Jeffrey Baldwin, Pharm.D., associate professor of pharmacy practice in the College of Pharmacy, has a lot of fond memories of his work with the Boy Scouts over the past 25 years.
One that sticks out involves a burro and a can of Spam at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.
“It was the burro pack race and several scouts in our backpacking crew were pitted against two other teams — one from Arkansas and one from Japan,” Dr. Baldwin said. “You had to pack your burro and then guide it two hundred yards and back to win. Well, just about fifty feet from the finish line our burro got a real stubborn streak and decided to stop.
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College of Pharmacy associate professor Jeffrey Baldwin, Pharm.D., with his wife, Sue, at a recent scouting dinner. The Baldwins have been involved with scouting for more than 25 years. |
The prize: a can of Spam.
“I’ll never forget the look on their face when they opened that can and saw that jelly-looking meat in there,” Dr. Baldwin said. “It was hilarious and a load of fun.”
That was in 1989 and Dr. Baldwin at the time was a scout leader for a troop of 75 scouts.
Dr. Baldwin — who was a scout himself growing up — got his start in scout leading while helping his youngest son’s pack in the 1980s.
In his 25 years with the Boy Scouts, Dr. Baldwin has been a Tiger partner, Wolf den leader, a cubmaster and scoutmaster.
Today he is serving on the board of trustees and as an executive committee member for the Mid-America Council.
He is the council’s national youth leadership training program director, coordinating advanced leadership training for more than 90 scouts from the Midwest during this weeklong course each June.
Dr. Baldwin has seen both of his sons earn the rank of Eagle Scout as well as 13 Boy Scouts who were in Troop 558 during his four-year tenure as scoutmaster.
“Scouting has demanded a lot of time and effort,” Dr. Baldwin said. “But you get hooked both by having the opportunity to contribute significantly to the growth and development of youth as well as the chance to forge many friendships and community contacts that have endured.”
Despite his sons being out of scouting for about 15 years, Dr. Baldwin and his wife, Sue, remain involved with the activity because it allows them to stay connected with their community, youth and the outdoors.
“It has allowed us to maintain contact with a lot of people in the same way a church would,” Dr. Baldwin said. “And frankly, I need my outdoor time.
“Besides,” he said, “you should see the stars from the scout camp. They’re absolutely beautiful.”