By Scott Howell

The Eagle Rank is recognized world-wide as a group of men who are outstanding in all that Scouting represents.

• Personal Honor
• High Character Values
• Leadership Skills
• Giving to the Community
• Giving to Country
• Giving to his Scout Troop
• Courage in Facing Hard Challenges

Being an EAGLE means your OATH has no age limit.

You are an EAGLE for Life.

Being an EAGLE holds a very special meaning in America and in the World.

The Eagle Scout Award, it’s Scoutings’s highest rank. Men who have earned the Eagle Rank count it among their most treasured possessions. Those who missed receiving the award remember exactly which requirement they didn’t complete. Americans from all walks of life know that being an Eagle Scout is a great honor, even if they don’t know just what the badge means.

You are an Eagle Scout – never were. You earned the badge as a scout, but you earn it every day as a man. I would ask those who read this article to tell me what this statement means to you?

What it means to me to be a Boy Scout.
That we live every day doing our best and living up to the scout oath and law. Because the law and oath are just good for everyone to be and do. Plus it helps me feel connected to my Grandpa who died before I was born. He was a scout leader and my Uncles who were Eagle Scouts.

Nick Dunlap
Troop Guide

What it means to me to be a Boy Scout.
To be one of 9% of boys that have gone through the scout program is very special. You have opportunities to learn and use ideas in programs that you would not otherwise learn. You grow more during these 7 years than at any point in your life. Where else would you learn to tie knots, read a maps, or be a leader of other young men?

What it means to be an Eagle Scout.
To be one of 2% to ever earn the Eagle rank is something that you will always be respected for. You will find in life that people really respect you for what you accomplished. The public will look up to you and respect you to another level. Once you have obtained this rank I believe the expectations are higher in life for you. I think the expectations are higher and people will look to you for answers and help…I personally have had the opportunity many times to use skills and learning’s from the Boy Scouts to be helpful with others.

Once you go through the scouting program you will always be an Eagle, no matter what you do, or where you go.

John Gauld
Eagle Scout Troop 282 – 1972

What it means to me to be a Boy Scout.
Being a Scout and then a Scouter has provided me purpose and focus. In addition, there has been opportunity for adventure and the cultivation of lasting friendships. Outside of family, Scouting has been the most important factor in my life. As I reflect back on my life, the Scouting memories are the most vivid.

Dave Woodman
Directing Medicine Man

What it means to be a Boy Scout.
It had provided me with stability and consistency. These are qualities required for one to have a successful life! In the Words of John Wesley, "It is the journey, not the destination."

What it means to be an Eagle Scout.
Where this is known of me, expectations are higher than those around me which are not Eagle Scouts. Especially at work. This provides me daily with an opportunity and challenge…always meet or exceeding the expectations…as life is without limits!

Rick Bennett
Asst. Scoutmaster

What it means to be a Boy Scout.
It gives me the chance to learn and to grow physically, socially, and mentally. It also makes me fell like I belong some where, and know that it prepares me for the world.

William Chinnery
Troop Librarian

What it means to be a Boy Scout.
Being a Boy Scout leader, to me, means doing my part to help set our young men on the right trail in life. Helping to grow up & be valuable members of society, & successful adults.

Travis Simpson
Troop Committee Member

What it means to be a Boy Scout.
I am an "old scout " I was a cub scout in the 1940′s a boy scout in the 50′s . I can’t imagine the loss of fun times and great adventures that I have had. If I had not selected the choice of being a scout. When I was in college and in the military service I used my scouting training, when our boys we young we camped, fished and went on float trips, always using the scouting skills that I had learned many years ago. In business the rules and laws that we learn are very help full. I guess I am an old scout, it is a great choice.

Gary Leabo
COR

What it means to be a Boy Scout.
When I became a Boy Scout, I resumed a trail that I had started several years earlier. I joined Cub Scouting and enjoyed the years spent earning all of the ranks through Arrow of Light. When I "crossed over" to the Boy Scouts, I was a frightened 11 year old who had no friends in Boy Scouts, and was the lone Webelos Scout who joined the Boy Scout Troop that year. After the first couple of scout meetings where I observed nothing but older, bigger scouts, I was petrified at the thought of going anywhere with these guys, especially 10 days of Boy Scout Camp. After those 2 scout meetings, I walked away from Scouting. No one must have cared, since I was never contacted by any leader or scout about my absence. Two years later, while on a church youth retreat, one of my friends told me about his Scout Troop, what they did, where they went, and my interest in Scouting was again stirred. I joined my friends scout troop, as a 13 year old. I had grown considerably over the last 2 years, and soon became the tallest, oldest Tenderfoot in the troop. My love for Scouting grew like a wild fire. My scout buddies were my best friends. My Scoutmaster was a thoughtful and caring adult who was committed to the Scout program and everything for which it stood. Scouting gave to me an opportunity to camp, hike, fish, learn the woods, develop character, and learn leadership skills. My father had already suffered 2 heart attacks in his life, so camping and fishing were not part of our family life. Scouting became a part of my family life. In 1973, I earned the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 15. I earned my God and Country, earned 32 merit badges, attended the 1973 World Jamboree, and began a Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. I have tried to give back to Scouting in the years since, serving as Troop Committee Chairman, Cubmaster, Troop Committee Member for many years, Merit Badge Counselor and Campsite Commissioner (Lone Star). The feeling and desire to "give back" to Scouting what it gave to me is just there. It is inside and is a desire that cannot be put into words. I do know that somewhere at sometime there are other young scouts who need that thoughtful and caring adult, like my Scoutmaster, to be a part of a Scout Troop. Perhaps that Scout will hang in there and not leave Scouting because he was frightened. Perhaps I can be that thoughtful and caring Scout leader.

Mark Mangels
Asst. Troop Chaplain

What it means to be a Boy Scout.
Being a Boy Scout allows you to learn and do things you would never do normally. It takes you places not many have been and gives you a better appreciation for the world around us. The places you go and the people you meet change who you are and make you a better man so that in the future, you can change the lives of others behind you. This is what scouting is to me.

Matt Copeland
Sr. Patrol Leader

What it means to be a Boy Scout.
Pride
Integrity
Perseverance
Determination
Life changing (Mic-o-say more than scouting on its own) Warrior ceremony for me.

Completion of Eagle Scout is viewed highly in the professional fields. It puts you in a distinct group of those whom have accomplished the same goal, which is substantial. Being a scout requires a huge commitment from the boy/young man and the parents. I explain how lucky we were to have the water plant for over nights, tower swing building and a base camp. Many a boy learned from the older boys, including myself, what it means to be a Boy Scout in Troop 282. I’ll never forget the induction ceremony at Trinity Episcopal Church with my Mom and Dad standing there behind me. The great blue bus trip to Colorado, Apache Camp, Lolly Bombs, Dripping water in a tub for the adults confined to their bunks, Ricky Bennett acting as a monkey at the top of the swing tower tightening lashes, several alarms ringing out during all hours of the night.

Scouting is a life time of memories to remember and share with others. Mic-o-say is far beyond what people may think based on call night. It is a game changer. When you see a person with claws, hard way or honorary, say and hi and begin talking of the tribe and time stands still for both. Pappy would be proud along with all of those before him.

Chris Mueller
Eagle Scout Troop 282 – 1980

What it means to be a Boy Scout.
To me, a Boy Scout enthusiastically lives up to the Scout Oath and Law. However, he does much more than just follow the morals and duties of Scouts. He also supports his family, community, God, and this country the best way he can. With all of this, he can live up to be a great person that is physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

What it means to be an Eagle Scout.
For Eagle Scouts, they serve a much bigger responsibility. They serve a very important role in leadership, helping other people at their best at all times. I’m no expert on this, but I can get the idea from the Eagle courts of honor I’ve been in. They have stepped into an entirely different level of Scouting.

Tim Phillips
Troop Instructor

What it means to be a Boy Scout.
Boy Scouts is like my family and when I think of that family I think of my family and I think of God, and when I think of God I think of Boy Scouts.

Simon Englehart
Patrol Scribe

What it means to be a Boy Scout.
Here’s my opinion: Being a Scout means to teach and be taught about survival, safety, and to be prepared. Prepared for what you might ask…anything that can come your way. Scouting means so much to me and all my fellow friends in Scouting. So go out there and be a Scout!

Gabriel Englehart
Patrol Scribe

What it means to be a Boy Scout.
Greetings Troop 282, Mr. Howell asked past troop members what it meant to be a Scout. Seems like a simple question…it is also a good Scoutmaster Conference question. I was recently installed as Scoutmaster of Troop 324 in Overland Park and I asked a Star Scout sitting for his Life SM conference the same question this past weekend on our overnight. He told me it meant living by the Scout Oath and Scout Law. I thought that was a good response. I also believe most of us would probably respond that way. I then asked him "why"…don’t you love it when your scoutmaster keeps asking you questions? It took him a little while and he said, "to help others." "So when do you help others?"…well…"at all times." I said, "At all times…wow even when it isn’t convenient or even if the other person isn’t friendly?" Then I remembered what my Scoutmaster, Mr. Morris, told me a long time ago. As I joined Troop 282 Mr. Morris told me that my troop had its own motto and the whole troop repeated it, "All for One and One for All." He said we will always help each other.

The scout and I continued to talk and I shared with him something I learned at Wood Badge. We all know the Golden Rule and a gentleman back in the early 1900′s wrote, "The important part of following the Golden Rule is knowing it is your move." I believe that is what it means to be a scout. We say the Scout Oath and Law at each meeting and we know that we should do a good turn daily, and being a scout means that it is our move…that is how it works…we help others first and not wait till it is convenient or if we like the person or if they look the same as we do…we should make the first move no matter.

I have been a Boy Scout and Eagle Scout for over 25 years and I’m still learning what it means to me to be a Scout. I hope you think about the same question and like me it may take some time. I believe now having my two boys in scouts has given me an opportunity to learn even more about what it means to be a scout.

I’m very proud of Troop 282 and my time at the troop as a boy and I will always remember the motto, "All for One and One for All." I am also thankful for the adult leaders of Troop 282 that taught me so much…thank you and God Bless you.

Yours in Scouting,
Kent Bredehoeft
Eagle Scout Troop 282 – 1983

By Scott Howell

This year at our troop meetings and activities we are going to be working on Team Work in our scout troop. We are going to be doing lots of team building activities with the troop to allow our scouts and leaders to learn to depend on their fellow Patrol Members and Troop Members to get their activities done and have fun. We are hoping this will strengthen our Troop Motto ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL. Our Troop Team has a team uniform, the official scout uniform complete worn correctly. As any other team (baseball, football, soccer or volley ball team) you would not show up for a game or practice with out your team uniform. So why would we show up at scout meeting (game night or practice night in any other sport) with out our scout uniform? The uniform in any sport or organization is only one part of being part of a team, but it is a very important part of having the team form and function as a team.

Our Troop Patrol Leaders Council for 2011-2012 has lots of fun and exciting activities in mind for the troop and as the scoutmaster I am looking forward in seeing these young leaders perform. It should be a very exciting year with all the activities that are on the board including our High Adventure Trip to Ely. The Ely trip will very much be a team effort by all scouts, leaders and parents. As we would like to take all scouts and leaders on this activity and it can be done by everyone working to collect aluminum cans, selling popcorn, selling pancake day tickets and everyone helping with the troop fund raiser.

When shopping for a pack, there are four major things to consider: type, fit, capacity, and features. In this article, Backpacker Magazine shows you how to pick the right one for you. (read the full artical here Backpacker Magazine’s Backpack Buying Guide)

Backpack Types

Backpacks fall into three basic categories:

• Daypacks
• Internal frame packs
• External frame packs

Daypacks
These packs are used for single-day hikes, climbs, runs or bike rides. In general, daypacks are soft-backed or frameless. Daypacks are lightweight and intended for light loads (10 to 15 pounds). Good daypacks have hipbelts to prevent the load from thumping on your back with each stride.

Internal Frame Packs
These packs are used for bigger, heavier loads (15 pounds and up). Frames–either aluminum stays, plastic framesheets, curved Delrin rods, or combinations of those things–are located within the packbag (as opposed to external frames; see below), and when properly fit, they hug the contours of your back, thereby cinching the load in close to your spine.

The main job of the frame is to facilitate weight transfer to the hip area, which is where we humans are most capable of bearing it. So a good, supportive hipbelt is also critical.

Because internal frames are generally narrower and closer fitting (than externals), they’re the best choice for any sort of dynamic activities like climbing, skiing, or bushwhacking, where you need good arm clearance and a tight center of balance. If you typically hike in hot weather, look for an internal with a "trampoline style" back, which means that breathable mesh is suspended across the frame to allow air circulation without any major loss of stability.

Proper loading of an internal frame pack is key, not only in order to keep the weight well balanced and stable, but also to keep you well organized.

Backpacker Tip: Loading an Internal Frame Backpack

• Pop your sleeping bag (packed in a waterproof stuffsack or sturdy garbage bag) crosswise in the bottom of the pack. You won’t need it until the end of the day and it provides a nice, stable base for your pack.
• Next, load heavy items like your food bag, tent (poles can be removed and strapped to the side of the pack), and your copy of War and Peace. Keeping heavy objects low and close to spine will help you maintain the best balance on the trail.
• Stuff your puffy jacket and raingear down the sides of the pack, taking up the space left by the bulkier items. (Keep the rest of your clothes in a small stuffsack, and load that in next.)
• Use the top lid and other external pockets to stash items that you’ll use during the day: snacks, maps, sunscreen, headlamp, and water treatment.

External Frame Backpacks
Also used for big, heavy loads, these packs are best for walking on trails (as opposed to skiing, climbing or bushwhacking). That’s because the packbag is hung off a simple exterior frame, so the load is positioned farther away from your back. And though this might result in a wobble-fest for climbers or skiers, trail walkers who carry big loads often love them. (Tip: Use hiking poles for stability.)

External frame packs have a higher center of gravity than internal frame packs, which has two advantages: It gives excellent weight transfer to the hips and it allows you to walk with a more upright posture (with big internals you have to lean forward to counterbalance the load). Plus, they offer lots of airflow between the pack and your back, great for long, sweaty days on the Appalachian Trail or anywhere that heat is a factor.

Externals are known for their plentiful pockets and ultimate trail-livability, but there are still a few tricks to loading them.

Backpacker Tip: Loading an External Frame Backpack

• Most externals assume that you’ll strap your sleeping bag outside and under the packbag. That’s why it’s absolutely critical that you store your bag in a completely waterproof stuffsack. (Tip: External frame-pack wearers are rolling the dice if they rely on garbage bags for water protection. Walk too close to a branch and you’re sleeping on a sponge. Spend a few extra bucks and get a waterproof sack with a roll-top closure.)
• Heavier gear (like your food and tent) belong higher up on the frame, but still close to your spine.
• Use any available side or front pockets to organize your gear. This allows you to skip the stuffsacks and save a few ounces.

Getting the Right Fit

Daypacks
Fitting a daypack is pretty straightforward, which is why many of them come in only one size. The shoulder straps should wrap comfortably around your shoulders, without pinching or digging under your armpits, and the hipbelt (usually just a length of webbing) should snug the bottom of the pack against your lumbar region to eliminate sway or thumping as you walk.

Multi-Day External and Internal Frame Packs
With bigger internal and external frame packs, fit is a key issuethe most important one you’ll face. Fit is all about the "suspension system," which is the part of the pack responsible for bearing the weight and connecting it to your body: the shoulder straps, the hipbelt, the frame, the back padding, and the lumbar area. There are three types of suspension systems:

• Fixed Suspensions: Although they have no adjustability, fixed suspensions often come in a variety of torso lengths to accommodate different sized people. The main advantage of a fixed suspension is that, with fewer moving parts, there’s a very solid connection between the wearer and the pack, which translates to stability. Downside: Make sure the pack fits you perfectly, because there’s no wiggle room.
• Adjustable Suspensions: This system has a shoulder yoke that moves up or down a track in the center of the back panel. This lets you shorten or lengthen the space between the shoulders and hips to fit a wide variety of body types. It also gives you the ability to change the way your pack fits if you develop sore spots.
• Interchangeable Suspensions: This system has perhaps the best of both worlds. Some companies offer the ability to customize a pack by buying different size hipbelts and shoulder straps. This works particularly well for people who fall outside the range of average height and weight.

Backpacker Tip: Measure Your Torso
Before you even start shopping, determine your torso length, so you can find the proper size pack for your body. Nothing is more important in fitting a large-capacity backpack because without the proper measurement, your shoulders, back and hips will not bear the load correctly, causing discomfort and, potentially, injury. To do this, you’ll need a friend and a soft tape measure or a length of string. Follow these three steps:

• Tilt your chin down so that the C7 vertebra at the base of your neck protrudes. This is the starting point of your measurement.
• Put your hands on your hips and use your thumbs to feel for the top of the iliac crest. Draw an imaginary line between your thumbs. Where this line intersects your spine is the end point of your measurement.
• Have your friend drape the string or tape measure along the contours of your spine between the two points. You now have your torso length. (Most adults have torso lengths that fall between 16 and 22 inches.)

Capacity

What size pack do you really need? Get a pack that’s too big and you’ll be sure to fill it with non-essential junk and end up tired and sore. But go too small, and you might not be able to fit the stuff you do need, like safety gear.

Backpack sizes are listed either in cubic inches or liters, which can make comparison-shopping a bit tricky, especially for online shoppers who aren’t able to actually see the packs before they buy. That’s why we’ve done the conversions and broken it all down for you. The below lists are very general rules of thumb, and will depend on the sizes of the items you’re packing, of course.

Daypacks
Size: Less than 2,500 cubic inches or 40 liters
Will hold:

• Water
• Lunch and snacks
• Camera
• Shell and/or warm layer
• Several trinkets like emergency kit, small first aid kit, GPS

Weekend Packs
Size: 2,500 to 3,999 cubic inches or 40 to 65 liters
Will hold: All of the above, plus:

• Small tent
• Sleeping bag and pad
• Ultralight stove and cook kit
• A few more clothing items
• A weekend’s worth of meals

Weeklong Packs
Size: 4,000 to 5,999 cubic inches or 65 to 95 liters
Will hold: All of the above, plus:

• Extra food, fuel and kitchen gear
• A few luxury items like camp chair, camp shoes, pillow
• A bigger tent
• A warmer sleeping bag and cushier sleeping pad

Expedition Packs
Size: Greater than 6,000 cubic inches or 95 liters
Will hold: Winter-worthy versions of all of the above, plus:

• Mountaineering gear
• Bear canisters (essential for carrying food in bear country)

Backpack Anatomy

Here is an excellent video history of the Boy Scouts in America that has been broken down into four parts on YouTube. We have added them to our website in honor of the 100th Anniversary. Please find the time to view each of these great videos. You’ll be glad you did!

Did you know that the 100th Anniversary – Heart of America Council was on facebook? And did you know that everything related to the HOAC’s 100th Anniversary is being talked about there right now?

Well it is. Go there now to find out what everyone is saying about upcoming events and past events, like the HOAC Centennial Campout, look at pictures and video from this monumentous event.

Get the latest information! Post your experiences! Upload your pictures! Ask questions! Give feedback and more! You can even see a video of the "First Flame" Firebuilder Competition there, or click here to see it on YouTube.

Go to the HOAC’s celebration of 100 Years of Scouting webpage to find out what else is going on this year.

Did you also know that Troop 282 is on facebook. A Page for all the members of Boy Scout Troop 282. Past and present.

A Century of Making a Difference is an awards program specially developed for the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America for all Scouts, adult volunteers and Scouting alumni.

The award consists of a main patch, which is patterned after the official 100th Anniversary emblem, with five additional awards represented by 2" ribbons from the patch. Program participants will earn recognition for making a difference in their communities due to their dedication to five of Scouting’s core values: Leadership, Character, Community Service, Achievement, and the Outdoors.
Individuals will be able to display all earned awards at the same time on their uniforms by attaching award markers to the patch.

Awards may be earned as of September 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010. Service projects and activities finished after May 2009 count toward Year of Celebration ribbons.

There are five requirements for each age group. All you have to do is accomplish at least three of the five requirements to earn the
award. You may want to do all five requirements, but three is all that you’ll need to qualify for the award.

If you have any questions about the 100th Anniversary Award please see Mr. Gentry.

You can download the requirements here:

• Download Patch Requirements for Boy Scouts
• Download Patch Requirements for Leaders