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IT'5 NOTYOURGRANDPASCOUTINGNYMORByAlisonFiebi
One of the coLlntry'sargest outhorganizattons,theBoyScorztsf
Americd BSA) wiLL elebrateitscentennialhismonth
Founded by Chicago businessmanWilliamBoyce on February 8, 1910,
the institution isconsidered sential to youngboys n *re Fox
Cities,teaching them how to be trustworthy, loyal,helpful,
friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,cheerful, hrifty, brave, clean
and reverent,
These traits arepart of the Scout'sLaw thatprevails in the BSA,
a values.baseddevelopmental organization hat has servedourcountry
for 100years.TRAILBTAZERS
Today, the BSA uniform may be morerecognized than the mannerisms
and staturethat youngmen leam aspart ofthe organization.
Dr. Etienne (E.T) Mejia, ofAppleton, has spent his whole lifein
uniform.
From Boy Scouts to the U.S.Narry, to working as an EMT
incollege, and now an orthopedicsurgeon with Appleton's
SportsMedicine Center and the medicaldirector for the Wisconsin
TimberRattlers, tt his scouting xperiencethat ignited his life
passions.
Bom and raised n Puerto Rico,Mejia was six yearsold when
heentered Cub Scouts.
Todav. he is a scout leader forhis two sons,agenine and 13."My
careerstems rom the seedof the first aid merit badge," saysMejia.
"l t made me realize thattherewasa ot there andgaveme a
well.roundedvision of the world."
Mejia'speerselectedhim for a distinguishednational BSA honor
society called Order of theArrow.
"The rank advancement svstem s tried andtrue," he says.
His involvement in BSA spilled over intoother areas, such as
volunteering for theorganization while he was in the Narry
andserving as a camp counselor.
"The energy and enthusiasm of guys whowere really liuing r was
truly incredible," saysMejia.CENTENNIALHALLENGES
The same ore of long ago is still practicedtoday.And its the
spiritedyoungservicemen nour community that are mastering basic
skillsand forming the foundations of manhood.
"Everyonehas heir preconceivednotions of'old' scouting," says
Mark Logemann, scout
young men. That boils down to about one infour kids involved in
Boy Scouts.
The organization has struggled to remairelevant. A common
misconception is thayoung men need to make a decision either
toparticipate in scouting or do other extracurricular
activities.But the BSA is making t loud and clear hascouting
doesn'thave to be a choice.
"The greatest part is that we have varsitathletes(in scouting),"
saysLogemann. For usit's not an either or; it's both."
Logemann explains that parents oguardiansoften struggle o commit
to their sondevelopment and excellence. The BSA i:r.rt":rlt
to reconnect with the parents and theirFor Appleton resident
Cindy Veit, Bo
Scoutshasgivenher two sonsopportunities heycouldn't have
experienced otherwise, such arock climbing, high adventure rips and
sleepinin caves.
Her oldest son, Curtis, a junior aAppleton EastHigh School,
startedasaTiger Cub Scout in first gradeand haworked, camped and
eamedhis way tothe highest yourh award in BSA, rheEagleScout
rank.
"My parentswanted me to do it, buI liked to be outside so [Boy
Scoutssoundedgood to me," Curtis says.
The Veits have even spent timewith the organization as den
leadercommittee chairs and merit badgcouruelors. '
"Eachparenthas a differe.nt evel oinvolvement," explains Cindy.
"Ourown leadership kills have developedaan adult level, too."
By focusing on the developmenand growth in their boys, hey
watchedon as Curtis transformed into an
Dr. Mejia slvres ispassionfar scouting rirJrussoru,Tanmy
13)uiMichael (9).executiveof the Bav-LakesCouncil. "But it'snotyour
grandpa's couting anymore!"
This year, the RSA is making a point tocelebrate ts historic
pastwhile heeding the future.
The Bay-LakesCouncil, made up of sevendistricts,22 counties and
over 200 communitiesin northeast Wisconsin, serves nearly
18,000
exemplified scout.Much like Mejia, in the eighth gradeVeit
was elected to the Order of the Arrowbrotherhood, which allowed
him to go theextra mile with service projects and
campingexcursions.
February 010t 4
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THEEAGLESFTODAY TOMORROWNationally, more than two million
youngmen have reached he EagleScout pinnacle inthe last
100years.That number can be deceptivebecausetonly represents4o/oof
youngsterswho havejoined BSA.In 2009,over250Eagle ervice
rojectswerecompleted in the Fox Cities, benefitingcommunity
organizationsand non-profits."Being a Boy Scout, you have to follow
theScoutoath and law,and asyou goon you live up
tult AcTsCUB COUTING
. Motto: Do yourbest.o TigerCubs(1stgrade, r about7 years
id)
. Cub Scouts 2nd-3rd grade, r about8-9 years ld). 'WebelosScouts
4th & 5th grades, r about10years ld)BOY COUTING
. Motto: Be Prepared.. Slogan:Do a Good Tirm Daily..
Completed5th grade 11-17 years ld ). To eam the EagleScoutRank, an
advancementprogram,a Boy
Scoutmustprogresshrough:Tenderfoot,SecondClass,FirstClass,Star,and
Life rankswhile acquiringa total of 21 merit badges, uchas First
Aid,Citizenship n the
Community,EnvironmentalScience,PersonalFitnessand Camping,alongwith
providingleadershipo his Tioop and seruice o the communiry.COUTING.
14*17 yearsold. VarsityScoutingencompassesrogram ieldsofemphasis:
dvancement,high adventure,personaldevelopment,service&
specialprograms.
. 14-77 yearold co-edprogram. This programprovidesan opportunity
to pursue pecialinterests n an environment that encourages
ersonalgrowth & leadenhipdevelopment.Wifiin the
Venruringprogram,advancement s designatedhrough
theRanger,Bronze,Gold, Silver & QuestAwards.
to it more and more," Curtis says. Being
anEagleScoutdoesn'tmeanyou have to stopbeingthose hings.Youhave o
be them evenmore so."Having earned 39 merit badges,
heapproachedGordon BubolzNature Preserve nAppleton and scavenged
hrough a book ofprojects hey offer scouts.Over the courseof four
days,he guidedandcoacheda crewof peers o
removepavingbricks,pourconcreteJile andgroura new walking path."l t
sounded imple,but of course,r'sa littlemore work than that," he
reflects.As a Xavier High School seniorand Eagle Scout, Nick
Bongersconstructed a composting displaywith a sign and patio at
MosquitoHill Nature Center n New London."Think about the
furure,"Bongerssays,urging orhers to joinBoy Scouts. lf you're n
the Army asan Eagle Scout, you get promotedupon entry. It's easier
o get intocoliege. tt recognizedhat you'realeader.They'1l ake a
risk on you."SCOUTINGELEBRATION
A 2010 national getaway hatwill take place in Virginia on
JulyZ6-August 4 will celebrate rhecentennial.The celebration is
historic,dating back to rhe firsr amboree n1937 in Washington,
D.C., at theinvitation of PresidentRoosevelt.Locally, J.J. Ke11er
an dAssociates and the Greater FoxCities Area Habitat fo r
Humanityhave parrnered with the BSA toorchestrare youthbuild
pro!ect."As a foundation and company,we have alwayshad a
relationshipwith tsoy Scours," says To mCherrier, corporate
distributionmanager t J.J.Keller and a Habitatboardmember. We
decided o lookto them for this project,being their100-year
nniversary."Cherrier is also an EagleScoutFO XCITIESMagazine15
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and remainsclose with theorganization.
"l have astrong passionfor the BoyScouts," e adds."This will be
areally nice wayfor the threeorganizations ocome ogether."
Cwtis Veit seakayking in the Apostle slands
At this time of celebration and reflection, it has those close o
torganizationvoicing their aspirations or the future of Boy
Scouts.
"l hope it can withstand the challengesand distractionsof
todayouth," saysMejia. "lt's important that it remains asa strong
resoufor young ads o discoverand grow in."
For parents ike Mejia and Veit, the level of maturity
displayedchildren in scouting s an invaluablequality."lt's
beenwonderful to see hem grow and develop, as any parewould
see,"Cindy Veit says.Everynow and then, you can ook at theand say,
hat came rom scouting."
But it's thescouts whobest articulate ,,Eaery kidwants tobuild
amodel c&r, gwhv their r, 1 .e x D e f l e n c e ';Jil ';;;,
ttying to reconnect with the parents anwith the their ualues."o
rgan l za t ronand scoutingbuddies isworth the while
Mark Logemann, scout excutive, Bay-Lakes Counc
"Part of my experien ce hat makes t so great s that I have a lof
scouts hat are now my friends,"Curtis says. You're
learniinvaluableskills."
Bongers,who also participates n cross country, tennis, the
maleague and forensics,can relate to those who think it may be
touto commit."l t wili benefityou n the long run," he says. lt
makes ou a moupstanding,honestperson." fti
FOX CITIESMagazinet 6
