According to Great Rivers Council, only about 6% of eligible Scouts make it to the highest rank of Eagle Scout. For Troop 21 that meets at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, troop 21 has had a record number of its members reach the Eagle Scout Rank in the last three years with more to follow.
Many of the Eagle Scouts started in the same Cub Scout Den under the leadership of Gregg Soha as Tiger Cubs in first grade, and they continued in scouting for 12 years, under the leadership of Peter Baljet and Bill Cox. Members of the troop come from Chamblee, Brookhaven and surrounding areas.
"We do a good job at Troop 21 of supporting the scouts," says Bill Cox, the current Scout Master of the troop. "We frequently talk with them about what's your next step, what's your goal, and what are you working on as far as your rank and on your next merit badge." But when it comes to making Eagle Scout, Bill says the kids have to want to do it.
In meetings they discuss important ideas such as citizenship, values, and the twelve points of Scout Law that includes values and virtues like being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, kind and more.
In addition to camping and other adventures, scouts learn life skills that aren't taught in school. The skills start out basic and age appropriate, and move to more advanced skills as the scouts grow. Bill says the first ranks are focused on skills such as first aid, tying knots, water rescue, fire building, and the higher ranks focus on leadership. "The scouts learn to manage their own patrol," he says. "We like to say that our scout troop is scout led."
Bill says younger members are motivated by the friendships they make and by seeing the older scouts reach their achievements.
For more information, visit t21.trooptrack.com.
"We like to say that our scout troop is scout led," Bill Cox, Scout Master Boy Scout Troop 21