82 • <strong>December</strong> <strong>2015</strong>/<strong>January</strong> <strong>2016</strong>
Henderson wanted to be involved with her son, so she became a den leader three years ago. “He is doing things that he would never have been able to do with a single mom,” she said. “The memories we’re making are very special.” “When these boys come together, there’s no black or white, rich or poor. Everyone is equal whether we’re working or playing,” he said. “At school they might not have ever been friends, but come a scouting activity, and they’re all friends. It’s one place where it doesn’t matter what you do – athletics, band, theater or being smart. What matters is you belong here.” Bridges and White grew up in scouting. “We didn’t do cool stuff then like we do now,” Bridges said. “We don’t just go camping or learn to make fires anymore. In 85, we do it to the max. In 85, it’s cool to be a scout.” There’s a weeklong summer camp, several tent campouts and nearly a dozen overnight trips to science museums, observatories, planetariums and battleships. There’s also time for rappelling, swimming, zip-lining, geocaching and mountain biking. Bryce Henderson doesn’t have a favorite. Instead, he says he likes “everything.” His mom prefers the trips, especially spending the night at the McWane Science Museum in Birmingham, Ala. “We slept under this huge tree, so it felt just like camping, but with an indoor bathroom.” Service and leadership are the heart of the 85 program and a point of pride for Bridges and White. It is the foundation of the group’s motto, “We help those who can’t help themselves.” “I tell the boys that people will help any worthwhile cause, but they need leaders to get the ball rolling and they are those leaders. We have rallied the community for tornado relief, comfort supplies for soldiers stationed overseas, food drives and countless hours of community work,” Bridges said. “What seems just like work to us adults is fun for these kids. They not only don’t mind spending their free time and weekends helping others, they think that is normal behavior and it’s what you are supposed to do.” “At the end of every meeting, I challenge my boys to make a difference,” White said. “Make a difference in their communities, their homes, their churches and their schools. They’ve never let me down.” The 85 family is known throughout <strong>Rankin</strong> County for its abilities in organization, leadership and service. “People know they can count on our help,” Bridges said. “We’re a machine that can come in and make it happen, whether it’s for one person or several hundred.” 85’s latest project is heading up the toy drive for Batson Hospital for the council. The boys are working with other scout groups around the state and the community to collect toys and gift cards for kids that have to be admitted to the hospital. “The toys not only provide Christmas cheer for those who are there over the holidays but also throughout the year,” Bridges said. “Doctors and nurses use the toys to help take the kid's minds off of chemo treatments, dialysis and many other illnesses. With over 150,000 patients a year they can use our help.” Each year when registration rolls around, Henderson gives Bryce a choice about the coming year’s extracurricular activities. She asks if he wants to stay in scouts or do something else. Each time he gives his mom the same answer. “Why would I not do scouts?” he asks. Henderson doesn’t argue. n For more information about Pack 85 and Troop 85, contact Todd Bridges at todd_bridges@comcast.net. To learn more about Boy Scouts of America, visit beascout.org. <strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Rankin</strong> • 83
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