Fate of an Eagle Scout in my hands

By AMY HANSEN • CNA staff reporter |  A short time ago, I was asked by Gary O’Daniels if I wanted to sit on an Eagle Scout board of review.

My immediate answer was, “Yes, of course I would,” and “I’d be honored.”

Since I am a girl, I was obviously never in Boy Scouts.

However, my brother is an Eagle Scout and my father was an assistant Scoutmaster.

Even though I am not a Scout, I was able to have some knowledge on what makes a good Eagle Scout during the board review of Kyle Jennett Sunday night.

For those of you who don’t know, an Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America program.

To become an Eagle Scout, you have to earn at least 21 merit badges and conduct a service project that includes planning, organizing, leading, and managing.

Only a small percentage of Boy Scouts actually attain the Eagle Scout ranking.

In the board of review, the fate of the future Eagle Scout is decided by four people.

The reviewers look at the Scout’s letters of recommendation and speak to Scoutmasters or assistant scoutmasters who are sitting in the review for points of reference.

Then, the Scout is brought in and asked to discuss his service project and other general questions on what he has learned from his years in scouting.

I will say this, it’s pretty much a no-brainer on voting if the Scout has done the work and done the time to become an Eagle Scout.

It’s probably more hectic for the parent or parents waiting by themselves while their son is in another room being asked questions.

Growing up, I attended a lot of Boy Scout events in support of my brother.

I especially remember driving to the Boy Scout camps of Wapello and Mitigwa in the summer for family visiting days.

If you think this sounds dull, think again. It’s fun being one of the only teenage girls in a camp full of hundreds of boys.

By the end of camp, it always seemed like the boys were starved for any type of female attention.