Is Scouting Making a Comeback? Yes!

Scouting is making a comeback!  At least in West Michigan.

Our news partner, WZZM 13, reported this past Sunday, March 25, five young men from the Grand Rapids area were  presented with the title of Eagle Scout. It is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America, and the title is held for life.

Across the country, of the more that one million young people in scouting today, only 5 percent of Boy Scouts earn the Eagle Scouting title.  Hearty congratulation to Zachary Hoiles, 15, freshman at Forest Hills Central High School; Alex Christensen, 15, freshman at Forest Hills Northern High School; Kaj Hjelm, 16, sophomore at Caledonia High School; Samuel Elwell, 15, freshman at Forest Hills Northern High School; and Thomas Murray III, 15, freshman at Catholic Central High School.  All five scouts are from the Greater Grand Rapids area and are members of Troop 345 which is chartered by the Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, 7495 Cascade Rd. SE, Grand Rapids.

Some amazing statistics about scouting include the fact that more than 1,700 of our nation’s CEOs and corporate presidents were Eagle Scouts!  35 percent of all West Point Cadets are scouts and 58 percent of the nation’s astronauts were also scouts – 39 of them Eagle Scouts!  Grand Rapid’s own President Gerald R. Ford was the only U.S. President to have earned the title Eagle Scout.

Parents, maybe it's time you get your sons and daughters into scouting.  Sure can't hurt! They could be our President some day.