Leader of the pack

Scout leader, mom has love of volunteering

Michelle Gabelsberger is a Cub Scout leader with Pack 332 in Wardsville. The mom of one said she enjoys volunteering and often has a hard time saying no when it comes to helping out.
Michelle Gabelsberger is a Cub Scout leader with Pack 332 in Wardsville. The mom of one said she enjoys volunteering and often has a hard time saying no when it comes to helping out.

Michelle Gabelsberger is a typical volunteer.

"If someone needs me, I'm there," she said.

Gabelsberger is a Cub Scout leader with Pack 332 in Wardsville.

She got involved when her son, Emmit, joined when he was in first grade in 2011 and she became a den leader.

Along with helping to organize big events like the pine wood derby, she organizes a "roundtable" meeting for area Scout leaders in the district.

This once a month meeting with Boy Scout and Cub Scout leaders encourages them to look at different ways to lead their groups in various projects.

"It's a great learning experience," Gabelsberger said. "What works for one pack doesn't work for another, so we need to look at different things. We have leaders from seven counties, as many as 20-25, come every month."

Gabelsbeger said her involvement in the scouting program "just happened."

"I love volunteering," she said. "When I see a need, I jump in, and I fell in love with what the scouts do."

"Like most volunteers, I have a problem saying no," Gabelsberger laughed. "The core values that are instilled in the boys and the way they are encouraged is special. They go from shy boys to making friends. Seeing that and helping each other out, along with learning respect, is so important. Last year when character trait awards were given out at Blair Oaks, many of those getting the awards were scouts."

Gabelsberger said what scouts teach applies to what the boys do in their community, even after they get out of scouting.

"The boys are receptive to what is being taught," she said. "Being able to get up and present ideas, watching them come out of their shell to become citizen leaders. Survival skills and citizenship are still the key basics in Scouts, but we are bringing in other elements to make it more fun."

Those other elements include more programs focusing on technology.

"Technology is changing the world, and I love to watch how it's helping us connect with other leaders," she said. "My son has been able to connect with others in scouting through computers. They trade patches, and we get the globe out to see where they came from. It's led him to a lot of cool pen pals."

In the end, Gabelsberger said scouting is about having fun.

"Parents appreciate that it's not so structured," she said. "When kids come to pack meetings there is fun, but it's with purpose and the kids know there are boundaries."