John McCulla – Course Mentor
John McCulla
Wood Badge Course/ Critter:SR-501Fox
Scout Unit:Troop 715
District:Cardinal
Years in Scouting:About 20 (5 as a youth; 15 as an adult)
Highest Rank:Second Class – whoa!
Current Registered Position:Heart of Virginia Council Executive Board; Southern Region Area 7 Commissioner
Other Positions in Scouting and for how long:
· Southern Region Area 7 Commissioner – 1 year
· SR Area 7 Wood Badge Coordinator – 1 year
· Council Commissioner – 4 years
· Scout Master – 3 years
· Wood Badge Staff – 5 courses
· Assistant Scoutmaster – 9 years
· Cardinal District Chairman – 4 years
· Heart of Virginia Council Board Member – 10 years
Occupation:Management Consultant with Accenture, retired
Who’s in Your Family?Ann, my wife of 35 years; my daughters Theresa and Bridie; and my son James, who got his Eagle in 2005, and got me back into Scouting
What is your favorite Scouting event?Eagle Courts of Honor – it is a great recognition of an achievement that will forever affect a young man’s life!
What do you most enjoy doing? Gosh, I like to do lots of things – hiking, watching the Packers win; reading a great book; traveling; drinking coffee; getting up early in the morning; I could go on!
What is your best Scouting memory?Coming in off the trail with my son after a challenging 100+ mile trek at Philmont – sweet (and hot!)
If you had unlimited time and resources, what would you choose to do?Travel extensively, and volunteer in the local community; or, I might open a brewery
What are the most important things in your life?My family, my faith, friends, and good health
What do most people not know about you?I am a beer connoisseur and have brewed some pretty GB.
What are your favorite movies?Apocalypse Now; The Godfather is a close second; 2001 A Space Odyssey is a classic, too.
What is your favorite food or meal?Bratwurst from Usinger’s in Milwaukee, accompanied by GB
What is your favorite book as an adult? As a youth?Killer Angels (Michael Shaara); The Martian Chronicles (Ray Bradbury)
What is something about you that would surprise other people?I come from a family of 10, and my wife is from a family of 12. Holidays are pretty crazy!
What is your favorite childhood memory?Too many. Probably traveling on road trips with our family of 10 stuffed into our Country Squire. Lot’s of funny stories of stuff that happened – in the car! Most often visiting grandparents in Quincy and McHenry, Illinois – true Midwest!
What is your favorite music and bands?Classic rock: Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, I could go on. I do like Jazz as well.
What are your hobbies?Travel, photography, hiking, fishing – and Scouting, of course! Is Wood Badge a hobby?
Geez, anything else?I am blessed to be involved in Scouting! What an awesome program for our youth!