In 2017 when her son Arnav earned Eagle, Sangeet Srikanth told fellow parents at his Troop 355 Newton Court of Honor: 

“It structures their lives and gives them the most valuable experience that even the best high school education cannot provide.”

“None of the experiences in Scouting can be measured in terms of letter grades, GPA, test scores – but you can witness and experience it everyday in your son’s life,” added Srikanth. “As a parent, I can attest that scouting makes parenting easier.

“But Scouting also does something no other activity can: It helps [children] develop a strong, positive moral character – it is integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, loyalty, being fair and just; caring, trustworthy, and responsible.

“As a high school teacher, I can say that our education system does not teach several life values &  skills in classrooms; you learn them outdoors. 

“It is a latent collection of all these experiences that make them, in the end, self-reliant human beings!”

In his famous essay “Self-Reliance,” transcendalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said of boyhood education:

“The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried.”

Over 180 years later, Emerson’s fellow philosopher Srikanth — who emigrated to the United States to achieve a Master’s Degree at Boston University — told the BSA’s official blog, “As a driven and motivated woman, I have been in pursuit of academic achievement all my school years.

“But after coming to the U.S. and getting exposed to a lot of activities that kids can get involved in, I wanted them to be holistically educated and not focus only on academics.”

Through Scouting, Sangeet, a recent addition to the Mayflower Council board, says her son and now her daughter Anishka have done just that and have tried much more than they would have solely in the classroom.

“Many scouting skills prepare them to face a challenge, learn teamwork, and plan ahead of time. And if things go wrong, they go wrong,” Srikanth recently told MayflowerBSA.org. “You bounce back and try to try a different way or a different thing.

“For example, when they’re doing an Eagle project, many things go differently than planned. The deadlines, the project proposal, and many aspects help them understand it’s not always as you plan; you must just be ready for things to change.” 

“And you should be willing to change and make newer plans because the old one doesn’t work anymore,” she said.

Of course, Scouting recently changed, too, just in time for Sangeet’s daughter Anishka to join Newton Troop 209G.

“Fortunately, the BSA started enrolling girls in 2019, and the next thing she did was enroll in Scouting,” said the elder Srikanth, who marveled at the maturity and confidence her daughter garnered through Scouts BSA. “She became accommodating but at the same time stood up for justice and started speaking for herself. 

“Her ability to differentiate and make correct choices helped her mature much faster than some of her peers.”

Through the eyes of her children and with her own Scouter’s eyes (Sangeet is also the Scoutmaster of Troop 209G), Srikanth recently enlarged her Scouting family – several hundred times over.

You see, Sangeet joined the Mayflower Council Board with a focus on Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI), and alongside peers across the BSA landscape, will look to ensure Scouting truly is for everyone.

Srikanth believes the national organization is moving closer to the truth of the Scout law through its inclusion initiatives.

“Now that we have started taking girls, it’s more diverse… including kids from different socioeconomic backgrounds, people of color,” she explained. 

“My son, I think, was the only South Asian child. But now I see many Indian families putting their kids into Scouting, whether a boy or a girl,” continued Mayflower’s Diversity Chair. “And I know quite a few families that I can proudly say got inspired by my talking to them in the last three years about how Scouting has shaped my son. 

“And I can definitely tell you that if my son were not in Scouts, with those seven years of Scouting and what it did for him, he would’ve been a completely different person in terms of his personality, taking up responsibilities, and being able to face failure,” she said. “In high school and college, he faced many failures, but he accepted failure and dealt with it much better than I did when I was his age.”

To that point, Sangeet believes Scouts give kids a safe space to try, fail, and try again.

“Failing in front of a boss, a team, or an office, or even in college, is scary,” explained Srikanth, whose son Arnav will soon graduate from the University of Illinois. “But if things have gone wrong [at times in] 5th, 6th, and 7th grade and in front of 20 other Scouts, they learn how to deal with it pretty fast.”

Today, and with those valuable experiences in mind, the new board member is ready to spread the message about the merits of Scouting to an ever-expanding group. Being independent, speaking up to themselves, and being able to go in front of an audience and present themselves are all skills developed through Scouting, explained the Scoutmaster. 

Meanwhile, the fun — especially fun found outdoors — remains a program highlight.

Seeing her children have experiences she did not makes Sangeet Srikanth want to give others the same opportunities.

“The camping and outdoor trips, outdoor experiences with the hiking and the swimming and all the activities that we do, [Arnav and Anishka] both have enjoyed and loved the outdoors,” she said. “I come from a background where I never had any of these [experiences]. I grew up in India and was raised in a very conservative time; there were not many things girls were allowed to do… There were so many restrictions. 

“So I had always wanted to do something adventurous but couldn’t,” she added. “When Scouting came my way, it was like living my life again through my kids.”

And Sangeet’s adventure continues! Look for more from Srikanth and Mayflower Council’s DEI work in the coming months.

Earlier this summer, the Venturing Crew 29 and BSA Troop 64 Scout earned the accolade during the American Legion Camporee at Gardner’s Camp Collier.

Recently, the Mayflower Council was thrilled to learn that Dante D. received the American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Award at the America Legion Camporee, held June 17-19, 2022, at Camp Collier in Gardner, Mass.

“My Eagle Scout Project was to re-side the tool shed at my middle school, Mullein Hill Christian Academy, and to clean up the surrounding area,” explained Dante in the write-up of his project, which garnered the attention of the American Legion. 

“Before I could start any work on the shed, I had to take measurements to see how much siding I would need to cover the shed,” added the Scout. “Then I had to research and see which siding would be the best based on durability, longevity, appearance, and cost.”

No Eagle Scout Project is easy. But Dante’s was especially detailed. Author’s note: Dante’s dedication while completing the task is evidenced by the no less than six Scouters who wrote in this summer to mention it and his American Legion award.

“I contacted a local contractor to ask him if he could donate any materials for the project,” explained Dante in his documentation. “He helped me come up with a list of needed materials, such as corner pieces, flashing, and other smaller items that would be required to finish the project. 

“Once I had a list of the needed supplies and a budget, I contacted local businesses to get donations not just for materials for the project but also for other items such as food and water for the volunteers.”

Working in a short amount of time, Dante made the most of his materials and volunteers.

“The work happened over two days,” continued the Scout. “On the first day, we removed any protruding objects and replaced any of the rotting wood found at the base of the shed.

“On the second day, we finished siding the shed,” he wrote. “Then we had to wrap the shed in Tyvek wrap to prevent future water damage to the shed or siding. We then began to side the shed, having two groups of people, one cutting the siding and the other placing it onto the building. 

“We also placed down a rock bed around the perimeter of the shed and pulling weeds. Once this was all done, we put up some signage and did some touch-up painting around the roof and door of the shed,” wrote Dante.

The results speak for themselves. The work performed by Dante and Co. will have a significant impact.

With the shed re-sided and no longer exposed to the elements, the school’s equipment — the bulk of it being landscaping equipment and machinery — would not be damaged. The new siding also extended the shed’s longevity, helping the school save money on buying and repairing damaged gear.

As a result of Dante’s hard work, the Massachusetts American Legion later recognized him as their Eagle Scout of the Year.

Click here to learn more about Eagle Scout Projects (and the Mayflower Council).

Eric H. of Troop 28 Cohasset Earns Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award

Eagle Scout created “first responder sensory kits” to help first responders 

Wrentham, Mass. — The National Eagle Scout Association established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, community, or other entity. 

The award recognizes a Scout for their Eagle Scout leadership service project, which is part of the requirements for earning the Eagle Scout Award. Each year, local councils select a council-level winner, and each region selects a region-level winner from that pool. A national winner is then chosen from the four regional finalists.

On June 13, 2022, The Mayflower Council, BSA proudly presented the 2021 Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Award of the Year to:

Eric H.
Troop 28 Cohasset
Sensory Kits for First Responders

Eric’s project raised awareness of autism while providing first responders with the resources and tools they need when they assist people with special needs. His project included: providing 80 sensory kits to multiple towns in the surrounding South Shore towns of Cohasset, Hanover,

Hingham, Hull, Norwell, Scituate.

Eric saw this need for sensory kits after experiences with his older brother, who has autism, where first responders were not equipped to respond to his brother’s needs. To address this need, Eric spoke with a family friend who was a former EMT and Eric’s brother’s teacher at the Amego School in Franklin, Mass., to form his idea of creating a “first responder sensory kit” go bag. 

The kits contain items to help first responders communicate with the person in need as well as bring them comfort.

Following the presentation of the Adams Award, Eric also received a citation and a medallion from Brigadier General (Ret.) Emery Maddocks of the Military Order of the World Wars.

“We have a really outstanding project to recognize,” said Gen. Maddocks of Eric’s Sensory Kits. “For dedication to the principles of the Boy Scouts of America as evidenced by not only by his achievement of the highest achievement in Scouting – the Boy Scout Eagle Award –but further by [earning] the 2021 Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award.”

“The best camera is the camera you have on you…”

As mentioned before, the BSA’s “Bryan on Scouting” is a terrific resource for Scouters. Moreover, some of the best stories on the blog give readers a solid kick in the pants.

“Get out there and try it,” is a cause celeb for Bryan and co. Reasonable, given the traditions of the BSA.

However, this time around, the blog reminds Scouters – via the advice of BSA pro photog Michael Roytek – “The best camera is the camera you have on you.”

In other words, your smartphone might be the best camera any of us might ever acquire.

Writer Aaron Derr explained why so  in a piece entitled, “How to take and share the best photos of your Scouts this summer … and beyond”:

Some folks might prefer to carry around heavy pieces of photography equipment with long, powerful lenses, and that’s great. For the rest of us, we have the modern smartphone, which has the capability to produce photos good enough to save as memories — and to share online with friends, fellow Scouting families, and maybe even members of your community.

In the article, even the most trepidatious photographers will learn about:

• The rule of thirds
• Action Shots
• Sharing photos

My favorite advice in the piece reads, “Nothing tells the story of Scouting more than great photos of Scouts having a blast in their natural environment, whether that’s at summer camp or any fun Scouting activity.

“If you can get those photos in front of the eyes of some non-Scouting families … who knows? Your unit just might recruit for itself, thanks to all the fun you’re having.”

Check out the accompanying video:

How to Take Better Scouting Pictures!

And be sure to read the article – then get out there and take some photos!

Just before Memorial Day, one Mayflower Council Scout collects clothes for veterans…

Beyond trips to the beach, hot dogs, and lawn mowing, Memorial Day retains one true purpose: Remember.

And while some Scouts will carefully place flags beside the graves of those who served, and many others will proudly march in parades, one Eagle candidate sought to remember and honor those veterans who still walk among us.

Carlie B. of Newton’s Troop 209G explained her project on its GoFundMe page.

“My name is Carlie,” she posted. “I’m a 13 yr old Life Scout in troop 209 located in Newton, MA. I’ve partnered with the… New England Center and Home for Veterans as part of my Eagle Scout Project.”

That partnership – noticed by WHDH – garnered Carlie and the project some well-deserved attention at this important time of the year.

“I think that joining scouting teaches you plenty of great lessons in life,” said Carlie. “it really helps you out.”

And in turn, Carlie – who raised almost $17,00 – helped out many veterans; 250 or so were gifted clothing, toiletries, and shoes.

Speaking of the good turn, Carlie implied she simply followed the example of another Scout.

“My dad, he’s an Eagle Scout,” she told WHDH’s camera. ”And so, when I receive Eagle in the next few months, I will become an Eagle Scout just like him.”

 Here at the Mayflower Council, we think her fellow Scouts should follow Carlie’s example, too.

Troop 209G Scoutmaster and her Scouts garnered national attention from Bryan on Scouting…

Scoutmaster Sangeet Srikanth is a trained educator. But she insists that some of the most important lessons are taught outside the classroom.

“None of the experiences in Scouting can be measured in terms of letter grades, GPA, test scores,” she told Bryan on Scouting. “But you can witness and experience it every day in your son and daughter’s life.”

It was a chance exposure to Scouting that changed the lives of Sangeet, her son Arnav, and her daughter Anishka.

Bryan Wendell of ScoutingMagazine.org explained that Srikanth “first learned about the BSA in 2010 on a family trip to Boston when they happened upon an event celebrating the BSA’s 100th birthday. Her son, Arnav, wanted to sign up right away. Her daughter did, too, but this was before the BSA had opened all its programs to young women.”

Enter Troop 355 of Newton. Or, make that, Arnav entered the venerable unit. Then, fast forward to 2017, and an Eagle Scout court of honor.

“Every rank advancement was a clear sign of leadership building,” explained Sangeet. “Every merit badge was a new life skill.”

Two years later, it was Anishka’s turn to join Scouts BSA.

“Every day, my admiration for her increases as she excels in her maturity and ability to deal with the challenges of life,” Srikanth said.

However, it’s not like Arnav or Anishka were alone on their journey. Their mother was there – unofficially – every step of the way. 

Later, after a two-year stint as an assistant Scoutmaster, Sangeet was named Scoutmaster of Troop of 209G.

It’s a commitment, but Srikanth indicated it’s more than worth it.

“It’s about five to six years from start to finish — weekly meetings, camping trips, outdoor trips, and finally the long-awaited Eagle project,” she says. “Some families find it hard to commit with their own busy careers.”

That said, the end rewards, particularly for Eagle-earners, are worth it. 

Meanwhile, Sangeet hopes that other families, particularly those in the Indian community, see Scouting as a viable adjunct to traditional education.

“Scouting structures their lives and gives them the most valuable experience that even the best classroom education may not fully provide,” she said.

While we’re all in it for the youth of Massachusetts; however it’s great when our leaders and volunteers are recognized for their hard work.

Recently, The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge (No. 1476 Plymouth) reported Plymouth’s Michelle Mott was awarded “the Marvin M. Lewis Award” by the Elks National Scouting Committee.

WickedLocal.com posted:

Eight years ago, Mott’s son joined Pack 47 in Plymouth, Cranberry Harbors District, Old Colony Council, now part of Mayflower Council. Within the first year, Mott was serving as den leader for her son’s Tiger Den. She continued as den leader with her son for Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and Arrow of Light rank. Mott also became more involved in Pack 47 eventually becoming the Cubmaster, serving for three years. She also volunteered on the Cranberry Harbors District Committee. For the past four years, she has been involved with the Activities Committee helping to organize District and Council events ranging from 200-750 scout attendees. Chuckwagon, Webelos Woods, Webelos Klondike and Polar Challenge are some of the many events she has helped organize.

“Although fully position trained with many awards and recognitions, Mott had planned to end her tenure as a scouting volunteer when her son crossed over into a troop,” added WickedLocal. “However, the BSA made changes that affected Mott. In 2018, girls were allowed to join Cub Scouts and form girl dens, which meant Mott was going to repeat the journey she had made with her son, Adam, except this time with her daughter, Rachel. 

“During all this, Mott continued to expand her Scouting skills and training.”

Due to her hard work, Mott received the Lewis Award, which recognizes Elks members that:

• Have brought Scouting to more youth 
• Have assisted local Elks lodges in forming Scouting units 
• Are fully trained in the skills of Scouting and are outstanding role models 
• Have contributed significantly to Elks and Scouting by bringing the two movements together to serve the community 
• Have offered Scouting to all youth regardless of race, creed or income level, and have been instrumental in organizing Scouting units, especially in inner-city or other low-income communities

For the full article from WickedLocal.com, click here. And join us in congratulating Michelle Mott for all that she does for Scouting and the Elks.If you know of a Scouter who deserves some recognition, be sure to email us here at Mayflower Council.

So, it’s March. The Freeze-Out is done. The Klondike Derby is over. Meanwhile, there are only so many times you can play “Manhunt” in and around your troop, pack, or den meeting space. 

Moreover, you have some Scouts who need, need, need to do something — anything — outdoors. Well Scouters, we here at your Mayflower Council have the solution. Actually, we have many solutions.

Resolute Base Camp continues this month, and runs programs into June (and returns in the fall, too).

Here are the deets:

• Resolute Base Camp Outdoor Experience is a daytime program offered on weekends at Camp Resolute in Bolton, MA. Outdoor Experience is an exciting new program offered on weekends throughout the year. It can be a fun bonding experience or outing for families, Scouts, and units. 
• All activities are run by trained and certified staff. Units can work towards specific advancements and awards while non-Scouts can participate in fun outdoor activities and skills development. Outdoor Experience is designed to allow participants to go at their own pace. 
• Outdoor Experience is open to all youth currently in grades K-12.  A parent/guardian or unit leader must stay with any youth attending Outdoor Experience.

Okay, okay. I get it. I had you at “Resolute Base Camp.”

So, click here to register.

You’re welcome!

Scouters, Scouts, Friends, and Family Remain Impressed with Mayflower Council Standout…

Sometimes you just have to stop and listen. Such was the state of affairs at the annual Friends of Scouting (FOS) opening event held in January.

Newton’s Grace W., one of the first-ever young women to earn Scouting BSA’s highest honor – Eagle Scout – spoke to a packed room of loyal Scouting supporters. 

Conversations paused, and tasty appetizers remained plated; young and old alike listened to White as she reminded everyone about the many merits of Scouting.

In short, Grace loves it all.

“With my troop behind me and with the motivation of the adult leaders,” began Grace, “I was able to achieve my dream of reaching Eagle.”

“But if I were to sit down and pick out one aspect of Scouting that has shaped me the most, I could not tell you,” she continued. “There have been so many parts of Scouts that have shaped me as a person.” 

However, the final journey to Eagle remains omnipresent in Grace’s mind.

“The whole Eagle process, in general, was really impactful,” said Grace, who now attends college in Boston. “As you all know, every Eagle Scout that you meet they have gone through a lot to get to where they are.”

For Grace, the work toward Scouting’s ultimate goal had a hard stop, particularly as she began her work only a year and a half before her 18th birthday. But while the Scout handbook and merit badge work were daunting, it’s the Eagle service project that dominates Grace’s story.

Meanwhile, with her project set smack dab in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, White looked to make an immediate impact with her project – an outdoor classroom.

“I thought that I could benefit my community by building a safe outdoor space for students to learn,” she explained. “During the project, I learned a lot about leadership, and with my time constraints, I had to work extra hard to make sure that everything in my project was absolutely perfect.”

However, even a special Eagle service project has its defects.

“And if I’m being honest, [the project] wasn’t perfect,” admitted Grace. “But I think that’s the thing about doing these projects, especially as a young person, is that it’s not going to be perfect, but you get to learn something from it.”

And, amid her efforts, Grace learned the power of community.

“For me, I learned how nice people can be,” she emphasized. “I got a lot of help with my project; from people in my troop, my friends, and my family – everyone was so supportive, and it felt great to have that kind of people around.”

Of course, at the FOS dinner, Grace was  surrounded by “that kind of people.”Moreover, you can join that fantastic crowd by lending your pledge to help Scouts like Grace reach the pinnacle of Scouting and, in turn, serve others in the process. Click here to begin.