I was a Boy Scout for a long time and then went into a group known back then as The Explorers in high school. I enjoyed scouting and did very well, obtaining somewhere around 35 merit badges, was a member of the Order of The Arrow from the Moheagan Council for brotherhood and camping knowledge among scouts, obtained the rank of Eagle scout and received an award for Catholic Boy Scouts called The Ad Alteri Dei Medal (roughly translated God above self) awarded by a bishop..
I remember going to a place in Bolton Mass every summer called Camp Resolute. I was a longtime member of Boy Scout Troop 2. Sacred Heart Parish.
I remember all the ranks - Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, First Class, then the ranks that required merit badges to obtain - Star Scout, Life Scout and finally the highest rank which was Eagle Scout.
If I remember right you needed over 20 (at least) mandatory merit badges to make Eagle Scout. They included Lifesaving, Swimming, Camping, Citizenship in the home, community and nation badges, home repairs, American Heritage, Auto Mechanics, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting, First Aid, Cycling, Pioreering and a bunch more.
All in there were over 50 available merit badges if memory serves me. Some were madatory to make Eagle while others like sculpture and Water Skiiing for example were not.
We went to what were called camporee's twice a year also. You camped out with the entire troop for three days and two nights and had to leave the woodland camp area just like you found it when you left.
Scouting in those days was great for a kid as I am sure it still is...Scouting instilled a sense of character and community service in kids that was not easy to find elsewhere.
Yes, I was an alter boy also (no I was never molested). All this, scouting, Alter Boy, Explorers was the result of attending 12 years of parochial school growing up. 8 years at Sacred Heart Grammar School and 4 years at St. Mary's High School. Both closed now for many years. Those school were where I learned the little Latin I still remember.
Call it what you want, but by the time I was in the service I was glad I had been a Boy Scout for 6 or 7 years.
wil.
PS. I just looked it up - my old Troop - Troop 2 is still operating and even has a website.
Welcome to the WWW Internet Site for Troop 2, sponsored by the
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Milford, Massachusetts since 1927.
