President Supple signed our Boy Scout charter application in 1991 making us the first Exploring unit for college age students within the Scouting America Learning for Life program. We've enjoyed a strong relationship with Scouting ever since.
Our college members have benefited from the Scouting association, participating on Philmont backpacking trips, district camporees, and national jamborees. We've climbed Colorado 14'ers and crawled through Mexican caves. All of our “Boy Scout” activities have been co-ed activities, with our female and male students both strong participants.
We were first, and continue, as a unit in the Scouting America (Boy Scouts) Learning for Life program. We were the first (in 1991) to be chartered at the college level. We are different than most other Scouting Medical Exploring units; in that we serve college students. Typical Learning for Life units serve high school students.
The picture to the right is one of our Scout Sunday crews
The idea of using the Scouting Learning for Life Exploring model was suggested by Mr. Burdick, owner of an international manufacturing company. Mr. Burdick was a strong supporter and had helped bring scouting back to many “Iron Curtain” countries. He saw the value of the high school level Exploring career awareness program for college students, helping them better understand their future careers.
President Supple, then Southwest Texas State University, saw the value of the career awareness Exploring program and signed our Scouting charter application. He wanted new opportunities for ‘his” students. Our program has remained true to the original “career awareness" purposes, but we've gone beyond that vision by providing hands-on volunteer opportunities helping students in their decisions.
Dr. Supple asked us to do more than the usual high school Exploring Post. He was looking for healthcare activities that were not commonly available for undergraduates. He understood the challenges and safety concerns in health careers, so he also insisted that “Safety” be our job “Number One.”
Many of our Medical Explorers had never been camping. The experience was eye-opening for some
Dr. Charles Johnson was asked to be the first Medical Explore Advisor. He had many years as a Boy Scout leader beginning at the Cub Scout level. Dr. Johnson merged his scout and explorer crews for many Rocky Mountain treks. He has many stories of hiking in over the Tooth of Time where everyone (all genders & ages) had Tears of Joy as they hiked under the Philmont arch that read “You've Made IT!"
In 2020, helping Lion Clubs with community service projects, we realized that our purposes overlapped. Lion Larkin Smith, PDG, also a Medical Explorer leader and EMT, encouraged our charter as an Omega Leo Club within Lions Clubs International. We jumped at the chance to be chartered to the two largest service clubs in the world devoted to “Service.”
Our purpose is the same: we're just stronger!
