This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Boy Scouts of America. All opinions are 100% mine.
I admit it–when I was a kid, I was always jealous of my brother being able to be a boyscout.
I tried Girl Scouts for several years and while it is a very worthwhile program, it just doesn’t have that same outdoorsy emphasis that the Boy Scouts of America did. They seemed to do all the cool stuff. Camping. Knots. Cooking over a campfire.
Over the years I attended a lot of Boyscout events in support of my brother-who eventually became an Eagle Scout. There was always something special about seeing all those boys of different ages and their pride in scouting. Sure-they may have been tearing around in the parking lot pushing each other and telling terrible jokes a few minutes before-but once the meeting started seeing them all in their uniforms and saying the oath with such seriousness:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
Well, for a few minutes-they were completely different boys. I particularly remember visiting my brother on family day at Camp Roosevelt in Maine (which honestly was about 5 miles from our house-really-just by chance) and sitting in the dinning hall for an event and reading the various parts of the Boy Scout Law that were posted around the room. “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.”
Who wouldn’t want their boys to aspire to such things?
Buddy is a very active boy, so we didn’t start him in Tiger Scouts when we could have. . . but now that he’s eight and settled down a bit we plan on getting him involved in scouting this year. I want him to grow up learning those same ideals.
Maybe like his uncle he will some day become an Eagle Scout as well!
If you want to learn more about the Boy Scouts of America check out their great web page: Be A Scout.
My Son is an Eagle Scout, my Husband is a Boy Scout Leader. They have both been in Scouting since 4th grade. Committing him to Scouting and following through year after year has helped our Son become the man he is. He started college in August, he’s in for the weekend from out of state. He is still going to the troup meeting tomorrow night. It’s one of the best gifts you can give a boy, help him start and stay in Scouting. There are 26 members in their troup, seven of the boys are currently working on their Eagle Scout Rank Project. Only 4 % of Boy Scouts ever attain the rank of Eagle Scout. They deserve the best you can give them, Scouting is one of the best! They carry it all there lives, they are marked men by the good that changes in them.
Thanks for sharing Annie! Being an Eagle scout is a very big accomplishment.
Great post! My son is also an Eagle Scout. I did Girl Scouts and loved going to Girl Scout camp…some of my favorite memories. Girl Scouts DO camp, cook over a campfire, learn knots and lots of other outdoor skills, IF you have a leader that is not a wimp. There are so many choices and paths to follow within the Girl Scout program that sometimes the outdoor stuff gets left behind, especially if your leaders can’t stand the thought of going without their hairdryers and won’t get dirt under their acrylic nails. If your daughter has leaders like that, volunteer to help with campouts. Or go find another leader who likes that! You don’t have to stay in the one troop you started with…if you don’t like it, call your GS Council and ask for other groups!
Cathy-wow, great accomplishment for your son. You know, when I was applying for my ROTC scholarships for college the only activity/award that they specifically asked about on the form was “are you an Eagle Scout”. My brother also said that, believe it or not, he was told by admissions folks that being an Eagle Scout was a definite benefit on medical school admissions.
As for the Girlscouts, Princess is enjoying it-but they don’t get out and DO as much as she might like. They do have one assistant leader who is more into the hiking and stuff-so hopefully that will increase over time.