By: Vishal Agnihotri
Since its inception one hundred years ago, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has earned a reputation for building character, physical fitness and good citizenship in boys. Few will argue with the importance of teaching values and responsibility to our children – not only right from wrong, but specific, affirmative values such as fairness, courage, honor, and respect for others. Beginning with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, the Boy Scouts of America program is infused with character-building activities that allow youth to apply abstract principles to daily living situations. The Boy Scouts develop future leaders through a variety of programs, such as annual jamborees, community service projects, merit badges and outdoor adventures. This year-round program boasts a long list of prestigious alumni, including United States congressmen, governors, presidents and astronauts.
Young men ages 11 through 17 experience dramatic physical and emotional growth. Scouting offers them opportunities to channel that into outdoor adventures from weekend-long camping trips to summer camp, which the boys themselves plan and carry out. The highlight of the year for more experienced Scouts in Troop 368 is a trip rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon! This trip, voted for by Scouts, has been in preparation for over a year, with Scouts participating in fundraisers to offset the cost of the event, and in taking part in preparatory trips that included hiking, backpacking, and whitewater rafting. High adventure trips like these forge memories to last a lifetime.
Scouting teaches skills that help youth develop into quality citizens. Troop 368 enhanced our local community through 10 community service projects over the last year, giving back over 300 hours of service, including supporting the Rotary Club, feeding the homeless, and helping set up a holiday homeless shelter at the Little Flower Church, as well has helping the YMCA’s Mother’s Day fundraiser for LIVESTRONG, and the Relay for Life cancer research fundraiser. Outside of this, four Eagle Scouts left a lasting legacy in our community through their Eagle projects: Mark Trella built a number of birdhouses at Snyder Park, Devon McLean repaved the walkway leading to the flagpole at Mountain Park School, and Peter Illis and Andrew Stecher built improvements that supported the theater and music programs at Governor Livingston High School.
Scouting trains leaders by being a boy-led, boy-run organization, and in this way Scouts learn interpersonal and management skills that serve them well in college and later life. Scouts are also required to expand their physical and intellectual horizons by earning a number of merit badges in topics as diverse as American Business to Woodwork, from Scuba diving to Veterinary Medicine to Plumbing. The 73 Scouts in Troop 368 earned a total of 283 merit badges in the last 12 months. As an example, in order to advance in rank, a Scout must earn the First Aid Merit Badge, in which a Scout learns the prevention, symptoms and initial care for a whole host of conditions, such as dehydration, hypothermia, broken bones, shock, heatstroke and frostbite. He must also explain how to provide medical assistance in a variety of scenarios like being on the open water or a wilderness camping trip, while staying safe himself.
Scouts advance through specific achievement milestones signified by Rank. A fundamental purpose of advancement is the self-confidence a young man acquires from his participation in a troop. Scouts of Troop 368 have achieved 49 rank advancements over the past year, and is proud to see four of its Scouts achieve the coveted Eagle Scout rank this past year. If you are interested in joining Troop 368, please reach out to the Troop Scoutmaster, Howard Lee at scoutmaster@bhtroop368.com.
(above l-r) Eagle Scouts Andrew Stecher, Mark Trella, Peter Illis, Devon McLean with adult leaders, Thomas Beke and Joe Allegra.
