Albert D. Mills, Sr. founded the first Boy Scout troop in Rockland, Troop 204, at the First Baptist Church and was the scoutmaster or scout committee member with that organization for his entire adult life, spanning more than 50 years.
After world War II, his son, Albert D. Mills, Jr. moved to Rockland with his wife, Sybel, and began to raise a family. In about 1948 or 49, young father Al, Jr. began to assist his dad with the troop, as Assistant Scoutmaster. Together they led boys on hiking expeditions, camping trips, and various outdoor adventures. With the aid of the Boy Scout Manual they taught boys to build campfires with primitive tools, harvest food from the natural environment, pitch pup tents, gather firewood, handle an axe and a knife, tie knots, practice first aid, and challenge themselves with various physical exercises of strength and speed. Jumping contests, races, fire building races, and organized games like capture the flag were a staple of the boy scout experience. Boys from age 11 to 18 earned recognition ranging from “tenderfoot” to Eagle Scout.
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