The Lake of Tobias

The summer before my college graduation, I went to Lake Tobias. Prior to taking the hour drive from my house to see this place, I heard very good things about the open-air museums and the abilities to pet the local animals. I didn't actually know it would be as insane as it was. I knew that I was in for a day full of petting animals and seeing wild things that normally don't grow anywhere close to the United States, but I didn't know exactly what it would entail.

The Story begins with the late JR Tobias. He originally wanted to go to college to study agriculture in animals, but instead became an officer in the Marines. He always disturbed Safari cruises when he could, and told many that only Wildlife Park was just a wild dream he had for after retirement. After owning several small successful businesses throughout his adult life while raising his seven children, that dream became reality. He was sent on a business trip out of the country, and returns home with some endangered animals that he had rescued from harsh living conditions in captivity or in their home environment. After approving all of them with the USDA, they were all permitted to stay in the states, and Tobias opened his State Park in 1965.

That he passed in 1996, his wife still makes her rounds every morning and evening, and even in her advanced age, continues to take care of the property and her late husband's stead. She became very good at managing the books, managing the animals, so you can go out new opportunities for Partnerships, and ultimately did a whole lot of outrage that would make her husband shed a tear. Concurrently, the interactiveness at this zoo and the friendliness of the staff and the animals are what made me determines to go.

Upon arrival, we first noticed how the prices were much cheaper than any National Zoo we'd ever been to. On top of this, there was a safari tour that we could go on for $5, which way of course had to do. As soon as we parked our car, we were getting into a Range Rover and heading out to talk to some animals. Because of a lot of us having food on us, almost all of the wildlife came up to us and said hello, and I almost got a couple of selfies with some of the animals. They always ended up looking away at the last minute though. On the list were oxen, bison, Impalas, deer, Orynxes, and a whole lot of other interesting mammals from all around the world. He also had emus and cassowaries.

In the main part of the exhibition, there was a petting zoo, where we could go and pet lots of cute furry creatures. I interacted with a llama, and alpaca, a sheep, a goat or two, and a camel. After this, we moved on to the other parts of the exhibit where I got to interact and play with a snake, a baby crocodile, and a baby porcupine.

There's a lot to see and do it this little zoo, and unlike a lot of commercialized zoos nowadays, the animals here are deeply respected and treasured by the staff their work with them. The animals were genuinely happy here. For about 20 bucks, you get a small bite to eat, Safari tour, and admission to the zoo for the day. You also get access to all of the free events and discussions that they have during the day. There really is no better deal for a beautiful peaceful day on the placid Lake Tobias.

On Eagle's Wings

When I was a scout, and the Boy Scouts of the United States of America, there was very little that I ever wanted to do with the outside world. It was pulling teeth to even contemplate dragging me on a camping trip, and four out of six years I went to summer camp I probably was unofficially awarded the biggest pansy award. I love my novelty of indoors, but mostly just missed showering and did not have an affinity for sweating constantly. However, even after sitting a Tenderfoot for 2 years, I never stop giving up on rank advancement. My dad only made it to life Scout, and he really wanted me to strive for Eagle Scout and push myself. It has definitely come in handy and anyways since then, and I was bound upon that further in a book.

As for now, it is important to understand that the feat was accomplished. I was able to get my Eagle Scout award after 10 years of service to the BSA. To this day, I come back as I'm able to and assist as a junior assistant scoutmaster. I learned as much as I could, overcame a lot of adversity, and even eventually learned how to survive being out of the house.

Not only did being in Boy Scouts contribute to my passion of travel, but it really taught me how to appreciate nature and all of its small intricacies. Although I am also guilty myself, I must mention that there is so much that you miss when they are staring down at a small little computer screen in your hand. Being in Scouts, we were not allowed to have technology with us on trips in my troop, or it'd be confiscated, screwed with, and then given back to us after the trip. I didn't want any of the above to happen, so I was pretty complacent.

Although I have switched troop snow as I've grown older, being a scoutmaster for a younger troop with fewer members, some of my best memories were with my old troop, troop 94. In 9th grade, we met up with a sister troop from Duncannon, an hour away from us, and we canoed and kayaked 40 miles on the Juniata River over an entire weekend. We hit the bike trails of Gettysburg, slept in the Backwoods of northeast Pennsylvania, visited the military base in the USS battleship, took a couple of historical hikes with lots of information, hiked the Appalachian Trail, and just in general got out and enjoyed nature and did things that the average teenager wouldn't do on a weekend.

Scouting taught me basic essential life skills that have helped me in every aspect of my life. Even the 12 point Scout Law and Scout Oath have become integral Dogma and my interactions with other human beings, and have been practiced so thoroughly that they are now a subconscious part of who I am. And now, I get to pass my experiences and scouting down to next generation of Scouts and leaders. Who knows, one of the kids I am teaching the day could end up being our surgeon general or President...

There are 12 points of the Scout Law, the Scout Law is as follows:

 A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

The Scout Oath:

As an American, I will do my best, to do my duty, to God and my country, and to obey Scout Law. To help other people at all times. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

If you combine these things with a passion for being outside and putting the out into Scout, experiencing everything that you possibly can, then you will make a Great Scout. Your average teenager won't be putting on three layers of jackets and sleeping on the ground in the middle of the Woods, surviving off of rations and scavenged food and the fire that you've learned how to build yourself without matches. The average teenager will not go mountain climbing, where hiking, or seeing historical sites on the week end. They will not explore nature, meet friends with common interests, shoot at targets, throw hatchets, make explosions (usually when a rocket launch goes wrong), learn 23 life skills over a few years while still young, or organize and lead a conservation project. These are all things that scouts do, and if you're serious about it, you'll even ascend to Eagle.