BSA representatives meet with Obama to discuss top concerns for nation’s youth

Whlogo A group of Boy Scouts of America youth members and executive
leaders met with President Barack Obama today to discuss top priorities for the
organization’s next century of service.

During the White House meeting, the president and the BSA delegation
shared their mutual goals for addressing key concerns for our nation’s youth: healthy
living, service to the community, and environmental stewardship.

Obama has shown his support for each of these issues by
introducing three relevant programs: Let’s Move!, United We Serve, and America’s
Great Outdoors
.

As has been the case with every U.S. president since William
Howard Taft, Obama serves as the Honorary President of the BSA and helps
recognize the achievements of more than 50,000 Eagle Scouts each year by
signing their Eagle Scout cards.

Obama’s three initiatives match several concerns not just
for the BSA but also for the entire country, said Chief Scout Executive Bob
Mazzuca.

“Health, community service, and preserving our environment
are priorities for all Americans,” Mazzuca said. “Our first 100 years in
Scouting taught us the importance of these issues to America’s youth; our next
century of Scouting will focus on creating programs to expand our efforts in
these areas.”

To show its commitment to these issues and in honor of the
BSA’s 100th Anniversary, the organization presented Obama and the first lady,
Michelle Obama, with two camperships for Scouts in their home councils. These scholarships
will help two Scouts attend summer camp: one each from the Aloha Area and Chicago Area councils.

While at summer camp, these two deserving Scouts will see
first-hand how much fun it is to stay active in the outdoors and learn how preserving
our environment is critical in today’s world.

The camperships were presented by the youth members of the BSA's delegation. This group was made up of young people who represent several of the BSA’s programs. Eagle Scout Brad Lichota, national Order of the Arrow chief, led the
youth members.

Others were Cub Scout Raphael Cash from Bowie, Md.; Venturer
Shannon Hoff from Falls Church, Va.; Sea Scout M. Robert Marks from
Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Boy Scout Arnold Mears from Parkville, Md.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.