In today’s society many boys and young men are lacking a father figure and mentor.There has been a rise in the number of single women raising boys to be men with an absent dad in the child’s life. It is clearly seen that many, but not all, are turning to violence, drugs and other forms of crime and negative patterns.Gary Simons, a father figure and mentor to many men in the Bermuda community, reached out and guided them on the path to success.Mr Simons was a former leader of the cub scouts at the 1st Newlands Salvation Army church on Friswell’s Hill Road in the 1960s, serving the areas of Glebe Road, Parsons Road, Pond Hill and Friswell’s Hill.Some of the men whose lives were touched as young boys by the cub scout leader are Damon Simmons, Sandy Thomas, Lorin Smith, Oliver Binns and Wayne Mouchette.He impacted their lives, teaching them things such as life skills, character development and scriptural values. Many of the former cub scouts were taught morals from Mr Simons.When the young males did right they were rewarded and when they did wrong they received the consequences.Some of the activities they took part in were camping, learning how to preserve food, building a bird bath, gardening, making a coffee table, sewing and making go-karts with wooden crates.In addition to those activities the boys were able to do fun play in creating their own games by making slingshots and tree climbing.Lorin Smith, a former cub scout and Sunday School student of Mr Simons, said: “Parents felt having the cub scouts was important for character development values.”Mr Simons reinforced what parents taught. The cub scouts respected each other and themselves and learned to do everything with dignity. Damon Simmons, a former cub scout, said: “He taught me how to be a man. I went cub scouts because everyone else went cub scouts and was having fun.”Mr Simons taught them how to do tasks correctly and learn the skills that some of the cub scouts may not have necessarily learned from their parents. The former cub scouts were able to maintain relationships with each other as adults even though they may not see each other as often.Sandy Thomas said this about Mr Gary Simons: “When he speaks everybody listens.”Mr Simons was able to skilfully manage a large group of cub scouts of about 50 boys at the young age of 20.The young boys then learned teamwork and how to look out for their peers and to never leave another cub scout behind. In past years many young males went to cub scouts, but in today’s time the number has dropped.Mr Thomas explains why by saying that it’s a lack of guidance.Many of the boys attended the cub scouts from the age of eight to twelve years old and moved on to become scouts.Mr Simons said: “Character is very important. Character will be the most important thing for you getting a job.“Even now, with what’s happening today with the economic problems, most people who hire today are looking for people with character.”He explained that in former years on job applications the focus was more on character than anything else.Mr Simons’ advice to young males today is: “I would encourage them to get involved in these type of activities. There are life skills and you will need them even after 50 years. That’s the encouragement I would give to any young male.”Mr Thomas said: “I’m just glad we have come 50 years later to honour Gary at this time because I always see him walking and I always said we’ve got to get together.”