Best friends say Scouting keeps them on right track

People featured in this column have been selected randomly from the telephone book.

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POTLATCH - Amid all the national news about troubled teens, youth violence and young people floundering for direction, consider the compass that steers the lives of best friends Tristan Hites and Preston Hogaboam.

"Scouting takes up a big part of our life," Tristan says as Preston offers an affirming nod.

In other words, the two 13-year-old seventh-graders at Potlatch Junior High School are doing their best to live by a law, oath and motto.

Tristan recites from memory.

First, the law: "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent."

Second, the oath: "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country. To obey the Scout law. To help other people at all times. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight."

Finally, the motto: "Be prepared."

Again, Preston offers an affirming nod.

Boy Scouts of America. Hokey? Trite? Corny?

Just the opposite, says Tristan and Preston. Scouting not only gives them a sound base upon which to build their future, but offers some pretty cool opportunities in the here-and-now.

"It's fun and we get to go outdoors and stuff," Tristan explains.

This morning, for example, the two will travel with several other members of Troop 358 and three adult leaders to the Snake River corridor, where they will hike more than six miles for an overnight stay at Kirkwood Ranch in Hells Canyon.

"We kind of do our stuff, and then when it gets dark, we play capture the flag," Tristan says of trekking in, setting up camp and then enjoying the evening.

"Until about 11, then we go to bed," Preston says.

Capture the flag is one of those team competitions around which much of Scouting revolves. Among the things Troop 358 is known for, Tristan and Preston say, is its dedication to winning the annual first-aid competition.

"At the first-aid meet we get to compete against people and get cool ribbons," Preston says.

"We've been grand champion every year," Tristan adds.

Their accomplishment, the boys say, puts them in good stead for becoming future emergency medical technicians and Tristan considers it an introduction to his quest of becoming a surgeon.

"They get paid a lot of money," Tristan says of entering the medical field.

"I haven't decided," Preston says of his career plans.

Tristan, Preston and other members of Troop 358 recently attended the funeral of 22-year-old Tyler Brady. A former Scout with the troop, Brady accidentally drowned last month in the Willamette River near Portland.

"It was pretty sad, since he was only like 22." Tristan says.

Next week troop members will don their uniforms and travel to Tekoa, Wash., where they've been asked to attend a meeting to help form a new Scout troop. Both Tristan and Preston are second-class Scouts and have plans to become Eagle Scouts, the highest achievement level in the program.

"I guess it would be just a waste to not become an Eagle Scout." Preston reasons.

"We met when were Tiger Scouts in Cub Scouts," Tristan recalls of the two getting together in first grade. Both are "A" students in school and figure they might be competing for valedictorian honors by the time they graduate from high school.

But in the meantime, they simply plan to keep scouting, enjoying the outdoors and living by the time tested law, oath and motto.

Asked if it's hard to abide by such rules in today's world, the boys don't hesitate to answer.

"No," Preston declares.

"Not really," Tristan affirms.

Preston is the son of Brett and Lisa Hogaboam of Potlatch, and Tristan is the son of Chris and Toni Hites of Potlatch.

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Johnson may be contacted at djohnson@lmtribune.com or (208) 883-0564.