Fulfilling an oath

PORTALES — The oath of the Boy Scouts of America means to perform with purpose and morals.

Or, as Conquistador Council member Greg Hearn said, “to keep oneself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”

There is also the Scout Law, Conquistador Council Commissioner Duane Foster said, which includes 12 things to be — trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

The oath and the law are front and center at Oasis State Park by the Conquistador Council of the BSA Friday through today.

The Roswell-based Conquistador Council includes five districts — including the El Llano Grande district representing Curry, Roosevelt and De Baca counties.

Two troops and one pack out of Portales and three to four troops and five packs out of Clovis participated in this weekend’s events, including a Mulligan Stew feast, Hearn said.

“They learn to be prepared. They learn good outdoor skills,” said Hearn. “We’re trying to make better citizens out of them... we try to teach them to contribute.”

Skills include camping and first aid, as well as a number of merit badges including fishing, safety, astronomy and exploration.

Conquistador Council Commissioner Duane Foster, a merit badge councilor, said his 1970 Eagle Scout award influences how he approaches today’s scouts.

“I’m just interested in returning what my parents or other leaders have taught me,” he said. “I’m responsible for setting the example.”

That includes Scout Law, which maintains scouts must be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

The group interactions are among a number of memorable things for Cub Scout member Matthew Del Toro, 10, and Boy Scouts member Carlos Grajeda, 13.

“I like fishing, camping and just social networking with all the other scouts,” said Del Toro, a Cub Scout since first grade. “It’s helped me to get to know more people. It’s taught me a lot about the wilderness too.”

Grajeda agreed camping was a favorite activity to do with his fellow scouts.

“You get to learn more things and when you head out you get to learn your surroundings better,” he said.

Grajeda added he takes to heart learning more of his surroundings, watching out for poison ivy, snakes, bears and potentially poisonous fruits.

Another challenge, Del Toro said, is “trying to sleep in the cold” while camping.

But for all the challenges, scouting provides plenty of memorable moments.

Grajeda said there were quite a lot, while “camping for the first time and getting to fish here by the lake” were experiences Del Toro said he really enjoys.

Nevertheless, both said it comes down to holding true to the motto of the scouts: Be prepared.