HIGH FLYING CELEBRATION

It's a special year for the Boy Scouts of America - the 100th anniversary of the Eagle Scout award. Since 1912, Scouting's highest rank has been earned by more than two million Scouts. Becoming an Eagle Scout takes years of planning, effort, and achievement. Those who wear the pin represent the best of Scouting.

"Once an Eagle, always an Eagle," goes an old saying. Those reaching the pinnacle of Boy Scout advancement have gone on to make positive contributions to their families, neighbors, communities, and nation. That's been true since the first Eagles.

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FIRST EAGLES

At the dawn of Scouting, the 1911 Boy Scout Handbook devoted just two sentences to what would be the organization's highest rank:

The following year Arthur Rose Eldred of Long Island, New York, earned his 21st merit badge. The BSA National Council assembled a board of review that included three founders of Scouting - Ernest Thompson Seton, Daniel Carter Beard, and James E. West.

Seventeen-year-old Eldred passed with flying colors and received the first Eagle Scout pin. Seton later presented him an Honor Medal for saving a fellow Scout from drowning. Mr. Eldred went on to serve in the United States Navy during World War I, then had a successful career in the transportation industry and remained a strong supporter of Scouting. As The Boy Scout Handbook had predicted, he represented "the all-around perfect scout."

Twenty-one other Scouts joined Arthur Eldred as Eagles in 1912. Five were members of the same troop in West Shokan, New York - Robert Pleasants, Jack Langthorn, brothers Bertram and Leon Van Vliet, and Scoutmaster Sidney Clapp. (Adults at the time could earn merit badges.)

Seventy years later, in 1982, the BSA granted the one millionth Eagle award to Illinois Scout Alexander Holsinger. Anthony Thomas of Minnesota's Northern Star Council became the two millionth Eagle in 2009.

From merit badge pamphlets to camping gear, www.scoutstuff.org offers a wide range of supplies to help you earn the Eagle Scout award and acknowledge your achievement. For starters, check out the special badge embroidered to celebrate Eagle Scouting's centennial year.

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EAGLE SCOUT PEAK

A windy July day in 1926 found Sierra Club president Francis Farquhar leading three young men to the top of a gorgeous, granite mountain deep in the Sierra Nevada Range.

Frederick Armstrong, Eugene Howell, and Coe Swift were all Eagle Scouts comfortable with traveling in the backcountry. Even so, their journey had been long and rugged, involving days of hiking and nights camping under the stars. Their efforts paid off, and they were the first to stand atop the summit of a mountain that had no name.

In honor of their ascent, Mr. Farquhar saw to it that the mountain would forever be known as Eagle Scout Peak. Look on a modern topography map of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, and you'll find it just above Precipice Lake on the Great Western Divide.

The trail to Eagle Scout Peak is much improved since the Eagle Scouts approached it in 1926, but you'll still need at least three days to backpack in and reach the summit. Plan your trip with care, and go only if you have plenty of high country experience. The National Park Service issues wilderness permits for the trip and can provide important information about the challenges climbers should be prepared to encounter.

In 2006 a team of Eagle Scouts from Orange County Council's troops 636 and 1210 took measurements at the summit with precision GPS equipment and found that the peak is an impressive 12,035.7 feet above sea level. Their efforts were commemorated with a facsimile GPS Control Point benchmark similar to official survey markers located on many mountaintops.

The view from the top of Eagle Scout peak is spectacular in every direction and a fitting tribute to Eagle Scouts everywhere.

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FOOTWEAR FOR THE FIELD

Scouts traveling the trail to Eagle need the right footwear for comfort and safety. Just about any comfortable shoes will do for meetings and many outdoor activities. When your route leads into rugged territory - climbing Eagle Scout Peak, for example - you'll need sturdy boots that can stand up to rain, snow, and tough terrain.

To find boots that are right for you, seek the advice of Scouts and troop leaders experienced in high adventure treks. Outdoor equipment stores often have staff who know about trails and can help you understand what to expect from your footgear.

Add good hiking socks for comfort and to help prevent blisters. Those available from www.scoutstuff.org can help you get to the places you want to go.

Break in new boots on short hikes before setting off on an extended expedition. As you cover mile after mile of trail, you'll discover your boots have become a vital part of your outdoor gear.

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CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE

Already an Eagle Scout? Then 2012 is a year to take pride in your accomplishments and to reflect on the hundred year history of the award.

Still moving along BSA's advancement trail? Review your progress with troop leaders and make plans to complete rank requirements. Along the way you're sure to find plenty of great adventures, opportunities for service, and growth in leadership skills.

The pin signifying Scouting's highest rank has been a landmark in life for more than two million Scouts. Join them and move forward as an Eagle Scout, prepared with the experience and tools to make the most of your future.

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(This edition of the Be Prepared Newsletter was developed and written by Robert Birkby, author of the current editions of the Boy Scout Handbook and Fieldbook and of Scout Stuff, the new book about the National Scouting Museum.)