Eagle Scout Service Award
The Eagle Scout award is the highest award achievable by a Boy Scout in America. To earn an Eagle Scout award, a Scout has to spend years in his Troop camping and serving others, developing as a strong leader, completing over 20 merit badges, leading a successful Eagle Scout Service Project and passing his Eagle Scout Board of Review.
Becoming an Eagle Scout is a long road, but as many Scouts look back it is often one of the single greatest experiences of their lives. It certainly was for me.
My Eagle Scout Service Project was the creation of an outdoor classroom at my high school, Fred T. Foard. It cost over $3,000 and required over 800 hours of community service from both me and my friends, family and fellow Scouts. The entire cost of the project was covered by donations from local organizations and businesses and taught me that people are always willing to help you out when you have a great idea and the energy to make it a reality. You can read a bit more in the article below.
About Scouting
Boy Scouts of America is the largest youth organization in the United States with over 5 million members. It is also part of the International Scouting Movement which currently has over 28 million members worldwide. It's estimated that since its founding in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has had over 110 million members.
I started Scouting when I was 15, after moving from Florida to North Carolina. My friend and Eagle Scout Bryan Mack recommended I visit his Troop, where his dad Roy was Scoutmaster, and I loved it. Two and a half years later, on my 18th birthday, I finished building my Eagle Scout service project, an outdoor classroom at my high school. On May 15th, 2003 I graduated from high school in the morning and received my Eagle Scout award that evening. Roy, Bryan, and my Assistant Scoutmasters Luther and Roger, presented me with my award in front of my family, my friends, my fellow Scouts, my teachers and my principals from school. I felt then, and still feel now, a great appreciation for all of these people and their guidance and support over the years.
Since graduating from high school, I have met many other Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts (including my freshman year roommate in college) and been continually impressed by their character and values. I think Scouting provides young men in America with a wonderful opportunity to grow into caring, engaged and responsible adults who understand their place in the world around them. I look forward to being involved with the organization for many years and am thankful for what I have already learned from my Scout leaders and friends.
