Scouts visit one of their own, Gov. Sanford

Staff reports

S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford welcomed about 40 scouts at the State House Tuesday, including 11 from Aiken, Barnwell and Edgefield counties.

The area scouts represented the Yamasee District of the Georgia-Carolina Council, Boy Scouts of America. Each of six delegations presented reports to the governor, himself an Eagle Scout.

The event was modeled after a national program in which scouts from all over the U.S. travel to Washington, D.C.

The scouts included Adam Baker, Marc Outlaw, Seth McHood, Endon Platt, Gabriel Sistar, Jonathan Vickery, Jon Ecklund, Andrew Tibrea, Caleb Padgett, Cathi Ecklund, Matthew Callihan and Jacob Allen.

"It was a neat experience to get to meet the governor," said Cathi Ecklund, a Sea Scout and a member of Ship 110 in Aiken.

Her brother Jon is a member of Boy Scout Troop 110, Sea Scouts and is an Eagle Scout.

She also joined other scouts from each delegation in presenting gifts to Sanford. The Yamasee District gave the governor a limited edition, framed council patch.

In his own remarks, Sanford said that scouting produces good citizens and leaders. He encouraged the scouts to continue their association with the program.

"You are on a voyage of character, leadership and persistence," Sanford said.

Tibrea, a member of Boy Scout Troop 115, has been involved in scouting for the past eight years and is nearing completion of requirements for his Eagle.

"Our council had the most people there," he said. "We had dinner and a tour of the State House and met a lot of scout executives. Scouting has been fun and I've gotten good leadership from it."

Based in Augusta, the Georgia-Carolina Council operates in 12 counties in Georgia and four in South Carolina. Programs include Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers (including Sea Scouts) for those 14-20 and Learning for Life, school-based character education program.

Senior writer Rob Novit contributed to this article.

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