100-Year Scouting Tradition Benefits Many Cheshire Boys

February 20, 2010 by Josh Morgan

Be prepared.
That is the motto of The Boy Scouts of America, a two-word sentence that encapsulates a message that members hope to carry with them for the rest of their lives. It is something that young boys all around the world, including right here in Cheshire, have been reciting for generations and, now, the group is celebrating its 100-year anniversary.
From character development to personal fitness, the Boy Scouts of America has long been a go-to activity for young boys across the country. The Cub Scout program gets them started and, through Webelos, the young men continue to grow before, finally, they reach the Boy Scouts level where more in-depth activities take place.
Incorporated on Feb. 8, 1910 by entrepreneur William D. Boyce, more than 110 million men have been a part of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) with more than 2 million members currently active. Cub Scouts are for boys 7 to 10 years old, while the Boy Scouts are for young men 11 to 18 years of age. Across the country, districts and regions divide Scouting troops, while locally here in Cheshire, there are nine different Scouting packs and troops.
“These kids are getting an opportunity go out out and do things with boys of their own age,” said Joseph Saccoccio, Scoutmaster of Troop 198. “They are learning about leadership, picking up skills along the way, and have certain opportunities that are only accessible to Scouts.”
Saccoccio, in his younger days, was a Cub Scout, but never pursued the Boy Scouts further as he attended middle and high school.
However, as he followed his sons through Tiger Scouts and into Boy Scouts, he realized the benefits of the program that he missed out on as a youth.
“I grew up in a large family and, when I was younger, I found other interests,” Saccoccio said.” I wish I stuck with it, as I see now how it benefits them. I know it’s not for everyone, but there are opportunities presented to them and to get away from their normal lives is fascinating.”
The Scouts often go camping, something Saccoccio said Troop 198 tries to do each month. The members learn survival skills, knot tying, and a whole host of other skills that could prove beneficial later in life.
Over the 100-year history of the BSA, not all has been rosy. There have been many lawsuits filed in state and federal courts about the BSA’s membership policy disallowing homosexuals from becoming adult volunteers or youth leaders. The Supreme Court ruled that, as a private organization, the BSA can set its own guidelines under freedom of association in the Constitution.
Last week, the Town Council honored the Scouts with a proclamation before its Feb. 9 meeting, and the room was packed with Scouts who led the room in the Pledge and carried the U.S. colors. Even the Girl Scouts of America, a 98-year-old organization, had members in attendance.
Saccoccio’s son, Rico Saccoccio, 16, has been active with the Scouts since he was 6 years old. Rico said he joined because his other friends were doing it and, over the last decade, the friendships he has formed will be ones he hopes will last a lifetime. He spoke of how, while at Dodd Middle School, he routinely associated with older high school students through the Scouts, ensuring that the intimidating feeling some students have when moving on to the high school didn’t exist for him.
“That transition process was easy for me. I already met a lot of the people so the high school wasn’t a foreign place,” he explained. “My best friends are the friends I made through Scouts. I know it’s helped in the short term, but it’ll help in the long term, too.”
Rico also credited the skills he has picked up with already having proved beneficial in his young life.
For example, Rico credited his time in the Scouts with not only helping him to excel during his first-ever job interviews, but also with instilling a special work ethic within him that has allowed him to become a “valued employee.”
Such experiences have convinced Rico that membership in the Boy Scouts is worthwhile for any young boy, and a family as a whole, and he stated that he would encourage parents to allow their sons to give the Boy Scouts a try. The sense of responsibility and community service that goes along with the BSA will “help you be prepared for so many things,” he said.
Saccoccio explained that, in his opinion, many common ”youth activities” are really adult driven and guided by parents or chaperones. In the Boy Scouts, however, the members lead themselves.
While he admits that some direction is given by adult supervisors, “for the most part” it is up to the Scouts to find their way.
“They develop their own programs, what they want to learn, and what skills to use,” Saccoccio further explained. “The older Scouts work with the younger crowd and they learn about leadership and motivation.”
The highest rank in Scouting is the Eagle Scout and, while it is laudable goal, Saccoccio said attaining that rank should not be the only driving force behind membership in the BSA. He acknowledged that he has juniors in high school who will not be able to make it to Eagle, but that hasn’t deterred them as they still put forth effort and participate in the activities. He said he’d love to see every Scout reach the rank of Eagle but, most importantly, scouting is about participating and bettering oneself.
“Some students know they’ll never make it to Eagle, but they are still here having a good time, and that really says something about their character,” Saccoccio said. “Everyone learns some skills and bonds are developed right out of the gate.”
For more information on the BSA, visit the Web at www.scouting.org.