Side by Side: A Grandmother and Grandson’s Path Through Scouting
When Cameron H. first joined Scouting as a Webelos Scout, his grandmother, Debra Bunch, wasn’t planning to become a Scoutmaster or mentor to dozens of youth. She just wanted to be there for him. But through years of shared adventures, service, and leadership, their journey together has not only shaped Cameron’s path to Eagle—it’s helped strengthen and expand the very fabric of Scouting in their community.
Debra’s story is one of love, perseverance, and the power of showing up.
“Where he goes, I go. What he does, I do,” she said. That motto guided Debra through every campout, merit badge, leadership training, and Order of the Arrow ceremony. As Cameron thrived in the program, Debra studied Scouting’s methods, took on leadership roles, and walked beside him every step of the way—even earning Firecrafter and Order of the Arrow’s Brotherhood rank alongside him.
Watching Cameron, who is on the autism spectrum, develop confidence and step into leadership roles gave Debra a front-row seat to the life-changing impact Scouting can have. “He started applying the skills he learned not only in Scouting, but in our church and in school as well,” she said. “He became a junior usher at church, an upstander at school, and took on recycling service projects. He even completed his Eagle Scout project at his old school, solving a real health hazard by installing cutout coyotes to deter geese from congregating and leaving a mess on the playground.”
For Cameron, the leadership opportunities have been one of the most valuable parts of Scouting. “It has helped me today by allowing me to lead others and myself,” he said. “Now I work as a swim instructor at the YMCA, and I’ll be taking lifeguard training soon. Scouting helped prepare me for that.”
But perhaps the most powerful part of Cameron’s Scouting journey has been the bond he shares with his grandmother. “It’s like having our own language,” Debra said. “When I received my Wood Badge (beads), he pinned them on me. At his Eagle Court of Honor, I pinned (his Eagle award on) him, and he gave me the grandparent and mentor pins. It’s something just the two of us share.”
Recently, Debra agreed to help launch a girl’s troop. Starting with just five girls, the troop now has nine Scouts and Debra is proud to be leading them on their own journeys toward the Eagle Scout rank.
“The most rewarding part is watching youth become confident in their own ability,” she said. “You teach them a skill, step back, and let them try. They may make mistakes, but they learn and grow. They fail forward.”
Debra hopes more parents, grandparents, and caregivers will step into volunteer roles, even in small ways. “Scouting offers a sense of belonging for youth and adults alike. The program only works when adults step up and share their time and talents. You don’t need to know everything—just show up, and you’ll be glad you did.”
Cameron has a few years left in the program, and Debra knows he’ll use that time to give back. But whether he’s wearing his Scout uniform or his lifeguard whistle, one thing remains constant: he’s not doing it alone.
In Scouting, youth may lead—but it’s dedicated adult volunteers like Debra who keep the movement going strong, generation after generation.