JUDA - During a time when high schools are full of opportunity and busy students, one might be surprised at a group of young men who have taken pride in the more simple things in life.
Some might even say the number of Boy Scouts - and particularly those excelling in their troops - at Juda High School is nothing short of amazing.
Six out of 52 high school males in Juda are Boy Scouts, which means that more than 11 percent of them are lifetime scout members or Eagle Scouts.
In 2001, a small group started Troop 105 in Juda after the group folded years prior due to poor membership.
Original members of that group who now have their Eagle Scout badge or are working toward it include sophomore Elliot Klar, juniors Ross Reid and Jake Ramos and senior Elias Klar. Ramos and Elias Klar have finished their Eagle Scout projects, and Reid and Elliot Klar are in the process of completing theirs to receive their badge.
Ben Gilbert, also an Eagle Scout and Matthew Lincicum, who is working toward his badge, are also high school students in Juda but are part of the Monroe Troop.
Juda Scoutmaster Jim Dundee said he feels the group has remained dedicated to the troop so long because of their strong friendship. He has six other scouts he hopes will follow in their footsteps.
Each of the scouts admit they didn't first intend to become an Eagle Scout. When the decision was made to join scouts, much of the motive behind it was all in good fun.
Being one of the smallest troops around provided challenges. They often shared campsites with other troops, giving them more opportunity to meet new people. They had only been attending camp a couple of years when they won the Gilwell Staff Award, comparable to a spirit award - a huge feat for such a small troop.
But being a small troop has its advantages. The group said they feel they've built stronger bonds, received more one-on-one time and have been forced to acquire more skills because of their troop's small size.
Reid said he was determined to show he was committed and is deciding which project he'll take on to earn his Eagle Scout badge.
Elliot Klar said he never realized becoming an Eagle Scout was an option, but as he kept advancing, he wanted to finish. He's also hoping the Eagle Scout badge will be beneficial when it comes time to build a resume.
In Klar's recently approved project, he plans to help the local Juda park by building and then putting up bat houses after last year's flooding left the softball field full of mosquitoes and bugs in the summertime.
Ramos admits that becoming an Eagle Scout isn't as easy as it might sound. However, it's been worth the work and responsibility he's put into it. His Eagle Scout project, fixing a bridge at the Juda Park by re-building it and cleaning up debris and trees around the bridge, took more than 100 hours and much community and troop involvement.
"It's always fun to give back to the community and that's what Boy Scouts is about," Ramos said.
Elias Klar said when he realized how hard it would be to become an Eagle Scout, he wasn't sure it was worth it at first. However, as he progressed, he said he wanted to try. Today, he realizes all he's learned from Boy Scouts has been well worth the dedication and time. His Eagle Scout project focused on one of his own activities, the pole vault. He spent about six months researching and raising more than $10,000 to replace pole vault equipment for the Brodhead/Juda track team.
Elias says during his project he learned perseverance and people skills - things he'll take with him through life.
But the scouts won't take all the credit themselves. Each agrees that much of the work is owed to good community members, a great leader and helpful parents.
"Once an Eagle, always an Eagle," the group concluded.
Some might even say the number of Boy Scouts - and particularly those excelling in their troops - at Juda High School is nothing short of amazing.
Six out of 52 high school males in Juda are Boy Scouts, which means that more than 11 percent of them are lifetime scout members or Eagle Scouts.
In 2001, a small group started Troop 105 in Juda after the group folded years prior due to poor membership.
Original members of that group who now have their Eagle Scout badge or are working toward it include sophomore Elliot Klar, juniors Ross Reid and Jake Ramos and senior Elias Klar. Ramos and Elias Klar have finished their Eagle Scout projects, and Reid and Elliot Klar are in the process of completing theirs to receive their badge.
Ben Gilbert, also an Eagle Scout and Matthew Lincicum, who is working toward his badge, are also high school students in Juda but are part of the Monroe Troop.
Juda Scoutmaster Jim Dundee said he feels the group has remained dedicated to the troop so long because of their strong friendship. He has six other scouts he hopes will follow in their footsteps.
Each of the scouts admit they didn't first intend to become an Eagle Scout. When the decision was made to join scouts, much of the motive behind it was all in good fun.
Being one of the smallest troops around provided challenges. They often shared campsites with other troops, giving them more opportunity to meet new people. They had only been attending camp a couple of years when they won the Gilwell Staff Award, comparable to a spirit award - a huge feat for such a small troop.
But being a small troop has its advantages. The group said they feel they've built stronger bonds, received more one-on-one time and have been forced to acquire more skills because of their troop's small size.
Reid said he was determined to show he was committed and is deciding which project he'll take on to earn his Eagle Scout badge.
Elliot Klar said he never realized becoming an Eagle Scout was an option, but as he kept advancing, he wanted to finish. He's also hoping the Eagle Scout badge will be beneficial when it comes time to build a resume.
In Klar's recently approved project, he plans to help the local Juda park by building and then putting up bat houses after last year's flooding left the softball field full of mosquitoes and bugs in the summertime.
Ramos admits that becoming an Eagle Scout isn't as easy as it might sound. However, it's been worth the work and responsibility he's put into it. His Eagle Scout project, fixing a bridge at the Juda Park by re-building it and cleaning up debris and trees around the bridge, took more than 100 hours and much community and troop involvement.
"It's always fun to give back to the community and that's what Boy Scouts is about," Ramos said.
Elias Klar said when he realized how hard it would be to become an Eagle Scout, he wasn't sure it was worth it at first. However, as he progressed, he said he wanted to try. Today, he realizes all he's learned from Boy Scouts has been well worth the dedication and time. His Eagle Scout project focused on one of his own activities, the pole vault. He spent about six months researching and raising more than $10,000 to replace pole vault equipment for the Brodhead/Juda track team.
Elias says during his project he learned perseverance and people skills - things he'll take with him through life.
But the scouts won't take all the credit themselves. Each agrees that much of the work is owed to good community members, a great leader and helpful parents.
"Once an Eagle, always an Eagle," the group concluded.