Rank 4:  Brotherhood

The fourth rank of Mascote is that of the Brotherhood. Brotherhood “M”’s have a thin border of gold. This subtle change in the patch is only noticed by other Mascote and shows they have born the burden of leadership and suffered cheerfully for the sake of others. You must be a High Bark to candidate for Brotherhood. Brotherhood week is typically the 3rd and final week of a Mascote Summer Camp.

 

A brotherhood hike, hours of service and personal reflection brings the High Bark fully into the Brotherhood of Macote where the path of Patriotic Service is fully understood.

 

At the beginning of the week a horse is issued for personal transportation and after that they can be requested, issued, and ridden any day of Mascote Camp for the rest of your life. A horse is one of the highest trusts and responsibilities that is cultivated throughout the Mascote program. Stewardship of the horse in the American outdoors for even one day of Mascote Camp is truly a gift from our Creator. In the pioneer days a healthy happy horse meant life or death and bonding to it was a common practice for every young girl or boy. The bonds of Brotherhood with the horse remind us all our lives that how well you take ownership of something, care for it, saddle and rig it, is how well that you end up riding it.

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Horses do not live forever and there will be times of happy reunion, and times of sad goodbyes, among both Brotherhood Mascote and the horses they are issued. A Mascote conquers the fear of mortality with the comfort of faith and the brief life of the horse demonstrates how our Creator gave us this chance to thrive and play in the outdoors and work hard for only the reward of friendship.