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Boy Scout Troop 435
(Greenbrier, Arkansas)
 
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http://troop435greenbrier.ScoutLander.com

  
 

Mission of Boy Scouts!



Boy Scouts of America
Mission Statement

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout oath and law.

Boy Scout Oath
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.

Boy Scout Law
A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful,
Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient,
Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean,
and Reverent.

When and Where does Troop 435 meet?



We meet every Monday night from 6:30-8:00pm at the Greenbrier First United Methodist Church.

When we travel to a camp, we wear our Class A uniform both to and from the destination.

The difference between rank and merit badges


Rank is an interesting word choice, clearly derived from Scouting's origin as a program modeled after a military structure.

  Those holding a "higher rank" do not order around those of "lower rank".   In Scouting, the term "rank" is a PERSONAL measure of his progress along the "Trail to Eagle"... or more appropriately thought of as his "trail to manhood".

When a boy joins Scouting, his first POSITION is one of "Scout". 

He then works on the first 3 RANKS; Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, and 1st Class.    Within the requirements of these ranks, a Scout learns the SAFETY aspects of Scouting; basic first aid, how to choose a safe camp spot, how to properly dress for an outing, how to find his way with map/compass, what to do if he gets lost, etc...

Now a demonstrated "safe" Scout... he is ready for his next period of personal development, which is LEADERSHIP.  In the pursuit of Star, Life, and Eagle, a youth is learning (and then mastering) the skills of leadership.  By holding leadership positions within the troop, he learns to lead, instruct, and inspire others.  He learns to "give back" to others, and also learns his emerging place in Society as a citizen.


There are 130+ various Merit Badges available (only 21 needed for Eagle).   To ensure that the Scouts are getting a taste of the opportunities available, the higher badges of rank require a set number of merit badges be completed (including some designated as "Eagle required").

Merit Badges offer exposure to a diverse background of interests, adventures, and opportunities that Scouts may never experience IF NOT for the Scouting program (Aviation, Scuba, Reptile study, shooting sports, etc).    It is not uncommon that exposure to a topic via the Merit Badge Program leads to life-long hobbies and career choices, as well as "needed skills" like Home Repair, Auto Mechanics, and Public Speaking.

There is no limit on the number of Merit Badges a youth may earn.

What's so special about being an Eagle Scout?



Becoming an Eagle Scout is no small achievement.  In fact, among adults who have gone on to become astronauts, doctors, politicians, or business leaders, most of them will say that earning their Eagle is clearly among the most important achievements in their lives.

Back to the question... WHY?

Look at it from this angle.... ADVANCEMENT is completely up to the individual Scout.   If he has no desire or sense of committment to advance in rank, that is his choice.   IT IS POSSIBLE for a boy to attend EVERY meeting and EVERY camping trip, and never make it through 1/2 of the available ranks if he isn't motivated enough to take the extra step of demonstrating skills or earning merit badges.  Statistically speaking, only 2 out of 100 boys in Scouting will push themselves to become Eagle Scouts.

The "Trail to Eagle" is one of persistance, dedication, well-rounded learning experiences by earning 21+ merit badges, strong attendance at meetings and camping trips, and hundreds of hours of community service.... all culminating with the planning and complete exectution of his "Eagle Project" before his 18th birthday.

The "Eagle Project" is SO MUCH MORE than "giving something back to the community" (which it is, and let's not minimize the importance of community and charity).   It is actually his "final exam" in Scouting.  

HE manages his Eagle Project.  He will put to use all of the lessons he learned as a Boy Scout;  communicating, organizing, recruiting, conceiving an idea, selling the idea, planning the work, assigning work details to those helping him, being the "accountant" that tracks the hours worked and the money spent, etc.   In every conceiveable way, HE is the "project leader".

THESE are the highly desirable skills and traits that makes "Eagle Scout" stand out on a job resume or college application, and the fact that such skills and moral foundations are learned/mastered before "society" recognizes him as an "adult"...  simply amazing!

Some notable Eagle Scouts includeNeil Armstrong First man on the moon, Gerald R. Ford 38th president of the United States, Willie Banks Olympic athlete, former world-record holder in triple jump and long jump, Bill Gates Sr. CEO of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; father of Bill Gates, Guion “Guy” S. Bluford Jr. retired U.S. Air Force officer and space shuttle astronaut; first African American in space, Robert Gates U.S. secretary of defense and former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, James A. Lovell Jr. Former U.S. Navy officer and Apollo 13 commander, J. Willard Marriott Jr. Chairman and CEO of Marriott International, Togo West Former U.S. secretary of veterans affairs and secretary of the Army, William S. Sessions Former federal judge and director of the FBI, Donald Rumsfeld former U. S. secretary of defense, Stephen Breyer associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Mike Rowe Host of “Dirty Jobs” television program,........