by Mike Matzinger
At 86, Dave Tuttle still starts with a plain block of wood and turns it into something most people would never see coming.
What started with a simple Scout pocketknife carving neckerchief slides has turned into decades of mastery, teaching, and museum-quality work. From birds and decoys to Santas and intricate wildlife, his hands have never really stopped working.
But the most powerful part of his story isn’t just the craftsmanship. It’s the throughline.
Scouting didn’t just teach a skill. It built a mindset. Patience, focus, and the ability to see something in a rough block before it exists. That mindset stayed with Dave through the Marines, a career in power plants, raising a family, and now retirement.
Today, Dave’s still learning, still teaching, and still helping others see the bird in the block before it’s finished.
It’s a reminder that the smallest early experiences can shape a lifetime.
Scouting America | Prepared. For Life.™