By Cheryl Stewart Osborn

Shortly after feeling relief and gratitude that I had given birth to a healthy son, I was suddenly struck with the daunting realization of what loomed ahead: Boy Scouts.

For the first 11 years of his life, I dreaded the day my son Rick would enter the Boy Scout program. I was intimidated by the 21 merit badges, overwhelmed by the 20 nights of campouts, and feared the Eagle Scout service project that lay ahead of us…I mean him.
Still, I was determined that Rick would achieve the Eagle rank.

The first step to taming any daunting trail is to understand why you want to take that path.
According to the Boy Scouts of America Handbook, Eagle Scout is the highest rank that can be attained by Scouts. Only four percent of the youth who join Scouting earn this honor.

“It’s something that stays with you the rest of your life,” said Eagle Scout Steve Hansen, of the Shadow Canyon bishopric, Green Valley Stake. “I have always been proud to say I achieved my Eagle. You don’t realize it when you’re going through it, but it’s a big deal.”

The BSA Handbook also states the Scouting trail to Eagle promises the great outdoors, learned responsibilities and productive tools to make the most of family, community and nation. It also promises experiences and duties that will help a young man grow into a strong, wise adult.

“Being an Eagle gives young men a sense of accomplishment that they finished something important,” said Eagle Scout Eric Johnson, Scoutmaster of Troop 269, Redrock Stake.
“Once an Eagle, always an Eagle. When I’m invited into the Eagle’s nest at Eagle Courts of Honor, I’m being honored at 38 years old for something I did when I was 13. How many honors are there that you continue to receive periodically throughout your life?”

Taming the daunting Eagle trail begins when a boy first joins Scouting at age 11. Both leaders and parents play pivotal roles in his success.

“Leaders of 11-year-old Scouts are key to getting the boys through the ranks from Tenderfoot through First Class, and to giving them a good foundation in Scouting,” said Eric. “Parents are encouraged to attend Scout meetings when appropriate, and fathers should go on campouts with their sons.”

He added that leaders need to give information directly to parents so they are informed.
Likewise, parents must keep records of their son’s advancements, leadership opportunities and merit badges as this information is needed to complete the Eagle application.

“I kept my son’s rank advancement and merit badge cards in plastic baseball card sleeves inside a binder with all his Scouting information,” said Crystal Evans, both a wife and mother of Eagle Scouts in the Legacy Ward, Green Valley Stake.

Crystal became my mentor. She taught me to keep a record of each one of Rick’s campouts that included where they camped, how many nights, what they did, and who attended – information Rick later needed to earn the required camping merit badge.

Crystal also encouraged me to sign up to be a merit badge counselor at the Scout office, and suggested Rick earn merit badges with his friends to make it more fun. With approval, I held a basketry merit badge workshop at my home which members of Rick’s troop attended. Though none of the baskets could hold water - which fortunately was not a requirement - the boys enjoyed the interaction while completing a badge. I drove the boys to their merit badge counselor who inspected their baskets, questioned them on various weaves, and signed them off.

“Young men are more likely to earn merit badges when they are 11, 12 or 13 than when they are older, so encourage them to complete as many as possible during that time,” said Eric.

Merit Badges can be completed at clinics, Scout camp, or on your own with a merit badge counselor’s approval. Some badges have requirements that cannot be completed at a clinic, but need parental assistance.

“Environmental Science is one of those required badges that are best to earn at Scout camp,” said Elisabeth Bingham, mother of two Eagle Scouts from St. George. “Tell your son to have fun at Scout camp, but don’t leave without having earned that badge.”

Once we understood the Scout program, the Eagle trail wasn’t so daunting. In fact, Rick blazed the Eagle trail for his younger brother to follow. At 16 years old, Rick was awarded the Eagle at his Court of Honor in January. As Rick said to all those who guided him down the Eagle trail, “It’s not that I couldn’t have done it without you — I wouldn’t have done it without you. And I’m glad I did it.”