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Being a Boy Scout has changed since Kip Maxwell received his Eagle Scout rank in 1959, the first in his newly-founded troop to do so.
While pigeon and rabbit raising might no longer earn merit badges, like they did when the 63-year-old North Salt Lake resident was involved with Troop 220, Maxwell wasn't surprised to hear scouting is still interesting to youth today.
On Monday -- the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America -- the southern Davis County troop celebrated installing its 98th, 99th and 100th Eagle Scouts.
"The values that are promoted in scouts are certainly worthwhile in developing in kids," said Maxwell, who attended the event. He added that participating in Boy Scouts helps mold "citizens who are willing and able to participate in community life. I think that's why scouting still survives."
Troop 220, an interdenominational group, was sponsored first in 1954 through the Bountiful Community Church and later the city's Elk Lodge. Like most troops, only about 3 percent of its scouts ever earn their Eagle rank, a merit that requires community service projects.
The troop's 98th Eagle scout, Alec Walker, collected winter coats for the Road Home, a Salt Lake City organization that helps the homeless.
The 99th Eagle is Kendrick Nafus. He assembled homework kits full of school supplies to distribute at low-income schools.
And the 100th -- the lucky number ended up being a matter of when paperwork was filed -- is Randall Lansbarkis, who harvested fruits and vegetables from the Utah Botanical Center in Kaysville and donated it to the Bountiful food pantry.
"Lots of people like having fresh food to use -- it's sometimes better, sometimes different than canned food," said the 14-year-old, who goes to Millcreek Junior High School in Bountiful.
Lansbarkis said students like him continue to enjoy the Boy Scouts because they get to hang out with friends, have fun and learn new things. Like scuba diving: "It was really fun; I liked it a lot because I got to do something I never tried before," said Lansbarkis, who added he got involved with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts because his older brother, Walker, is also a scout.
And it's a family affair, with dad Jim Lansbarkis serving as an adult leader. One of his interests has been studying the history of his children's troop. While the core values have stayed the same -- emphasizing leadership and community involvement -- "the program has changed dramatically over time," Jim Lansbarkis said, noting the dozens of new merit badges available and changes in Eagle Scout requirements.
The values and the troop itself have generations of families coming back. Adult leader Al Smith remembers becoming a part of Troop 220 in 1968 when he was 11. Now, the Woods Cross resident has two sons in the Boy Scouts. And a lot of the other boys are the children of Smith's former scoutmates.
While Troop 220 mostly has scouts who live in the southern Davis County area, members have come from as far as Brigham City and Lehi.
"As families move, they still come to Troop 220," Smith said.
And the troop's first Eagle Scout knows scouting families well -- he married into one. "It was one of the reasons I married him," said Charlotte, Kip Maxwell's wife.
He had stepchildren and step-grandchildren in scouting, and Maxwell knows the value of being an Eagle Scout.
"It's not the award so much that has benefitted me," he said, "as has the character development that was involved, that came out of the process of earning that award that has indeed been beneficial in my lifetime."
By María Villaseñor
The Salt Lake Tribune
February 9, 2010 3:04 pm
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