Childhood can fly by, especially with your own children. For many local fathers, they have chosen to embrace and influence their children’s lives by volunteering in their activities through the years. Bonding, teaching, and creating kids who care about others are just a few of the benefits of active volunteering for dads.

Developing Kids Who Care

Sam Brubaker is an energetic and passionate young adult. At age 19, he is attending a wilderness Bible college in Montana. In the past couple of years, he functioned in at least six time-demanding volunteer positions in the community; such as volunteer scoutmaster, assistant coach for Upward basketball, and volunteer youth director.

While Sam credits some of his ambition to “God-given gifts of leadership,” he is also quick to point out the important role his father, Tom Brubaker, has fulfilled in his life through active volunteering.

Bonding Through Volunteering

Tom Brubaker, a financial advisor with Edward Jones and a married father of four (ages 16-24), has been an active volunteer with all four kids for as long as he can remember.

“I just work hard, play hard, volunteer hard,” shares Tom. For him, volunteering within his kids’ activities is an important part of family life. “The volunteering provides a lot of joy; it’s fulfilling and provides purpose. It’s giving back.”

As the Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 413 in Otis Orchards, he participates in weekly meetings, monthly campouts and hikes, and even a once a year 50-mile trek into the regional wilderness. While Tom has been involved in coaching soccer and leading Cub Scouts, his most important role has been working with young men in Boy Scouts.

“In my experience there’s no better way to connect than by doing things together. When you are in the wilderness – camping, surviving, and living off the land – that’s when you connect.” Through Boy Scout activities, Tom has bonded with all three of his sons while teaching life lessons. “Guys bond by doing things.”
Volunteering As A Lifestyle

For the Brubakers, volunteering is a part of their family make-up. His wife, Nancy, is an active volunteer with a shelter for homeless teens. Tom notes that volunteering brings them “incredible joy,” no matter how long the hours or commitment. Giving up weekends and week nights to devote to volunteer activities hasn’t been a problem for the Brubakers. Tom is thrilled that his daughter, Lydia, has become an active volunteer, and is now a Director of Student Activities on her college campus.

A father of three boys (ages 9, 7 and 4), Bill Criddle, is active in volunteering with football teams for the two older boys; often up to five nights a week and on Saturdays.

“We have dinner later, usually after 7 p.m.,” he notes. His wife, Julie, and youngest son often attend the older boys’ practices and games. “Our youngest comes to cheer for his brothers right now.”

Criddle, a masonry sales representative with The Masonry Center, says that he has been involved with the boys in helping coach football, basketball, and baseball. He’s also helped with Cub Scouts. Looking back, he doesn’t think as many fathers were involved when he was growing up. However, he thinks that because more parents want their kids involved in more activities, there is a requirement for more involvement.
Teaching Lessons Through Volunteering

Will Troxel, father of nine (ages 2-18), is another active volunteer. He is a part of Knights of Columbus, but also spends time on a Boy Scout committee helping to direct the troop activities. As a married man with five boys, Scouts is a prime organization for him to dedicate his time.

“Like most dads in the troop, I enjoy spending time with my boys. We want to train them to learn Scouting lessons.” With his oldest son having become an Eagle Scout, Troxel knows that he still has potentially 14 years as a volunteer in the local Boy Scouts until his four year old completes high school.

“It’s all positive. I’ve been able to share some great times with them on camping trips, backpacking and other activities. It gives me a lot of opportunities to teach them things about growing up and about responsibility,” Troxel shares.

“Whether or not they pursue it past high school, I think the social skills and lessons learned from sports will teach them about working together,” Criddle echoes Troxel’s comments with regard to having two sons playing football at the same time.

“As I watch these boys develop from Scout to Eagle, I feel that I have an opportunity to help them to prepare for life during that critical period,” Tom Brubaker adds. Through teaching the practical aspects of scouting, he is hands-on with his son and others with life lessons.
Volunteering As A Passion

Jeff Munro, a 47 year old father of two in Liberty Lake, has been volunteering for a better part of both Katherine’s (15) and Brian’s (12) lives. He’s been a soccer coach, Sunday school teacher, basketball referee, and a classroom volunteer.

“Volunteering in the classrooms is a natural extension of who I am,” Munro relates. He recently went back to school to earn a Masters degree in Teaching from Washington State University. He remembers one fun event in his son’s class where they re-enacted a meal on the Titanic, and he played the captain of the ship. He has also spent time reading to the class and attending field trips.

Volunteering has been more than a piece of his heart and soul. He and wife, JoLynn, made an early decision regarding their children.

“JoLynn and I have always wanted our kids to feel supported. They can count on us to support what they do and their activities.” For Munro, sometimes that means being “Chief cook and bottle washer, along with chauffer for the kids’ activities.” He is also part of Liberty Lake Kiwanis and has been leading Sunday school classes for about five years.

“I’ve always had such a good time. I’m having at least as much fun as anyone out there,” Munro laughs.
Creating Involved Kids Through Volunteering

Sam Brubaker remembers his father donating hours of time in planning campouts and attending weekend outings.

“He was willing to go on almost every campout and be active in the leadership of the troop,” Sam reflects. “He would challenge me and other scouts to do our very best.”

As Sam looks toward his future, he says that if he becomes a father someday, he will also become an active volunteer.

“That is how my parents have successfully raised me and my three siblings. Because of their efforts, we are who we’ve become today,” Sam states.

“Our children are all altruistic; they love to give too,” Tom Brubaker reflects upon the years of commitment he and his wife have made in volunteering and supporting their children.

Most parents will say that the years of raising your children go by quickly. For these fathers, and many more in the community, they have found a way to raise great kids while spending quality time with them through active volunteering. SFM