Teaching life skills, cultivating experiences and adding to childhood memories: Jenny Wang has found enriching experiences for her family through one local organization she believes would also benefit other families. Cub Scout Pack 33 serves boys and girls in ages kindergarten through fifth grade. Jenny is grateful for the opportunity to participate with her elementary-age children.

Born in Taiwan, Jenny immigrated at age 5. Her father transferred from New York to Chicago and eventually settled in Bakersfield before sending for the family in 1987. Jenny graduated from South High and started college before returning home to help her parents with their restaurant, Mandarin Express, which was a Kern County fixture for two decades.

Jenny met her husband through a friend. She and her husband, Sam Liu, an electrician, have been married for 10 years. They moved to Los Angeles for a time but later returned to Bakersfield to raise their family. She found out about Pack 33.

“It’s one meeting per week, all in the same location. My children are different ages so they separate out to their own dens and do their own things. I like participating because we are not committed to multiple evenings per week,” said Jenny.  “They’ve learned so many nontraditional skills, from how to use a pocket knife or fold a flag, how to set up a tent and start a fire safely to values like respect, patriotism and how to be a good friend.”

Special events, including the Pinewood Derby with homemade matchbox racing cars and the family’s first real campout, are highlights of Scout participation. An annual event, the campout is hosted near San Simeon’s Hearst Castle.

When she isn’t participating with her children, Jenny can be found enjoying hobbies of her own. She recommends other parents pick up hobbies, do crafts and allow for breaks.

“Set a schedule and plan outings to the park. Do a day-trip but pace yourself. It’s okay to approach life little by little. Your kids do need a rest. You need a rest. Don’t do too much at once,” she advised.