trying to complete the communications merit badge. In this merit badge

we are required to write a letter to a editor in our area. In my letter,

I would like to tell you about all the fun I’ve had as a Boy Scout

member of troop 987. I began scouting at a young age in cub scout pack

13, then pack 1139. Scouting was a good way to build my confidence and

abilities while still having fun with my friends. Now that I am in high

school, I can see a lot of the things I learned in scouting finally

paying off.

I have learned so much from my troop leaders, and I’ve made many new

friends because of scouting. I learned how to tie knots, learned first

aid, and many other important skills. Scouting focuses on both micro and

macro skills, which allows scouts to develop fully as people more

effectively. Navigating life as teenagers can get confusing, but the

scout law allows me to always reset back to a basic set of values to

live by.

We have troop meetings every Monday night at the Emmanuel Lutheran

Church. As a troop, we are incredibly grateful for everything they do

for our organization. We also go on a variety of campouts and learn

valuable leadership skills. Campouts allow us to practice our scout

skills, but they also allow us to grow through challenging experiences.

I have been through many struggles at campouts, but I always become a

better person in the end because of it. Boy Scouts has been a very fun

experience for me. Thank you very much for letting me tell you about

Scouting.

Ben Miller, 16

Junior at Oakton High