By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
The Stewart family is no stranger to scouting — and proof of that came recently when three Stewart generations came together to move up to the “Brotherhood member” of the Boy Scouts of America Order of the Arrow (OA) society.
“I think it’s a rare case where you can bring three different generations together in something that interests them,” said Rob Stewart, Charter Representative of Troop 369 in Manlius. “I’m very proud of my son and father for taking the step with me.”
All three Stewart men share the same name, Robert Stewart, but go by different nicknames. On the weekend of Oct. 19, Rob took the final step alongside his father Stew Stewart, of Fayetteville, and his son Bobby Stewart, a sophomore at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, in carrying out a service project at Camp Woodland on Oneida Lake to move from the basic “Ordeal” to the “Brotherhood” membership, despite originally being inducted into the Order of the Arrow decades apart.
The first component to moving to the Brotherhood membership included presentation of essays on their “interpretation of Obligation to Scouting, Family, Community, Nation and a Higher Power.”
OA is a Scouting National Honor Society, explained Stew, and was created to recognize scouts who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their lives, and a big component of that is community service. Scouts are eligible for OA induction if they meet the requirements, which include holding the First Class rank in Boy Scouts and experiencing 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping during a two-year period. Those who meet these requirements are then voted on by their scouting peers.
The membership ranks of OA are as follows: Ordeal membership, Brotherhood membership, Vigil Honor, Lodge leadership, Section leadership, Regional leadership and National leadership.
“I’m so very pleased,” said Stew, who is a retired major in the United States Air Force and a retired science teacher. “I finally took the last step and am excited to get more out of being a Boy Scout.”
Stew was originally inducted into the OA 51 years ago, Rob about 30 years ago and Bobby about one year ago. An OA scout is eligible to move from the Ordeal to Brotherhood membership 10 months after being inducted.
“Sometimes life gets in the way, and I guess that’s why my father and I didn’t take the next step sooner,” said Rob.
Bobby is currently working on plans for his Eagle Scout project, as he hopes to achieve the award like his father and grandfather have.
“I think it’s important to help other people,” said Bobby. “I enjoy being in scouts and it’s taught me a lot over the years.”
The entire Stewart family has proven to be a scouting family, and in addition to Stew, Rob and Bobby being involved, Joseph, the youngest Stewart boy, is also a Boy Scout. Anna, Rob’s daughter, achieved the Girl Scout’s Gold Award with help from her mother, Terri, who serves as the troop’s co-leader.
“Scouting is about developing young people into good citizens and leaders who give back to their communities … That’s something that can be hard to find,” said Rob. “I’ve very proud of all of the service my family has been involved in.”
All three men have expressed interest in continuing to be involved with Boy Scouts in any way that they are able to. “Boy Scouts is a great way to be involved in giving back to your community, and it doesn’t take that much of a time commitment,” said Stew.
For more information about the Boy Scouts of American Order of the Arrow, go to scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/OrderoftheArrow.aspx.
