteer.