Local Groups: Kids & Philanthropy

COTTAGE GROVE- The Boy Scouts of America's mission statement reads as follow: "...is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.". So, then we ask what exactly is the Scout Oath? Or, Scout Law, for that matter?

Scout Oath is an oath that each Boy Scout takes when they join the organization. It is "On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.".

At first, it sounds like a lot for a little boy to take on, but then you realize that it is everything that you could ever hope for him to be as an adult. The Scout Law defines a scout as: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean & reverent. Now, these are all the things that we want our sons to grow up as.

The boy scouts is most known for the outdoor adventures and community involved that have always be a mainstay with the organization. Our local troop #302 is no exception.

Every year their troop schedule is jam packed with outings, camps, learning opportunities and our beloved community contributions. Some of their many accomplishments include: beach/river cleanups, Bohemia Days parade, a VFW dinner and Relay for Life. Probably the two most well known affiliations with the boy scouts, is their Christmas tree sales and can collections bins around town.

Troop #302 is gearing up for March with the theme of Physical Fitness. On the calendar are activities such as: mini-golf, merit badge clinic, meetings, spring products sale and getting ready for summer camp. Already this year the troop has been to Camp Murnane and the Klondike Derby.

The moral of the story is: In a world full of video games and internet, there are still organizations that are teaching our children what's really important. They must be doing something right; after all, they have been doing it for 97 years.

To get involved in our local troop #302 contact, Scoutmaster Ralph Zeller @ 942-3379