Boy Scout & FIRST

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Ian,
You will look back on this time in a different light when you are older. As an adult, I am unable to get the Eagle award, that is one of my greatest disappointments in life. It is not just a badge, it is an outward sign that you can complete something you start, that you are a leader instead of a follower, and that you stand alone as all look up to you. It is unfortunate that there is not the same recognition for girls. (i.e. a universally understood sign of the above traits.) We all know you can achieve this goal, but you alone can make it happen.
As for the younger kids, have patience, without you knowing it they are looking up to you for guidance.
Good luck on your path to Eagle.

[UCGL_Guy]

I have been involved in Scouting for about 10 years now with my oldest recieving his Eagle this last December and my youngest at Star and moving up. The oldest is our driver and Lead student/coach and the leadership skills he learned in Scouting show through. For all of you scouts that have not made Eagle yet, hang in there what you learn by working with those younger scouts, "mentoring" them will pay off later as you learn people skills. I myself completed the adult leaders Woodbadge program and would not trade my experiences there for anything. I wish we could have all FIRST mentors go throught the training as they would have a better appreciation and skills to handle the youth they deal with. BTW
Demonstrations to Cub packs go over big.
Ken York
Troop 509 leader
Team 476 mentor

Quote "The only thing wrong with the Boy Scouts is there are not enough of them" Will Rogers

[Tim Allen]

I think I'm the only scout on our team, but one of last year's mentors is a scout leader. I only have to turn in my application for eagle, thank goodness I finished my project before FIRST started, and I have until Saturday to get it sent (well, really thursday, because after that I'll be at Lone Star). Some advice for everyone else in scouts, don't wait to finish your Eagle until the last few weeks, life is not fun.

[The Lucas]

Until last year my team was an Explorer Post, a coed division of the Boy Scouts devoted to engineering. So technically we were all Boy Scouts, even the girls. The team grew out of the very old DuPont Explorer Post, that is how we were created without an official school (we have 15 high schools now and 3 home schooled students). The Explorer Post withdrew its support (and insurance coverage) before the 2002 season. Unfortunately, our team is no longer legally considered a non profit organization since we are no longer affiliated with the Boy Scouts.