The 12 boys and five adults hiked six to nine miles a day in New Mexico mountains for 12 days through rain and shine, each carrying a 45-pound pack. They had blisters, sore backs and wet sleeping bags. There was no cellphone service.
But no one complained. Instead, they solved problems and experienced the satisfaction of completing the hike and earning Scout merit badges.
Sean Roy is an adult who was on the hike. He is also the CEO of San Diego/Imperial Counties Boy Scouts of America where he leads 6,500 boys and girls and 4,000 adults participating in Scouting.
Although growing up he was never officially a Scout, Roy credits the program with helping him overcome significant difficulties at home.
Born in 1969, Roy was raised in Yuba City along with two sisters.
“We were poor and on public assistance,” Roy said. “We were a dysfunctional family with our parents constantly fighting. My sister filed a lawsuit and was emancipated at 16.”
“My father had a violent temper and could not keep jobs. He would get into fights even with people he didn’t know. He would throw things at home and yell.
“My parents never asked about grades, helped with homework or offered guidance.”
Roy said he was a bad student and did not participate in after-school activities, such as sports.
However, from an early age he loved the outdoors and aspired to become a forest ranger.
So, in 1984 at age 15, when he was invited to visit a friend at a Scout camp near Truckee, he jumped at the opportunity. His friend’s parents drove him to the camp.
“I was blown away,” Roy said.
He ended up working at the camp’s trading post and continued working at the camp the following 7 summers.
“I was not able to Scouts. But, working at the camp I was exposed to Scouting, its values, mentorship and the outdoors,” Roy said. “I went hiking and camping with my friend, his parents and the Scouts. They treated me as one of the kids.
“For the first time in my life I was asked about my school courses and grades. I saw a different way of life.”
He began working the cash at the trading post and eventually advanced to program director. Later, he served as camp director at four other Scout camps.
After graduating high school in 1987, Roy attended college part time and worked various jobs during the school year and at the camp during summers to cover expenses. He graduated from University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1997 with a bachelor’s in recreation management, intent on working with the Scouts.
Today, he and his wife of 24 years, Tina, live in Temecula with their two sons, 16 and 13, both of whom are Scouts. Their oldest is an Eagle Scout and their youngest is working toward it.
Roy is their assistant Scout master.
“I learned what not to do as a parent while growing up,” he said.
Roy progressed through Scout management ranks to become this region’s Scout leader three years ago. He commutes to Scout headquarters in Balboa Park.
Among his initiatives is “ScoutReach,” a program intended to attract families to Scouting. ScoutReach offers financial help and other assistance, including guided overnight camping near Otay Lakes, designed to make it easier for families to learn about and participate in Scouting.
“I’ve championed getting the whole family involved,” Roy said. “Given my background, this is something near and dear to my heart.”
Roy said he believes Scouting is more relevant today than ever.
“Every parent’s challenge is screen time. Scouting gets them outside with others and away from the screen,” he said.
Most importantly, he said, Scouting offers mentorship, character-building and values such as hard-work, achievement and ability.
“Scouts learn to overcome problems and rebound from failure,” Roy said. “We give merit badges that are earned.
“I think we are what many young families are looking for. We just have to introduce them to Scouting.”
About this series
Goldsmith is a Union Tribune contributing columnist.
We welcome reader suggestions of people who have done something extraordinary or otherwise educational, inspiring or interesting and who have not received much previous media. Please send suggestions to Jan Goldsmith at [email protected]
