CALIFORNIA, Mo. -- Philip Burger is an on-the-go father.
Whether it's competitive motor biking, pistol shooting, skiing, leading in Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts, or taking his family on two-week trips in the recreation vehicle, Burger likes to be outdoors and active.
The youngest of he and his wife Susan's three children graduated from California High School last month. Not to let empty-nest syndrome set in, Burger said he expects to stay involved with local youth through scouting and with his service on the California schools board of education.
Much of the success as a father, Burger attributes to his wife.
"Her commitment was to be with the children; that was a big piece of what defined our family structure early on," he said.
The couple's first son, Aaron, was born three years into their marriage, and Adam followed 18 months later. Growing up essentially as an only child, Susan wanted their children to have close sibling bonds, Burger said. Then, Allan was born a few years later.
Having three boys has been fairly easy, though Burger said he's not given much thought to other options.
Nearly 20 years ago, the family borrowed a motor home and started taking weekend trips. Then in the late 1990s, they took their first road trip to South Dakota, following the Oregon Trail, where the boys saw another family's travel map.
The Burger family decided that was something they wanted to do, too. Today, their travel map includes 41 states.
While Aaron, Adam and Allan were young, the two- to two-and-a-half-week trips were easy to arrange. When they were older and had work, sports, music and other activities, it became a commitment that might require personal sacrifice, Burger said.
However, it was worth it for the family of five to have the uninterrupted time together, exploring new sites and situations. They've swam in all of the Great Lakes, been to Disney World twice, visited many national parks including Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, and taken in Broadway shows.
"It's nice to have the calendar blank white for a couple of weeks," Burger said.
The other 50 weeks of the year, the Burger family's time is filled with work, sports, scouts, volunteer work, church and other involvements.
Burger was an Eagle Scout and had been involved at an administrative level with local scouting programs before his oldest, Aaron, entered first grade and Cub Scouts. Then, Burger became Cubmaster, giving much credit to his wife and other parents for their great investment in the program.
Scouting in the Burger house was kind of like Sunday School - "we hope you like it, but you have to go."
Two of his sons also earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
The scouting programs reinforced values and qualities important to the Burger parents. Outdoor skills help build self-confidence and self-reliance. It maintains rooted in its religious emphasis and the respect for the flag and country, he said.
Burger is quick to say his parenting and community involvement is not original. His parents, grandparents and extended family led by example, he said.
"I had good role models," Burger said. "I hope it's rubbed off on my kids."