Scouting talks to be given at elementary schools

In the past, Boy Scouts of America, BSA, was an organization only for boys but in 2019 this changed. The new organization is called Scouts BSA. Cub Scouts is for boys and girls kindergarten through 5th grade and Scouts BSA, the path to Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Scouting, is for boys and girls ages 10 ½ to 17-yearsold. Girls can join separate, gender-specific troops.

Joseph R. Rasmussen, an Eagle Scout, was at the Navasota Public Library with Library Director Tiffany Byers to distribute information promoting Scouting programs for children. He is District Executive of the Arrowmoon District of the Sam Houston Area Council of the Scouts. Rasmussen works with 53 schools in Grimes and surrounding counties.

Rasmussen will be at some local elementary schools to explain Scouting programs. He said, “We’re in the youth development business”. He will host a Join Cub Scouts night at High Point Elementary in Navasota September 20 at 6:30 p.m. and at Brule Elementary September 26 at 6:30 p.m. The date for John C. Webb Elementary School has not yet been set.

Scouting has been part of Navasota since 1941 beginning with Boy Scout Troop 361. There are approximately 55 Eagle Scouts in the area. Navasota Mayor Bert Miller has been an Eagle Scout since 1983. He works with Scouting groups and said the organization teaches lifelong skills.

On September 5 Miller met with Girl Scout Troop 101 and gave a civics talk. On September 11, the Troop will attend the City Council meeting and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

These activities fulfill some merit badge requirements.

Navasota Police Chief Mike Mize has been an Eagle Scout since 1995. He said, “The Boy Scout motto ‘Be Prepared’ is used throughout your whole life. Always be prepared for anything. I really use it in this job.

The Boy Scouts taught a little bit of everything like leadership skills, community service, teamwork and being trustworthy.”

Grimes County Judge Joe Fauth became an Eagle Scout in 1966. “When I run into kids, I tell them that more than once a week I use one of the skills that I learned in Scouting,” Fauth said. “Sometimes, rather than use my watch, I look at the sky to figure out the time of day. I know what direction I’m moving. I know how to tie various knots. These are lifelong skills that I learned in Scouting.”

Rasmussen explained, “There are 138 merit badges. You need 21 to become an Eagle Scout. “You don’t have to be a rock climbing, shot gun shooting canoer. You can be a robotics composite material archer. You can do sculpture, energy or art. I have Scouts that do karate and Tee-ball. We want our Scouts to be well rounded. The youngest person to climb the highest peak in every continent was a member of that country’s Scouting organization.”