Scouting experience crosses the globe

By Meredyth Albright

Editor

Little did Anthony Hook know that hosting a German Boy Scout three years ago would result in a similar experience for him this year.

Hook, 16, a member of Rhinelander Boy Scout Troop 560 had the experience, through a Samoset Boy Scout Council Venture Crew, to travel to Tubingeng, Germany, a city of about 70,000 people near Stuttgart.

After a week living with a family, Hook spent a week at a Boy Scout camp where he noticed several differences from the scouting program in the U.S.

One of the biggest differences is that the scouting program is co-ed and the camp in Westerhoehe is much different from the structured programming at Camp Tesomas.

"At the German summer camp, each troop finds their own things to do," Hook said.

The first day was spent setting up tents, building a dining fly and building a flag pole.

During the week the scouts walked to a nearby lake and held their own Olympics. Food preparation was done at each camp site and the rules regarding lights out were adjusted to the scouts staying up later and waking later than campers at Camp Tesomas. The relaxed attitude Hook noticed about daily structure extended to the uniforms which are worn much more casually than in the United States. He said uniform shirts are not buttoned nor are they tucked in.

The Hook family's experience of hosting scout Mathis Schuler in 2001 solidified his interest in the German Language, which he studied his first two years at Rhinelander High School and which will continue the next two years.

The knowledge of the language helped him some, although many of the younger people do speak English.

"In Germany it's now required that all students take at least two years of English language," Hook said, adding that many people over 35 do not speak English.

At camp he had the opportunity to reconnect with Schuler although schedules and location did not allow for an opportunity to meet Schuler's family.

While the trip was organized by the Samoset Boy Scout Council each scout paid for their own expenses associated with the trip. Hook worked a part-time job to raise funds and received some additional support from several area businesses.