Some of my earliest memories involve camping in the woods, sitting around a campfire and fishing on a lake as part of Scouts. Alongside my dad, I learned the importance of being helpful, how to read a map, how to tie knots, how to be prepared, how to respect the environment, how to plan and how to lead. Today, Scouting reminds me of some of my favorite memories with my dad that I cherish.

I love Scouts because of the vast number of experiences it provides, the skills you develop, and the character and leadership it fosters in our youth. Scouting also plants the seed of community, civic duty and the importance of doing a good turn daily. As an Eagle Scout, I hoped our daughters, Sydney and Riley, would take to Scouting as much as I did as a young man.

My daughters are part of local Scouts BSA Troop 4026 joining as the sister group of Troop 26, one that has met for nearly 70 years at nearby Camp Stephens, serving the South Asheville community. If you drive on Clayton Road as you connect from Long Shoals to Brevard Road, you have passed by Camp Stephens and its large barn filled with Scouting supplies, canoes, camping gear, picnic tables and an outdoor amphitheater stadium with a giant campfire ring. If you pass by today, you will see that Hurricane Helene decimated Camp Stephens, including the camp buildings, equipment, canoes, patrol flags, photographs and awards earned by countless Scouts over the years.

We are committed to rebuilding Camp Stephens and making it an even stronger resource for the community. We want to teach our youth the Scouting spirit of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. In order to build back stronger than before, we need your help.

With contributions from our supportive community, we are confident that we can rebuild Camp Stephens giving Scouts a place to thrive for decades to come. Let’s give other Scouts the opportunity to learn about the importance of community, service, life and outdoor skills by rebuilding their home away from home. With your help — no contribution is too small — we can help shape future generations with a resilient spirit and the childhood magic of creating unforgettable memories.

Go to campstephens.givesmart.com.