I was a Joey Scout Leader when my Sons were young. My husband was a Scout leader for a while. It takes a lot of time and dedication to be part of the Scouting movement. Our kids didn't go far with scouting but they got a lot out of it in the time they were invloved. Our eldest participated in a Scout Jamboree that was held in the Adelaide Hills for Scouts from all over the world. He loved it, and he has always remained an outdoor type of person. He works in the vineyards in the Barossa Valley, and just likes to work outside. In Australia we have Joey Scouts that are 5 - 8 years old, I think, then they go into Cub Scouts until about age 12, then they can become a Scout. We didn't do it for any religous reasons, in fact religion was never a factor, it was more about learning new things, getting to go on excellent overnight, full of activities, camps. Sitting around a camp fire singing songs and telling stories. It was also about doing things in the community. We saw it only as one part of their education. Besides School activities, they also played football, cricket, and were part of our local athletics club for many years. Now both of my Grandsons are members of their local athletics club, and Blake is playing football for his local club. I am not sure if either of them will become Scouts, it is not so popular these days.
Believe it or not despite my outdoorsy occupation and love for nature I was never in the boy scouts. My mentor made eagle scout but that is about as close as I ever came to anything with the organization. Congrats to all of you who did make it. That is a great accomplishment!
I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout - though my current religious beliefs (or lack thereof) may not allow me to consider myself an Eagle Scout today.
Eagle Scout here... and Order of the Arrow. Youngest to accomplish Eagle in my county at the time. (Hey, I don't have much fame to claim, so I'll take it where I can). I fudged the "morally straight" part.