Sean Green awarded the rank after completing 120 hours of service
Stephen Finn
Despite a diminishing presence in popular culture, the Boy Scouts of America are alive and well and still striving to instill their values in young people. Sean Green, who has been with the Scouts since age 5, is a shining example of these values. On Aug. 4, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout, a feat roughly 6 percent of Scouts accomplish.
Now age 18, Sean has camped 69 nights and completed 120 service hours for his community. Through these experiences, he believes the Scouts have helped prepare him for success.
“I would encourage any young person to join because they can learn a lot of things they can carry into the future,” said Sean.
Sean’s Scouting career began with Burlington Township Cub Scout Pack 10 in 2005. After expressing an interest in camping, his father Jeff, a former Scout himself, got Sean involved. “I knew Scouting would expose Sean to many adventures, and it was a great way to spend quality time with him,” said Jeff.
As the years passed, Sean stuck with the Scouts and began to climb the ranks. He became a Tenderfoot in 2011, a Star Scout in 2014 and then a Life Scout later that same year. He has also served in a number of leadership roles, going from Assistant Patrol Leader in 2013 to Senior Patrol Leader in 2017.
Throughout his time in the Scouts, Sean had a number of role models who helped shape him into the man he is today. Tom Jones, committee chair for the Burlington Township Troop, was one such mentor.
“He’s very driven to succeed,” said Jones speaking of Sean, whom he has known through the Scouts since Sean was 9. “He’s somebody who sees a need to get things done and wants to be the one to do it.”
According to the Boy Scouts of America, to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout one must be active in his troop for at least six months after reaching Life Scout, demonstrate that he lives by the principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law, earn a total of 21 merit badges and see a community service project through from planning and development to execution. After meeting all of these requirements, one must successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review before being presented with the rank.
For his Eagle Scout project, Sean tackled a number of jobs for the Harbor Baptist Church in Hainesport. He took a leadership role and directed a team of volunteers to see the project through. They started with sanding and repainting an elevated shrub box along the front of the church and re-staining two benches.
The young children of the church were also in need of something to do when they come to services with their parents. Sean addressed that need by installing a playground complete with a safety area and a sitting bench.
After completing the project, Sean was able to witness the fruits of his labor.
“I went over there and saw the kids enjoying it. It made me feel good. I felt like I helped them out a lot,” said Sean.
This year Sean graduated Burlington Township High School and is attending Rowan College in Burlington. His role with the Scouts will inevitably change as he turns his focus to a college career, but he plans on staying in contact with his troop and helping when needed.
A lot has changed in the world since the Boy Scouts got their start in America in 1910. They have managed to adjust to the changing climate without losing sight of core values like self-reliance and being a steward of the Earth.
Many troops have started admitting girls who want to join Scouts but are looking for a different experience than what they see offered by the Girl Scouts.
“There are girls who are more interested in the activities that the Boy Scouts are doing,” said Jones. Rather than turn them away from Scouting as a whole, he believes there is a place for them with the Boy Scouts.
Despite the changing climate, both Jones and Sean believe Scouting today is as relevant as ever.
“I think Scouting is changing, but the life skills it teaches are still relevant,” said Sean.
“Scouting is as important today as it ever was,” said Jones. “In a time when people are divided, the Scouts are a group that encourages community and hard work.”
