How many of you are Eagle Scouts?

[VZ935]

Around the time of Weblos I discovered that I really enjoyed sports and girls and that was the end of it for me . But I really salute those who are involved in the Scouts and those of you who are Eagle Scouts . I think it is quite an accomplishment.

[Hugh R]

I made it to 1st Class and bailed. My son made Eagle about a year ago. I told him it was something that he could put on a resume that actually meant something.

[Tishabet]

My brother and I are both Eagle Scouts. I earned mine in 1998, also was an OA Vigil member and got a National Court of Honor award for heroism.

[daepp]

I and my two brothers are Eagle Scouts.

My son is now an 11 year old Tenderfoot. My father made it to Life Scout before joining the Navy in WWII. I made it a point to tell him before he recently passed away that I would provide the same scouting opportunities to my son that he gave us.

Too many great times to list, but:

We had the March Air Force Base Commanding Officer's son in our Troop for many years. So of course, we spent a lot of time there. At the time it was a SAC base (complete with nuke B-52's taking off around the clock in the mid 70's). They actually brought us in to the SAC "World Map" room (as seen in War Games) - a very limited access place as you might imagine.

We camped 11 weekends per year plus several backpacking and summer camps per year. One memorable trip was to Ft. Irwin where they practice desert tank warfare. One night when I was a new scout, we had just gone to bed in the barracks on our first night there. About 11:30pm a drill instructor type woke us up, began screaming at us, told us what slobs we were, made us clean the place, then right as we were getting started on that he told us we were all worthless SOB's and to get out of the barracks. He forced us all outside in the 40 deg. night in only our scivies. They loaded all 60 of us in Deuce-and-a-Halfs, and drove us around for a while. We finally came to a stop, where they through off the tarps and revealed to us the real treat they planned for us. Arranged in a large arc were about 30 M60 tanks, and with some type of whistle, they began an extensive night firing session, with full artillery and 50 cal. machine guns with tracers. It really was fascinating as a 12 year old kid growing up in the city outside of el lay.

[pwd72s]

Never made Eagle...most memorable experience? 1957 Jamboree, Valley Forge, PA. Everbody arrived by rail...still on record as one of the largest peacetime rail movements ever. Still have my Jamboree jacket, decorated with patches. I gave one of the Jamboree neckerchiefs to a nephew of Cindy's, when he was into scouting...

[svandamme]

interesting how the US boy scouts use a "merit" and "badge" system
i was in the scouts, not to long, wasn't for me, most of my cousin's where in it, and did in fact become troup leaders, my cousin is now group leader for Ypres

over here other then a patch when you move to a different age group, or a patch for going on a particular big camp or to Jamboree, there is no merit system for things like leadership and what not, those who are troup or group leader do get a badge, but not like anybody in the group , who isn't a troup leader can get one for showing leadership amongst his peers...

if you want to be a leader, you sign up for the Djin(if i remember correctly) group, which in the last age group
and then next year if you have what it takes, you become a leader and you get a group to lead along with somebody who has done it a bit longer...

[arerrac]

Life Scout here. With Soccer (AYSO & High School), girls, Surfing and having a car, Scouts lost out. Taught me many great lessons and how to appreciate the outdoors. Still love camping and backpacking.

[BRPORSCHE]

My Dad and his two brothers are, and me and my two brothers are also. Very proud of what i acomplised.

[gatotom]

In my youth I was in the Lutheran pioneers, an offshoot of the boy scouts with that religious twist. Didn't last long for this guy, it was too yes sir, no sir for this guy.

When I had children, my oldest was in and he made it to life, isn't that one below eagle?? There was a big change in the troup leader and he didn't like his approach but at his age I was taking him to the mountains myself and he was getting hi adventure climbing mountain routes and rock climbing walls.

By the time my youngest came around, I was getting used up and wearing out but the scout group had changed to a hi adventure troup. 50 mile hikes in the mountains, canoe and kyak runs, rock climbing, skiing a not so formal group more of a outward bound type. This appealed to my youngest and he became a eagle, actually he became his senior class pres. and now is at the Naval Academy.

[legion]

Stijn, merit badges are usually associated with learning specific skills. I had around 20 of them. Hiking, canooing, rowing, sailing, swimming, lifesaving, archery, rifle, shotgun, etc...

[Tishabet]

Originally Posted by legion

Stijn, merit badges are usually associated with learning specific skills. I had around 20 of them. Hicking,

I got that one too... but that was with a girl scout

[legion]

When does a Webelo become a Boy Scout? When he eats his first Brownie...

[mikester]

Got my eagle around 1991 or so when I was about 17 at March AFB Troop 100 as well.

Many great memories and many great friendships. Went to Philmont in '88 and '89. I don't 100% agree with what the BSA espouses today but will probably get my own son involved and be a leader myself. I learned leadership in the Boy Scouts and those lessons have served me very well my entire life. In my last job interview I spent more time answering questions about the leadership I learned in the Boy Scouts rather than the technical skills I might possess for the job. They also hired me for the job one position over what they had been looking for.

I'm always surprised at how much value is placed on being an Eagle Scout by those familiar with the BSA to some degree. Those who aren't ask "What's that?"

The question I get asked is "Was it hard to get?" and I say "No, it wasn't hard for me but when you're determined to get something difficulty isn't something you let get in the way." To be honest I didn't feel like it was hard, I was Senior Patrol Leader for many terms. We went through a phase where we lost a lot of senior boys and I stepped up to do what I could.

I can't even begin really to say how much I learned when I think about it.

[mattdavis11]

I shouldn't have posted that. BSA is ok in my book.

[89911]

I'm glad many have fond memories of scouting. I just pulled my 11 yo son from it because of numerous reasons: disorganization, social obligations that have nothing to do with scouting, parents that use it as a "night out" and could actually care less about being with their kids and would rather BS with the other parents. Should I go on? That and it seems to me the people involved, whether running it or belonging, were just plain weird. OK, I said it I was involved in it when I grew up. Unfortunately you can't look to the past to see how it is now.

[daepp]

Nothing but good experiences so far for us.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by legion

Stijn, merit badges are usually associated with learning specific skills. I had around 20 of them. Hiking, canooing, rowing, sailing, swimming, lifesaving, archery, rifle, shotgun, etc...

i guess here it's not as much aimed at nature skills, it is more of a weekly social thing, not as much nature, weekly meet in the clubhouse in town, it is more difficult to find a large area of pure nature in this region
then couple of camps per year, diverse options, perhaps they go to the ardennes, then the year after somewhere in France... never the same place.. they tend to make a deal with a farmer somewhere and rent a patch of land , sometimes an empty barn or stable along with it...

most kids here, learn swimming at school , hiking is part of the scouts to and from camp and stuff, they do hike a lot, but everybody does it as part of a group
cannooing, rowing those would be like one time events,
lifesaving would be something learned outside of the scouts if any chooses to go for that
archery one off event
guns , not a chance, gun laws and all won't permit it

the closest thing to what would be a skill specifically learned in the boy scouts here ( it's actually co-ed, not just boys) would be setting up tent, cooking in the bush, and rigging stuff with just rope and wooden poles, i posted pictures in the 2 story tent thread that Lube started last week or so
but those activities are only for the oldest group, and the group leaders
it can be dangerous , in fact one month ago there was a lethal freak accident where they were rigging a very tall flag post and a wooden pool fell on somebody's head

not sure who the group leaders are in the US, are they professional, career scouts , older/senior volunteers

here it's usually the oldest of the group, that stick with the scouts after they graduate high school at 18, and go to university or something like that
and take up responsibility while they study, can be very difficult to combine uni and leading the group

they usually stop when they graduate uni, and start working full time
as such the group leaders tend to change quite often, the groups themself are probably a lot smaller
starts with perhaps 25-30 in cubs ( some parents also consider it a way to have the younger kids out of the house on sunday morning ), then by the time you get to the age group 17-18, there's maybe 10-15 left...

[Nathans_Dad]

Eagle Scout here. I have to say if my dad hadn't pushed me I would have quit at Life Scout. Anyhow, got my Eagle and got out. I will say thought that I have been amazed at how people actually notice that you are an Eagle Scout on a resume and are impressed by it.

I had a great time in Scouts, went to Philmont once and had a blast. Also did various summer camps and wilderness camps. Great times. I hope my son is into scouting at some point as well.

[Cdnone1]

My son is involved in Scouts. He just got back from summer camp at Emerald Bay. I was leery when he started but have nothing but good things to say about the people running it and everything it stands for.
I'm sorry I wasn't exposed to it as a kid
Steve

[onlycafe]

kicked out of the cub scouts in 1958,
kicked out of high school in 1966,
kicked out of college in 1969.
other highlights since.
i sense a pattern here.
the lesson i have learned is that i need to be in charge of what i am involved in or things tend to go askew.