Boy Scouts of America

                   By Ford Kreps

                  April 27, 2005

Have you ever thought about joining Boy Scouts of America? Here is why I think you will want to join. Scouting brings life long friendships. In addition, you get to go on over night campouts where you learn how to cook outdoors, set up a tent, hike, use a compass, rock climbing, and horse back riding. If you would like to be in Boy Scouts, you earn merit badges and learn how to do all kinds of neat and different things. So far, I have completed my Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, and 1st Class ranks and will proceed to Star rank by after summer vacation after completing its requirements. Also, so far I earned one merit badge, Music and will probably get three others by summer. The three other Merit badges are Personal Fitness, Family Life, and Architecture. The merit badges have challenged me and I hope they challenge you. Once you have joined a Boy Scout Troop you will be assigned to a patrol that fits your age. Then your patrol will vote for a name for the patrol such as Eagle patrol, Serpents of Time patrol, Dragon patrol, or Volunteers patrol. Your patrol will assign five people to be, patrol leader, assistant patrol leader, quartermaster, scribe, and grubmaster. The patrol leader is the leader and if he is not there the assistant patrol leader is the leader. The scribe takes notes and makes the menu, the grubmaster is in charge of getting and buying the food for campouts, and the quartermaster is in charge of making sure everything is organized and clean in the patrol’s patrol box. Usually, you are a Boy Scout for 3-4 years or sooner. You may choose to quit or achieve the Eagle rank, the last rank. Eagle rank is very hard to obtain but it brings self confidence, a sense of accomplishment, and the love of scouting. I love Boy Scouts and I know you will too!