At the end of April, I will go on a brief trip to visit my sister, Carolyn and her family, who live in Macungie, Pennsylvania.  While there, I’ll attend her younger boy’s Eagle Court of Honor.  For those who don’t know, the Eagle Court of Honor is the celebration of the boys’ Eagle Rank achievement; it’s part ceremony, part roast, and mostly party.  Justin earned his Eagle rank over a year ago, and has been waiting for some of his Boy Scout buddies to finish their projects, so they could all celebrate together.  Justin will be the last Eagle in my siblings’ families, following his older brother, Patrick, and his two cousins (my sons), Tom and Will. 

I got hooked into Boy Scouts when our oldest son Tom joined Tiger Cubs over 18 years ago, and have continued on as a Scout leader since.  I’ve always enjoyed working with kids, whether it was at a YMCA camp, coaching swimming, or running a church youth group.  Over the years, I’ve learned much about enjoying and surviving in the outdoors, and the Boy Scouts was the perfect match for me to share those skills and encourage boys to become leaders. 

Now, I’m primarily a mentor to the Scouts working on their Eagle projects, but also attend the weekly meetings and do merit badge counseling.  This summer, I’ll attend a High Adventure backpacking trip with some of our Scouts and parents, hiking the 50-mile West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.  But I digress.

I attend Eagle Courts because I find the ceremonies meaningful, uplifting, and enjoyable.  They “re-charge” my batteries to continue working in Scouting.  Unless you’ve worked with a boy for 6 years, and seen him grow from a boy to a leader, it’s hard to understand the significance.  For me, it’s a calling and a gift.