OUR NEIGHBORS: He’s prepared: Valley man earns Scouting award

WASILLA — When Daniel Kander signed his eldest son up for Cub Scouts many years ago he probably never dreamed that more than a decade later he would earn national recognition for his service as a Scoutmaster.

On Monday, Kander received the Scoutmaster’s Award of Merit for his leadership and guidance in the Scouts.

The award is given to a Scoutmaster who has shown an ability to help Scouts move up in their rankings and have proper leadership. He has to be nominated by Scouts and local Patrol Leader Council, said Boy Scout Troop 300 Committee Chairman William Casler.

He said the award is a tremendous compliment to Kander’s abilities, “And it is fairly prestigious. In my 15 years working with the Scouts I know a total of four people in my time that have been awarded this that I am aware of.”

Kander’s participation in youth development does not end with Boy Scouts, as he is an active member in his church and a former volunteer soccer coach and referee.

And to hear Casler tell it, his love of helping kids shows with his Scouts.

“They all have a great deal of respect for him, probably because of what he has done with his troop. I have seen him take countless hours to sit down with a boy who was working on something and he will work with him constantly until he gets it right,” Casler said.

But for Kander, the real benefit comes with seeing youth mature and become leaders.

“I have learned that it does not matter the size of a Scout for them to be a leader,” he said, adding it also takes “a fair bit of patience.”

Kander, who now works for MTA, originally grew up in Nebraska and moved to Alaska as a helicopter mechanic with the military. He credits his childhood in a rural setting as preparation for becoming a Scoutmaster.

“Growing up, we did not have a Scouts organization where I lived, so I was not too familiar with knots and things when I started,” he said. “But growing up on a farm my brother and I were always grabbing our rifles and fishing poles to go shooting and fishing.”

His enjoyment of the outdoors continues with the Scouts.

“Believe it or not, I really enjoy winter camping,” he said, telling a story of his troop taking a train north of Talkeetna to camp in the winter wilderness for several days.

His enjoyment pails in comparison to the pride he brings and feels for Scouts as he stated in his acceptance speech Monday. “I took what the Boy Scouts offered and ran with it. And you certainly cannot do it by yourself, it takes everybody contributing, and I do it for the kids.”