This Purdue University program helps Scouting alumni stay connected with Scouting

When Eagle Scout Janith D’Alwis started his college days at Purdue University, he noticed early on that something was missing.

“In high school, Scouting was a big part of my life — probably 10 hours a week,” D’Alwis says. “When I entered college, it was a pretty big drop-off. You’re suddenly just kind of out of it. So, I started looking for opportunities in Scouting here.”

Enter Scouting Purdue, a student organization dedicated to giving Scouting alumni at Purdue the opportunity to stay connected with the organization that has meant so much to them for much of their lives.

“Our mission is to cultivate a dynamic and inclusive community of Scouting alumni, students and volunteers dedicated to service, leadership and personal development,” says the organization’s mission statement. “We aim to create a lasting culture of leadership, integrity and friendship that enhances the Purdue experience for generations to come.”

The organization currently serves more than 80 registered members who volunteer for events hosted by the nearby Sagamore Council, participate in official Purdue events and go camping and hiking on their own. While the majority of members are undergraduate students, the program is also open to Purdue graduate students, faculty, staff and other community members with ties to the university.

The lost years

It’s not uncommon for Scouting alumni to drift away from the program during their college and early adult years. Though many of them return if they have kids and those kids become Cub Scouts, many others are lost forever.

College-based organizations like Scouting Purdue can help bridge that gap by keeping them engaged with Scouting during those years.

Associate professor Michael Witt, who serves as Scouting Purdue’s faculty advisor, says Scouting Purdue not only keeps Scouting alumni engaged with the program, but also connects its members to other Scouting alumni in the workforce, resulting in increased networking and professional development opportunities.

“It has been a joy to serve as the faculty advisor for Scouting Purdue and to encourage our students to carry the ideals and fellowship of Scouting beyond high school into their university experiences,” Witt says. “As these student leaders live out the values of Scouting with fun, creativity and commitment, they are not only shaping a vibrant future for our club, but they are also becoming the kind of leaders that are needed by their professions as well as our country and communities.”

Serving their local council

Over the last couple of years, members of Scouting Purdue have volunteered at the Sagamore Council’s University of Scouting event, one of the largest such events in the country. It offers advancement opportunities for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA members and adult volunteers.

An event of that size needs volunteers to make it work, and Scouting Purdue provides a ton of them. Scouting Purdue members have also volunteered at Halloween-themed Cub Scout campouts, a “mom and me” Cub Scout weekend and the Scouting 4 Eggs Sagamore Council Easter-themed fundraiser.

“Scouting Purdue creates a pathway for college students and faculty to continue their Scouting journey into the adult chapters of their lives,” says Bryon Haverstick, the Sagamore Council’s Assistant Scout Executive and COO. “This partnership will continue to thrive into the future.”

Joe Azzarello, Scouting America’s national director of alumni relations, says Scouting Purdue, and organizations at other colleges like it, falls under the category of a Scouting alumni community, which also includes council camp alumni associations, civic partner organizations and national vocational or avocational groups.

“The Scouting Purdue group,” Azzarello says, “is a perfect example of what we want to see more of.”

Click here to learn more about Scouting Purdue.

Click here to learn how to get involved in other Scouting alumni communities.