After Anne Manusky volunteered to be an assistant den leader for her oldest son's Cub Scout pack five years ago, she was hooked. The Easton resident has since been a den leader for two of her three sons and does not plan on stopping anytime soon.
"I have three boys, so I'm destined to be a Cub Scout mom for awhile," said Manusky, who helps oversee the den, a part of a pack of 76 boys in first through fifth grade. "We're seeing in the last two to three years, that more parents are becoming involved in scouting," she said, attributing the increasing numbers to a growing sense of community involvement. "Every year you go through a lot of change and some kids won't continue on. But for the most part parents will be the driving force, especially for this age."
Manusky, who was in Girl Scouts herself until seventh grade, said being involved in scouting helps children build character.
"I really enjoyed it and still keep up with my friends who were my friends when I was in Brownies. So it builds long-lasting friendships, I think, and a lot of character building, a lot of fun activities for the kids to do that they don't always get to do," she said.
Throughout the year, Manusky and the other leaders plan activities with input from the boys. The Blue and Gold Dinner in the spring, summer camp, letterboxing and the Rolnick Observatory on Route 136 are some of the highlights each year, along with the Pinewood Derby, in which the boys work with family members to build boxcars and race each other. "I just know how important it is for kids to have good fun activities that build their self-esteem, at this age especially," she said.
To register for Cub Scouts or for more information, contact Manusky by email.
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