Re: Boy Scout Activities and funds to achieve Eagle
Andrew Hagemann (hagemann@VISI.NET)
Sun, 26 Jan 1997 20:13:59 -0500
> Most of the scout trips are ranging from $100 to over $500 (summer
> activity) per trip per month.
> Is this expense common in other scout troops?
> How many of these trips does a scout need to go on before he can obtain
> Eagle?
>
> I am after suggestions and ideas to help this young scout.
First question:
Whoo, whee, that's expensive! Our Troop camps once a month all year
'round, never charging more than $8.00 to $15.00 dollars for food,
transportation, the event patch (if any) and the registration fee (if
any). The exception is summer camp which runs between $135 to $145,
depending on whether we're staying in-Council or not, plus gasoline.
Even for the less-expensive week-end trips, we always have "camperships"
available for any boy who's parents ask for help. We do have the
occasional "older-Scout" trip that tend to be a bit pricier, but they
are extra-curricular trips (skiing, or attending a professional sports
event).
Second question:
Just 10 activities are required to earn 1st Class (5 for 2nd Class,
another 5 for 1st Class). An activity can be as simple as picking up
trash with the Troop at their Adopt-A-Spot location to as complicated as
a deranged SM's fevered imagination can make it. After a Scout earns
1st Class the activity part is harder to define. I have excerpted the
applicaple portions of the requirements to give you an idea:
+ the Scout must be active in the Troop at least 4 months as a 1st
Class Scout, earn 6 merit badges (3 must be Eagle-required), perform 6
hours of SM-approved service, hold a Troop leadership position for 4
months to earn Star;
+ at least 6 months as a Star Scout, earn 5 more merit badges (3 must
eb Eagle-required), 6 more hours of SM-approved service, hold a Troop
leadership position for six months to become a Life Scout;
+ be active for at least 6 months as a Life Scout and 6 months in a
leadership position to be Eagle.
What does "be active" mean? To me, the SA of an active Troop, a Scout
who attends a majority of Troop meetings, goes camping frequently, helps
on many of the other Scout's Eagle Projects, participates in most of the
Troop's Service Projects and Good Turns, and attends summer camp most of
his pre-working-age years will make him a "shoo-in" for advancement. In
Scouting, lees is not more.
I hope this helps some. You others, please chime in and amplify,
correct or append.
YiS,
Drew
--
Andrew Hagemann <hagemann@visi.net>
ASM, Troop 6
Colonial Virginia Council
A "Charging" Buffalo, SR-158
Jamboree '97 Metal Work MB Booth Coordinator
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
