Re: Young Eagles
Kirkland, Chuck (kirkland@HQ.HQUSAREUR.ARMY.MIL)
Wed, 30 Jun 1999 08:01:30 +0200
Michael Bowman wrote:
> At the young age of 14 (in 1967) I was presented with the rank of Eagle
> Scout.
>
> But from what I read, the chances are that I wasn't mature enough to have
> earned the rank and most likely should have been slowed down to become
> more
> mature. Fortunately, folks back then didn't think that way.
>
I fully agree not only with the excerpt but everything Michael says.
I was awarded the Eagle Rank in 1963 at the age of 13 years and 4 months. I
was very agressive and wanted to earn everything in site at that age. Eagle
was not the end off my scouting and I went on to hold every position in the
troop and become active in Exploring.
I drifted away from Scouting when I was 16 and had to start working
full-time. Only once did I think that my Eagle was earned too early and that
was when I attended an Eagle Scout career day and I got to pick the career I
was interested in to spend the day. It was spent with one of the Big 8
(back then) accounting firms and everything seemed over my head. By the way
I went on to get my BBA in Accounting several years later.
I recently ended 3 years as Scoutmaster in my troop which has grown
from approx 25 to over 50 scouts. As of this day, there are 14 Life Scouts
and we held 2 Eagle Court of Honors in the last week. Both Scouts earned
their awards. One was 15 and just fininshed up 9 months as SPL, The other
turned 17 this week.
Besides earning it themselves, there is one common denominator.
They wanted their award. The 17 year old is moving back to the States next
week. I think it influenced his decision to complete his Eagle because he
wanted the COH with his friends. The other hasn't missed a meeting since
his BOR and that was in late March.
To me age has no bearing on the award. It is the leadership they
continue to show their fellow scouts. The 17 year old came last night
looking for the advancement chairman so he could get his advancement
records. He wanted to be sure he could pick up with his new troop as soon
as he got to his new home.
The average age for Eagles in our Troop is 16. We want them to want
to be Eagles. We also want them to include troop activities in their quest.
We only average 2 Eagles a year in the troop (although this should be a
bumper year) with the philosophy of "They have to want it so it will mean
more to them"
Take the adult out of the push for advancement and you will find a
true Eagle Scout.
Offer the scouts opportunities. We have had scouts from the troop
as Lodge Chief 4 out of the last 6 years and Chapter Chief 7 out of 8 years.
We pride ourselves on the number of our Troop Members on the Camp Freedom
Summer Camp Staff (4 youth and 1 adult this year).
The program creates the Eagle. If you think your troop has too many
young Eagles , then give them more to do than work on advancement.
Chuck Kirkland
Troop 26
Heidelberg, Germany
Black Eagle Lodge
