Cub Scout Pack 435 crosses bridge; Allen Cole ends 14-year stint as cub scout leader

Story and Photos by Lisa Carolin

It’s a momentous occasion when Cub Scouts cross into the ranks of Boy Scouts.

That’s just what happened Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Blue and Gold Ceremony when Cub Scout Pack 435 literally crossed the bridge inside the Chelsea Rod and Gun Club to a new phase of their scouting lives.

It was also a memorable evening for Cub Scout Leader Allen Cole, who has been a Cub Scout Leader for 14 years.

Pack 435’s advancement to Boy Scouts was Cole’s final act as a Cub Scout leader.

“He really believes in the Boy Scout program and feels  it is important for boys to have good role models,” said Wendy Cole, Allen’s wife and mother of the three boys. “Allen was a Boy Scout and he became an Eagle Scout.”

Allen Cole, who owns the Cole Funeral Chapel, first got involved as a Cub Scout leader when his son Brian, now 19, joined as a first-grader in 2000 and made it all the way to the rank of Eagle Scout.

Cole has stayed involved in the Cub Scouts through the memberships of his other two sons, Josh, 15, who is now a Boy Scout, and Nathan, 11, who with the six other members of Pack 435, advanced into the Boy Scouts on Feb. 8.

“Being in the scouts has taught our sons leadership and they’ve made lifelong friends through it,” said Wendy Cole.

Allen Cole has been a den leader, a Cub master, and will now move to new roles with the Boy Scouts. The Blue and Gold Ceremony was his final act as a Cub Scout leader.

“I’ll miss the boys and their parents,” said Allen Cole, who has been working with Pack 435 for the last five years. “I’m very proud as a leader that all seven boys are going to keep going in scouts and that they all earned the Arrow of Light badge (The highest award in Cub Scouting.)”

Jim Otto has known Allen Cole for nine years, and got to know him better when his son Logan joined the scouts last year.

“Allen was so patient with Logan and supportive in helping Logan attain his badges and participate in camp and other activities,” said Otto. “Allen is a man of strong faith and has an open mind and heart. He is not the least bit judgmental. He accepts Logan as he is and encourages him to be his best.”

Kathy Carter, whose youngest son was in Cole’s pack, was a Pack Committee Chair who worked with Allen Cole.

Carter says, “Allen is funny, compassionate, and willing to meet each boy where the child is. He handles the inevitable mishaps with humor and knows how to encourage the boys. He’s a huge supporter of many community groups, and I’ve always found him eager to support other efforts as well.”

As far as leaving the Cub Scouts goes, Allen Cole says with a smile, “The Cub Scouts have a lot more energy than the older scouts, and I’m getting old.”