“Scouting is about building a young man or woman to become leaders, to become self-sufficient, and to expand the values of scouting, which is to help others,” Troop 3468 Scoutmaster David Ma said. Established in the summer of 2022, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Troop 3468 strives to nurture these qualities of scouting in the special needs community at FCSN. Through semimonthly troop meetings and monthly outdoor events and camp outs, Troop 3468 not only develops individual character and skills, but also helps every member see and become part of a greater scouting community. 

Amongst the large amount of interest garnered after Ricky Lin’s introduction of scouting to FCSN in the spring of 2022, David and other parents carried the momentum and founded BSA Troop 3468 with around 7-8 scouts. Mainly collaborating with local troops, Troop 468 and 2468, to organize meetings and plan outdoor activities, Troop 3468 has since expanded to have 11-12 official members and more that join in during large outings. 

During regular troop meetings, volunteers from Troop 468 and 2468 mainly lead all the activities, from the beginning opening ceremony and exercises to the skill training for the day and the ending flag service. Split into smaller groups, each volunteer scout works with a few Troop 3468 scouts to teach basic knots, such as the clove hitch and figure eight knot to tie together a tripod flag post. “We hope to create an environment where these kids can learn from our experiences and [where] we can help prepare these kids for life and to become their own leaders,” Troop 468 Scout Volunteer Troy said. 

From 10-mile long day hikes to rifle shooting practices, Troop 3468 furthers their training in the outdoors. On a backpacking trip, the troop camped overnight beside a swimming hole, providing every scout an opportunity to learn how to fish and catch one for themselves. During a family camp, scouts kayaked, canoed, and even learned archery and how to load and shoot a rifle.  “Everytime we camp out, everyone learns something new about themselves,” David said. “Every single camp out, we’ve seen scouts that push beyond what their parents thought they could do.” 

A particularly memorable moment for David was last October at CASA Camporee, a large camp out among all the scouting troops in the Chinese American Scouting Association (CASA), including around 15 boy and girl troops. One time, the troops were standing in lines and saluting the flag as part of a 10-15 minute ceremony; however, due to an additional recognition event being conducted simultaneously, the ceremony ended up being one hour long. “Our scouts stood in line one hour long, without any issues. They weren’t running around the room jumping; they weren’t making noise; they were just standing still, for one hour. All the parents were completely amazed because they didn’t expect that from their kids,” David said. “But I think the kids, they came to a realization that, I’m in a group here, we have to act similarly.” 

Moreover, being a part of such a large gathering of troops at CASA Camporee, all dressed in the same uniform, and saluting the same flag, the scouts in Troop 3468 became immersed in a group larger than themselves. “They’re no longer really just special needs kids. They are scouts like any other scout troop there. They’re all doing the same thing; they’re all saluting the same flag; they’re all part of this one big scouting community,” David said. “Everybody has their individuality, and that’s very important, but sometimes we want them to see that they’re also part of that larger community.”

As a BSA scout, every member of Troop 3468 has their own handbook with a list of rank requirements that increase in challenge with every higher rank. From a new scout to tenderfoot, second class, first class, star, life, and finally eagle and eagle palm, scouts are able to advance through the ranks by completing requirements such as memorizing the Pledge of Allegiance, knowing the scout handshake and salute, assembling personal first-aid kits, demonstrating knowledge in tying different knots, and participating in overnight campouts. Through regular meetings and outdoor trips, scouts have opportunities to practice and earn these rank advancements. 

At the same time, by serving as mentors, volunteer scouts from local troops can further their own ranks and strengthen their leadership skills as well. Whether serving as senior patrol leader, quartermaster, any other youth positions of responsibility, or just as a volunteer, scouts from local troops lead the main organization of regular troop meetings, camp outs and other outdoor events, buddying up with Troop 3468 scouts to develop outdoor skills and embody scout characteristics of trustworthiness, braveness, cleanliness, and more. “Troop and adult leaders see that their scouts can grow as human beings by helping to volunteer with our scouts,” David said. 

In the past few months, Troop 3468 has been working to expand from the East Bay (Fremont) to also include the South Bay (San Jose) area with volunteers from Troops 452, 485, and 606. Every month, troop meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month at FCSN’s Chenming & Margaret Hu Center and two weeks later, at FCSN’s Bascom Center. “I hope Troop 3468 can become a sustainable troop that can grow by itself with additional scouts, volunteers, and adult leaders,” David said. 

Using outdoor activities as a method of teaching, scouting prepares an individual for life – to possess the ability to bestow happiness to others while in the process, growing into a better teammate, leader, and person. “The most important thing is that everybody’s happy and having fun,” David said. “Scouting provides us with an avenue where we can try and do new things as a group — together.”

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For more information on how to become involved or any questions about the troop, please email David Ma at t3468scoutmaster@gmail.com.