“A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent”. This statement is known as the Boy Scout Law, the fundamentals a boy learns as a member of the Boy Scouts of America. The Scout motto, “Be Prepared”, and Scout Oath, “On my Honor, I will do my best, to do my duty, to God and my country, and obey the scout law; to help other people at all time and to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight”, together with the Scout Law, are the foundation that form a program unparallel to any of it’s kind.
The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated to provide a program for community organizations that offers effective character, citizenship, and personal fitness training for youth. Specifically, the BSA endeavors to develop American citizens who are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit; have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage, and resourcefulness; have personal values based on religious concepts; have the desire and skills to help others; understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems; are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand our nation’s role in the world; have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people; and are prepared to participate in and give leadership to American society.
So what does this mean for the youth in our community? Simply put, Boy Scouts offers a unique opportunity for male youth, ages 11-18, to grow into upstanding citizens in their community through and outdoor based program. Boy Scouting is unlike any other youth organization in the world, offering many opportunities for personal growth through outdoor activities such as backpacking, hiking, camping, water based activities, and many others. Clinton is fortunate to have several Boy Scout troops but one of its most active troops in Troop 430.
Boy Scout Troop 430, now in its 78th year, is a very busy and fun troop. Troop 430 is part of the Heart of America Council, Lone Bear District. The troop meets every Monday, during the school year, from 6:30pm-8:00pm at its Scout Building located at 808 Augusta Street in Clinton. Monthly campouts cover a wide variety of activities that relate back to the program fundamentals contributing to each scout’s advancement through a “rank” system. Merit badges are earned by scout’s covering learning areas from cooking and hiking to personal finance management and personal fitness. Several fundraising opportunities allow for scouts to “pay their own way” and offset the cost of scouting so families have very little out of pocket expense. Some of the more popular fundraisers, well known around the community, include the annual Deer Hunters Breakfast held on opening day of deer season at the Masonic Temple. Also the troop’s concession trailer and water sales during the annual Olde Glory Days located on the downtown Clinton Square.
The program is based around scouts earning individual ranks. These ranks are Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class Scout, First Class Scout, Star Scout, and Life Scout. The last and most sought after goal of any scout is to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. This highly sought after rank is nationally recognized and has directly aided in the employment of many people over those that did not have the credential. The US military recognizes the rank of Eagle Scout and young men entering the military see higher starting pay and ranks. Generally a scout earns their Eagle Scout by the age of 16 if all requirements are met. After a scout earns the rank of Eagle Scout, they participate in the troop as a youth leader. They begin to learn leadership skills and contribute back to the troop and assist the younger scouts on their path to Eagle Scout.
Scouting offers opportunities in high adventure activities. Two of the most popular high adventure opportunities are Sea Base and Philmont Scout Ranch. Sea Base, located off the Florida coast, offers opportunities to participants such as deep sea fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The 7-day program is very popular and gives the scouts participating a chance to experience program not offered at most local scout camps. Philmont Scout Ranch, located in Cimarron, New Mexico, is nestled in the Sangre De Cristo mountain range of the Rocky Mountains. This highly sought after outdoor experience is the oldest and most popular high adventure program offered by the Boy Scouts of America. Individual crews partake in a 10-day backpacking adventure in the mountains and truly test the skills they have learned in scouting. Carrying only the items in their backpack, participants climb mountains, partake in backcountry programs such as spar pole climbing and shot gun shooting while learning key survival skills along the way. Troop 430 attends Philmont Scout Ranch every two years and attends Sea Base when a large enough group of scouts is assembled to go, roughly every 5 years.
Annually, Troop 430 attends summer camp at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation located in Osceola/Iconium, Missouri. This 10 day camp offers the scouts a multitude of opportunities to earn merit badges and to participate in activities such as: rifle shooting, water sports, archery, and many others. A camping honor program, the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, utilizes a Native American theme to reinforce the fundamentals of scouting. This program is very popular and is the highlight of each scouts summer experience. Parents travel to Bartle on visitor’s day and a pot luck style lunch is enjoyed by all Troop 430 scouts and family members.
Scouting is one of the nations oldest youth programs and has been the source of male youth personal, community and citizenship development in communities for decades. The impact the program has on families is unlike any program offered. Do you think you have a boy that would enjoy Boy Scouts? If so, we would encourage you to visit one of our meetings during the school year with your boy to see what it’s all about. If you have questions, feel free to send us a message on our Facebook page (Boy Scout Troop 430) or contact our Scoutmaster, Matt Willings, at 660-924-1156. An adventure awaits, are you ready?
