Daniel McCrary has experienced Scouting throughout the Southern United States, Europe and the South Pacific, now he’s bring his experiences as a youth to enhance the Scouting program as an adult in Topeka.
“I have always wanted to work for the Boy Scouts. When this position opened up, I knew I had to take it and didn’t hesitate in moving to Topeka from Georgia,” says Daniel. “I am very excited to be working with the many different organizations, units, and volunteers across Shawnee County. I look forward to expanding the impact of Scouting in the community. I personally have experienced a lot through Scouting and I look forward to helping out the youth in the area experience and achieve great things in Scouting and the community.”
Daniel McCrary has been involved in Scouting since he was 6 years old. Through his father’s military career Daniel has experienced Scouting internationally. First through Scouting in the Trans-Atlantic Council when they were based in Germany. While in Germany he was able to attend experiences at the Kandersteg International Scout Center and attended Boy Scout Camp alongside German Scouters at Camp Freedom in Oberdachstaetten.
“Other than participating in events with Scouts from different nations, it was just like Scouting here in the States,” says Daniel of the experience. “My two favorite memories of Scouting in Europe are learning wilderness survival skills in a blizzard and being one of four people to go cave diving at an international Swiss Scouting Center.”
After his time in Germany, his family moved to the Marshall Islands where we was a part of the Aloha Council. Since there were no Boy Scout camping facilities in the Islands, most of their camping trips were spent on one of the many uninhabited islands in the area.
“We learned true survival skills. For service projects we would travel to other Atolls and Islands to help the locals with the projects that they needed done. For summer camp we traveled to an Island and learned wilderness survival from our local Green Berets. It was a pretty phenomenal experience.”
Now he’ll his diverse background to enhance the Jayhawk Area Council’s programs as a District Executive in Shawnee County.
“We are excited to have Mr. McCrary as a part of the Jayhawk Area Council staff. He brings a different prospective to the staff from his international experiences,” says Wayne Pancoast, Jayhawk Area Council Scout Executive. “We look forward to serving an ever increasing number of youth with quality program throughout Topeka.”
The Shawnee District serves over 2,000 youth annual through Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and Venturing, a co-ed program that is interest based.
Daniel McCrary is an Eagle Scout from Flint River Council in McDonough, Georgia. He is Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow and worked at Camp Thunder as an Aquatics Instructor, Archery Instructor and Camp Commissioner. Daniel has an Associate Degree from Calhoun Community College and a Bachelors of Arts Degree from University of North Georgia majoring in History. Daniels father was an Army Aviator for 25 years meaning he was able to experience Scouting with his family in multiple areas including Germany, the Marshall Islands, and throughout the United States. Daniel’s bother is weeks away from receiving his Eagle Scout Award.