UNIVERSITY STUDENT SHARES SCOUTING KINDNESS

Nick Roberts remembers the first time he put on his blue Cub Scout uniform. He was 7. The uniform had no special patches, but he was determined to fill that shirt with special recognition. He did.

A university student, Roberts spends much of his free time helping others experience boy scouting.

Roberts is the den leader for Cub Scout Pack 4007 at May Greene School. He also coordinated the Merit Bade University, which brought more than 280 Boy Scouts together, they earned more than 200 merit badges.

On campus, Roberts is involved with a service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, which is chartered as an Explorer Scout Post. More than 50 members are involved.

Roberts will be working this summer at Cape Lewellen. To ensure he is prepared for any emergency that might arise, Roberts is taking a first responders course.

But Tom Turpin, scouting executive in Cape Girardeau, said that is the way Roberts works.

"He's very quiet, but he's very thorough and detailed," said Turpin. "He accomplishes things through teamwork and is able to put groups of people together to work."

Roberts said, "Scouts felt like a family. I grew up with Scouts."

Boy Scouts helped him develop leadership skills and the ability to come up with plans and carry them through. He also practiced his skills at various leadership positions within the scout troop.

"My first job was to follow," Roberts said. "The older scouts always looked out for the younger scouts. I was taught many different knots, as well as trees, plants and birds. Summer camp was the best experience of my life."

Now Roberts sees a way to give other youngsters that same opportunity. He is majoring in recreation with a minor in botany at Southeast Missouri State University and plans to become a professional scout.

At May Greene, he has volunteered twice a month for the past two years with the Classroom Scouting program. "This gives us a chance to interact with kids in the community and gives us a chance to give back a little to the community."

"As I was growing up, I saw how the leaders and volunteers gave their time and weekends, that they could be spending with their families, so they could do the things I'm helping the younger scouts do now," Roberts said.