Scouting Nurtures Young Men to Become Leaders

There is a 17-year tradition of Scouting at the Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Ft. Washington, Maryland. For almost two decades the congregation and community have embraced the Scouting program as a tool for teaching values, leadership, and Christian ideals.

In 2000, that tradition paid off in a big way. Nineteen members of Troop 487 earned Scouting's highest rank—Eagle Scout. Not every young man who joins a Boy Scout troop earns the Eagle Scout rank; only about 4 percent of all Boy Scouts do so.

The goals of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness—remain important for all Scouts, whether or not they attain the Eagle Scout rank. Thousands of chartered organizations, such as churches, fraternities, housing programs, and community-based groups, combine the philosophy of Scouting, positive character, and Christian values.

For the Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Browning, co-pastor of the church, Scouting provides a foundation on which to build. "Scouting provides young men with a frame of reference ... a memory to refer back to and most importantly a spiritual foundation," she says. "All of their lives they'll remember that the church embraced them and nurtured them."

Over the years the young men in this group have traveled to South Africa and the Caribbean. They have also visited England, where Scouting first began, and the birthplace of Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the man who started the Scouting movement.

In addition to learning more about the world, they also worked hard to learn more about what they could do to help their community. Through hundreds of community service hours, these young men participated in the adopt-a-road program and Scouting for Food. They helped maintain nature trails and helped recondition older computer systems that were then donated to senior citizen homes.

The Boy Scouts of America salutes the many people that helped these young people as they begin their journey of leadership, excellence, and commitment to their community and this country. Because of the strong mentoring they received, the cycle will continue into the future.

Scouting: where character counts.

19 Eagles:

Brandon Anderson, Joshua Anderson, Daniyel Artis, Brian Barton, William Blake, Marcus Burks, John Bushrod, Antonio Foreman, Jason Harris, Brian Holmes, Leon Hopson, Tremon Jones, Darnell Lane, Quentin Miles, Herbert Nicholls III, William Nicholls IV, Marcus Watson, Maurice Watson, and Chester Williams.