Posted on 06/18/2013 7:56:23 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
WINNSBORO, SC (WIS) - Logan Robinson is going to need a bigger sash. He's come a long way in 10 years. Back then he was just a 7-year-old Cub Scout who enjoyed carving polar bears out of bars of soap.
"For a 7-year old to have a knife and be carving something, it was awesome," said Robinson. "I was hooked right away."
Robinson achieved his Eagle Scout rank by the age of 13. Most scouts quit when they hit Eagle. Robinson was just getting started.
"If I didn't have something to focus on, I was just going to fizzle out," said Robinson.
So Troop 49 scoutmaster Jimmie Joyner gave Robinson a challenge: earn every single badge available -- all 134.
"I've heard there have only been about 180-200 boys who've earned every badge out of the millions of scouts," said Joyner.
Robinson had many weekends spent at scouting camps earning a few badges at a time, but he got there. Everything from dentistry to tracking and bugling, which was a pain.
"You have to learn I believe it's 13 different bugle calls, and I had absolutely no musical experience," said Robinson.
Those experiences that made the 2 1/2-year journey worth it.
"I mean I've gotten to see F-35's being built in person," said Robinson, "who gets to do that?"
He hopes many more will. Part of the fun is showing off the sash to younger scouts and hopefully inspire them.
Just don't ask for too much detail about the nuclear science patch.
"I remember doing it," said Robinson. "Every little aspect of it? Ehh."
Yep, based on what I saw in my years in Scouting, I wouldn’t consider any scout who received an Eagle ranking at the age of 13, to have truely earned or understood what being that level of a leader takes. I don’t care how smart they are, being a good leader takes more then what a 13 year old can really understand.
I should clear something up though, I’m not saying that the kid has done anything wrong, the error is committed at the troop level and continued up to the Council level. It is the troop and the Council that signs off on the Eagle Rank, the kid can’t force them to sign off on that.
There is the other aspects, of fun, leadership, OA, going crazy at camping, etc.
This sounds like someone either who is being pushed or is Badge OCD, and is missing out on all the fun.
“I have no idea what your comment about homeschoolers has to do with this topic. I’ve known homeschoolers and I have nothing against them. However, I don’t care if you are the son of two geniuses and are a genius yourself, being an Eagle Scout doesn’t hinge on being a genius, it hinges on being a servant leader to those around you and demonstrating that.”
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Homeschooling is a lifestyle of learning and serving. When your school day ends at 8am because you learn year around and choose to wake up before 5am, there is a lot of time in your day to serve, exercise, play, read, learn more...
” I don’t care how smart they are, being a good leader takes more then what a 13 year old can really understand.”
At 13, my son was a better leader than his 17 year old scout mates who failed in time management, organization, and dedication. They aged out just shy of Eagle because they did not choose to make scouting a priority. Maturity is not restricted to age.
“Now, maybe your troop or Council has dumbed Eagle Scout down so much that it doesn’t mean what it used to or what it means in my area. Whatever the case may be, to me, a 13 year old Eagle Scout should not happen.”
BSA disagrees with you. And my son, who continues to lead and teach within his troop and council, is evidence that BSA is not wrong about allowing some 13 year olds to be Eagle Scouts.
You can get a sharpshooter badge these days for hitting the broad side of a barn from 3 feet away.
I fully understand what you are saying. He still has quite a bit of growing up to do.
I think the community service aspect of Eagle must have really been watered down. Back in my day, and one of the reasons I couldn't finish in time was that your community service project had to be a significant undertaking. (Effort and Time) I read somewhere here local that a kid got his by painting trash cans at a park. Hmmmmmmm.
Not at all. He is self motivated and goes to every meeting, every advance-o-rama and merit badge clinic. He is the SPL now and is very smart and has a lot of leadership qualities I wish I had.
He truly is an exceptional kid.
All the scouts, new and older, are his friends and he is not scout centered all the time. He just has a focus you don't see often.The scout master is a professor at a local university that is one of the top schools in the country. The president is an Eagle as well.
Last year a student saw his Eagle paraphernalia and they had a discussion. Seems he is not only an Eagle but has earned every merit badge available at the time.
Believe it or not, there ARE kids like this and they give me hope that we can get out of the situation we live in now.
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