I began my Scouting journey in 1988 as a Cub Scout with Pack 199 in the Southern Sierra Council. I joined at age nine, and at the time my interests were divided. I had already been involved in AYSO soccer for 3 years, and throughout Cub Scouting I often balanced meetings and activities with my soccer commitments. During my final year as a Webelos Scout, I also became involved in baseball, which further competed for my time. As a result of missed meetings, I ultimately did not earn the Arrow of Light.

When I became eligible for Scouts BSA, my father asked me to choose between continuing with soccer or committing fully to Scouting. I chose Scouting without hesitation; it was where I felt most engaged and challenged. I transferred into Troop 199 and immersed myself in the program.

During my first year in Troop 199, my father persuaded the troop’s adult leadership to allow me and my best friend—also a new transfer from Pack 199—to participate in a high-adventure trek planned for the older, more experienced Scouts: 50 miles on foot and 50 miles by float. I was not well prepared; my camping experience at that point consisted of only a few short outings, often in drive-up campsites. This trek, however, began with the troop being dropped in a remote area near the Upper Colorado River in Arizona, followed by two weeks on the river, camping wherever we came ashore.

That trip shaped me in lasting ways and introduced me to experiences I will never forget—navigating serious risk, learning firsthand about hypothermia, filtering water to drink, and adapting to the realities of backcountry travel. Although some moments were intimidating at the time, the experience confirmed that I had made the right choice in committing to Scouting. The following year (1992), Troop 199 attended a more traditional summer camp program at Camp Kern, the Scout camp owned and operated by the Southern Sierra Council. I quickly fell in love with camp life. In 1993, I attended as a Scout for the first week and then stayed for the remainder of the summer as volunteer staff. That experience led to multiple seasons as paid staff as both a youth and an adult. In total, I served at Camp Kern for 11 seasons (1993–1998 and 2000–2005), and it remains a special place in my life.

After my final season at camp and after aging out of the program as a youth—just short of earning Eagle Scout by one merit badge and a service project—I remained involved in Scouting (with the exception of a brief period from 2013 to 2017) in a variety of roles. Due to work and a desire for new experiences, I relocated to the East Coast and currently serve as a Roundtable Commissioner for the Crossroads District in the Garden State Council. I also volunteer as the Council Technology Committee Chair.

Scouting has been an integral part of my life and has played a major role in shaping who I am. I credit it with strengthening my relationship with my father, developing my character, and helping me become the person I am today. I take pride in doing my part to ensure other Scouts have access to those same formative experiences, and I am especially grateful that young women now have the opportunity to benefit from the promise of Scouting as well.

I am very “by the book” when it comes to Scouting. In practical terms, that means if the Scout Handbook states that a Scout will have the opportunity to learn and do something, then we should deliver that experience. I view this as part of the promise of Scouting. I experienced that promise firsthand, and it changed my life. My goal is to ensure today’s Scouts have the same opportunity to grow through a program that is delivered with integrity and consistency. I hope you see that commitment reflected throughout this section of my site.