Scouting has been part of Bill Hammett’s life since he was 11 years old, when he followed his older brother into the program. Bill became an Eagle Scout at 16, and years later, he watched all three of his sons follow the same path.
Today, he is helping five Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance mentees begin Scouting journeys of their own.
This spring, five Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance mentees joined Scouting America’s Troop 16, with Bill providing scholarships to cover their dues, uniforms, outings and a week of summer camp.
“What struck me was the alignment between the Mentoring Alliance and Scouting,” Bill said. “Both are about access to experiences that help young people prepare for life and for the real world. It made a lot of sense.”
Scouting combines outdoor adventure with practical skills, leadership and service. Scouts learn to camp, cook, administer first aid and work as a team. They also set goals and advance through the ranks by earning merit badges and taking on new responsibilities. They run their own meetings, plan their activities, serve their community, and learn to rely on one another.
“It’s skill-based confidence building,” Bill said. “You’re learning practical skills, but you’re also practicing leadership at the same time.”
That confidence is already beginning to grow. After summer camp, one mother shared that her son had “the best week of his life.”
Experiences like these are exactly what Bill hoped the scholarships would make possible. “The cost of Scouting—or simply not knowing about the program—should not prevent a young person from taking part.”
The Mentoring Alliance reached out to families of its 11-year-old mentees to introduce them to Scouting. Families quickly expressed interest, bringing five new members into Troop 16.
“We were thrilled when this opportunity came about,” said Susie Gallo of the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance. “Our work is about helping young people have access to experiences and opportunities they may not otherwise have—opportunities that expand their horizons and help them see themselves differently in their community and in the world. Bill’s generosity has opened that door for these five mentees.”
The Scout Motto is “Be Prepared,” and the values behind the program are reflected in the Scout Oath, which Scouts repeat at meetings, campfires and outings:
“On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”
But Scouts do more than recite these words. As they advance, they are asked to think about what the values mean and how they can live them in their everyday lives.
Bill hopes these five young people will gain an appreciation for the outdoors, a sense of belonging and the confidence to pursue whatever they want to do in life.
Giving takes many forms. We are deeply grateful to Bill for sharing something that has meant so much to him and his family and for opening a new world of adventure and possibility for our mentees.