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Boy Scout values unchanged
By Jeffrey M. Salem
It’s almost been 100 years, and not much has changed. And that’s on purpose.
The Boys Scouts of America will celebrate its 100-year anniversary in February 2010, but leaders in the North Star District — serving Clay and Platte counties — say the values of the Scouts haven’t changed much in nearly 10 decades of operation.
“A lot hasn’t changed,” said Jason Ballew, North Star District director. “The times have changed, but the methods to get our message across really hasn’t.”
The national organization is a year-round program for boys ages 11 to 17 (or 10-year-olds finished with fifth grade) and promotes core objectives such as building character, physical fitness and good citizenship.
Brian Blake, North Star public relations chairman, said those values were there from the beginning.
“We are in the business of building character, but really Boys Scouts is fun with a purpose,” Blake said. “We teach what’s needed later in life using games and activities.”
Developing self-esteem is crucial for young boys to be successful as they get older, Blake said. The program is designed to do just that.
“We try to develop confidence and reinforce values they’ll get at home and at church,” said Blake, who is also an assistant Scout master with Troop 395 in Kansas City North. “What we’re trying to do is develop leaders.
“The building of character is one of those things that transcend time,” Blake said.
Obviously, not everything is exactly as it was in 1910.
Larry Janacaro was a Boy Scout in his day as a member of Troop 180. Now the North Star District chairman, Janacaro said, “We try to stay modern as far as what we offer our Scouts,” he said. “If there’s been a change, it’s more acknowledgement of the environment.”
Janacaro noted much of what the Scouts learn revolves around the outdoors, so the awareness of nature has always played a role in Scouts’ training. But, he said, “Our society is more aware of the environment in a political sense and aware of our carbon footprint and things like that.”
Joining the Scouts is easy and relatively inexpensive, Blake said. Most troops are sponsored by churches in the district, so ask your church leaders if they sponsor a troop. If you do not attend a church regularly, you could also get in touch with your son’s school administrator, who can usually point you in the right direction, Blake said. Of course, you can also contact Jason Ballew, at 569-4980, to find a troop near you.
Although the program is year-round, it doesn’t take all of a boys’ time. Most troops meet once a week and have an overnight activity about once a month, Blake said.
Janacaro agreed.
“Regardless of all the other activities — soccer, baseball — there’s still room for Scouting,” he said. “It is needed today as much as it ever has been and what that is, is leadership. It’s so vital.”
BOY SCOUT TROOPS
Troop No., Organization, Address
- 008, LDS Newmark Ward Platte City Stake, 2700 Ensign Drive, Platte City, 64079
- 009, First United Methodist Church of North Kansas City, 2100 Howell St., NKC, 64116-3528
- 028, Our Savior Lutheran Church, 14155 Fourth St. (N. Hwy), Platte City, 64079
- 051, LDS Parkville Ward Platte City Stake, 5913 N. Mattox Road, Kansas City, 64151-4772
- 091, Woods Memorial Christian Church, 417 Concourse Ave., Excelsior Springs, 64024-2103
- 125, LDS Kearney 3rd Ward Liberty Stake, 202 W. 19th St., Kearney, 64060
- 134, LDS 1st Ward Liberty Stake, 1130 N. Clayview Drive, Liberty, 64068-3405
- 135, LDS Kearney Ward Liberty Stake, 12107 Ridgeview Road, Kearney, 64060-7458
- 137, LDS Kansas City North Ward Liberty Stake, 5600 N. Jackson Ave., Kansas City, 64119-2310
- 155, Fairview Christian Church, 1800 N.E. 65th St., Gladstone, 64118-3606
- 179, Avondale United Methodist Church, 3101 N.E. Winn Road, Kansas City, 64117-2214
- 180, St. Charles Parents For Scouting, 900 N.E. Shady Lane Drive, Kansas City, 64118-4742
- 214, Knights of Columbus St. James Catholic Church, 309 S. Stewart Road, Liberty, 64068-9599
- 215, McMurry United Methodist Church, 25 Eugene Field Road, Kansas City, 64119-1701
- 247, Gashland Presbyterian Church, 8029 N. Oak, Kansas City, 64118-1210
- 249, Lions Club Weston, P.O. Box 153, Weston, 64098-0153
- 260, North Cross United Methodist Church, 1321 N.E. Vivion Road, Kansas City, 64118-5934
- 261, St. Therese Scout Parents Inc., 7207 N. Missouri Highway 9, Parkville, 64152-2973
- 271, Gashland United Methodist Church, 7715 N. Oak, Kansas City, 64118-1712
- 275, Friends of Watkins Mill Park Camp, 25610 Park Road, Lawson, 64062-8938
- 288, Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1441 N.E. Englewood Road, Kansas City, 64118-5453
- 301, First Christian Church of NKC, 2018 Gentry St., North Kansas City, 64116-3523
- 303, Martin Luther Academy, 6700 N.W. 72nd St., Kansas City, 64151-1678
- 309, Kiwanis Club Excelsior Springs, P.O. Box 216, Excelsior Springs, 64024-0216
- 313, Barbee Memorial Presbyterian Church, 501 Tiger Drive, Excelsior Springs, 64024-9607
- 314, Platte Woods United Methodist Church, 7310 N.W. Prairie View Road, Kansas City, 64151-1550
- 320, Liberty Christian Church, 427 E. Kansas St., Liberty, 64068-1855
- 333, Parkville Presbyterian Church, 819 Main St., Parkville, 64152-3630
- 337, Pleasant Valley Civic Organization, 6805 Sobbie Road, Pleasant Valley, 64068-9555
- 351, Platte City United Methodist Church, 14040 N. Highway, Platte City, 64079-8262
- 354, Meadowbrook United Methodist Church, 2800 N.E. 64th St., Gladstone, 64119-1502
- 357, St. Luke Presbyterian Church, 4301 N.E. Vivion Road, Kansas City, 64119-2838
- 360, Trinity Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 440, 1715 S. Jefferson St., Kearney, 64060-8483
- 367, Missouri Home Schoolers, 901 Cambridge Circle, Liberty, 64068-3341
- 370, Episcopal Church Of The Redeemer, 7110 N. Missouri Highway 9, Kansas City, 64152-2930
- 374, First Presbyterian Church of Liberty, 138 N. Main St., Liberty, 64068-1640
- 376, Liberty United Methodist Church, 1001 Sunset Ave., Liberty, 64068-2015
- 378, LDS Platte Woods Ward Platte City Stake, 4743 N.W. Riverside Drive, Riverside, 64150-1101
- 388, Clay County Christian Church, 1200 County Road B, Liberty, 64068-7929
- 393, South Platte VFW Post 7356, 10125 N.W. Missouri Highway 45, Kansas City, 64152-3123
- 394, Shoal Creek Community Church, 6816 S. Church Road, Pleasant Valley, 64068
- 395, Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church, 7600 N.W. Barry Road, Kansas City, 64153-1730
- 397, Lions Club-Kearney, P.O. Box 655, Kearney, 64060-0655
- 408, Masonic Temple Bee Hive Lodge No. 393, 404 W. Penn, Lawson 64062
- 412, American Legion Post/Methodist Church, 505 N. U.S. Highway 169, Smithville, 64089-9524
- 417, LDS Shoal Creek Valley Ward Liberty Stake, 1130 N. Clayview Drive, Liberty, 64068-3405
- 418, LDS 2nd Ward Liberty Stake, 1100 N. Clayview Drive, Liberty, 64068-3405
- 419, LDS Platte City Ward Platte City Stake, 2700 Ensign Drive, Platte City, 64079
- 433, Heartland Presbyterian Center, 16965 N.W. Missouri Highway 45, Parkville, 64152-5144
- 444, Park Hill Christian Church, 6601 N.W. 72nd St., Kansas City, 64151-1677
- 447, River of Life Church, 4214 N.W. Cookingham Road, Kansas City, 64164-1101
- 460, Gracemor Accelerated School PTA, 5125 N. Sycamore Ave., Kansas City, 64119-4207
- 494, Holt United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 259, Holt, 64048-0259
- 495, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 5409 N.W. 72nd St., Kansas City, 64151-1404
- 702, LDS Excelsior Springs Ward Liberty Stake, 319 E. 5th St., Lawson, 64062-9372
- 707, Bethel United Church of Christ, 4900 N.E. Parvin Road, Kansas City, 64117-2048
- 740, Bethel Baptist Church, 3700 N.E. Barry Road, Kansas City, 64156-1204
- 900, North Oak Christian Church, 9900 N. Oak, Kansas City, 64155-2008
- 992, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 7027 N. Locust St., Kansas City, 64118-2556
News editor Jeffrey M. Salem can be reached at 389-6653 or jeffsalem@npgco.com.
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The Boys Scouts of America will celebrate its 100-year anniversary in February 2010, but leaders in the North Star District — serving Clay and Platte counties — say the values of the Scouts haven’t changed much in nearly 10 decades of operation.
“A lot hasn’t changed,” said Jason Ballew, North Star District director. “The times have changed, but the methods to get our message across really hasn’t.”
The national organization is a year-round program for boys ages 11 to 17 (or 10-year-olds finished with fifth grade) and promotes core objectives such as building character, physical fitness and good citizenship.
Brian Blake, North Star public relations chairman, said those values were there from the beginning.
“We are in the business of building character, but really Boys Scouts is fun with a purpose,” Blake said. “We teach what’s needed later in life using games and activities.”
Developing self-esteem is crucial for young boys to be successful as they get older, Blake said. The program is designed to do just that.
“We try to develop confidence and reinforce values they’ll get at home and at church,” said Blake, who is also an assistant Scout master with Troop 395 in Kansas City North. “What we’re trying to do is develop leaders.
“The building of character is one of those things that transcend time,” Blake said.
Obviously, not everything is exactly as it was in 1910.
Larry Janacaro was a Boy Scout in his day as a member of Troop 180. Now the North Star District chairman, Janacaro said, “We try to stay modern as far as what we offer our Scouts,” he said. “If there’s been a change, it’s more acknowledgement of the environment.”
Janacaro noted much of what the Scouts learn revolves around the outdoors, so the awareness of nature has always played a role in Scouts’ training. But, he said, “Our society is more aware of the environment in a political sense and aware of our carbon footprint and things like that.”
Joining the Scouts is easy and relatively inexpensive, Blake said. Most troops are sponsored by churches in the district, so ask your church leaders if they sponsor a troop. If you do not attend a church regularly, you could also get in touch with your son’s school administrator, who can usually point you in the right direction, Blake said. Of course, you can also contact Jason Ballew, at 569-4980, to find a troop near you.
Although the program is year-round, it doesn’t take all of a boys’ time. Most troops meet once a week and have an overnight activity about once a month, Blake said.
Janacaro agreed.
“Regardless of all the other activities — soccer, baseball — there’s still room for Scouting,” he said. “It is needed today as much as it ever has been and what that is, is leadership. It’s so vital.”
BOY SCOUT TROOPS
Troop No., Organization, Address
- 008, LDS Newmark Ward Platte City Stake, 2700 Ensign Drive, Platte City, 64079
- 009, First United Methodist Church of North Kansas City, 2100 Howell St., NKC, 64116-3528
- 028, Our Savior Lutheran Church, 14155 Fourth St. (N. Hwy), Platte City, 64079
- 051, LDS Parkville Ward Platte City Stake, 5913 N. Mattox Road, Kansas City, 64151-4772
- 091, Woods Memorial Christian Church, 417 Concourse Ave., Excelsior Springs, 64024-2103
- 125, LDS Kearney 3rd Ward Liberty Stake, 202 W. 19th St., Kearney, 64060
- 134, LDS 1st Ward Liberty Stake, 1130 N. Clayview Drive, Liberty, 64068-3405
- 135, LDS Kearney Ward Liberty Stake, 12107 Ridgeview Road, Kearney, 64060-7458
- 137, LDS Kansas City North Ward Liberty Stake, 5600 N. Jackson Ave., Kansas City, 64119-2310
- 155, Fairview Christian Church, 1800 N.E. 65th St., Gladstone, 64118-3606
- 179, Avondale United Methodist Church, 3101 N.E. Winn Road, Kansas City, 64117-2214
- 180, St. Charles Parents For Scouting, 900 N.E. Shady Lane Drive, Kansas City, 64118-4742
- 214, Knights of Columbus St. James Catholic Church, 309 S. Stewart Road, Liberty, 64068-9599
- 215, McMurry United Methodist Church, 25 Eugene Field Road, Kansas City, 64119-1701
- 247, Gashland Presbyterian Church, 8029 N. Oak, Kansas City, 64118-1210
- 249, Lions Club Weston, P.O. Box 153, Weston, 64098-0153
- 260, North Cross United Methodist Church, 1321 N.E. Vivion Road, Kansas City, 64118-5934
- 261, St. Therese Scout Parents Inc., 7207 N. Missouri Highway 9, Parkville, 64152-2973
- 271, Gashland United Methodist Church, 7715 N. Oak, Kansas City, 64118-1712
- 275, Friends of Watkins Mill Park Camp, 25610 Park Road, Lawson, 64062-8938
- 288, Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1441 N.E. Englewood Road, Kansas City, 64118-5453
- 301, First Christian Church of NKC, 2018 Gentry St., North Kansas City, 64116-3523
- 303, Martin Luther Academy, 6700 N.W. 72nd St., Kansas City, 64151-1678
- 309, Kiwanis Club Excelsior Springs, P.O. Box 216, Excelsior Springs, 64024-0216
- 313, Barbee Memorial Presbyterian Church, 501 Tiger Drive, Excelsior Springs, 64024-9607
- 314, Platte Woods United Methodist Church, 7310 N.W. Prairie View Road, Kansas City, 64151-1550
- 320, Liberty Christian Church, 427 E. Kansas St., Liberty, 64068-1855
- 333, Parkville Presbyterian Church, 819 Main St., Parkville, 64152-3630
- 337, Pleasant Valley Civic Organization, 6805 Sobbie Road, Pleasant Valley, 64068-9555
- 351, Platte City United Methodist Church, 14040 N. Highway, Platte City, 64079-8262
- 354, Meadowbrook United Methodist Church, 2800 N.E. 64th St., Gladstone, 64119-1502
- 357, St. Luke Presbyterian Church, 4301 N.E. Vivion Road, Kansas City, 64119-2838
- 360, Trinity Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 440, 1715 S. Jefferson St., Kearney, 64060-8483
- 367, Missouri Home Schoolers, 901 Cambridge Circle, Liberty, 64068-3341
- 370, Episcopal Church Of The Redeemer, 7110 N. Missouri Highway 9, Kansas City, 64152-2930
- 374, First Presbyterian Church of Liberty, 138 N. Main St., Liberty, 64068-1640
- 376, Liberty United Methodist Church, 1001 Sunset Ave., Liberty, 64068-2015
- 378, LDS Platte Woods Ward Platte City Stake, 4743 N.W. Riverside Drive, Riverside, 64150-1101
- 388, Clay County Christian Church, 1200 County Road B, Liberty, 64068-7929
- 393, South Platte VFW Post 7356, 10125 N.W. Missouri Highway 45, Kansas City, 64152-3123
- 394, Shoal Creek Community Church, 6816 S. Church Road, Pleasant Valley, 64068
- 395, Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church, 7600 N.W. Barry Road, Kansas City, 64153-1730
- 397, Lions Club-Kearney, P.O. Box 655, Kearney, 64060-0655
- 408, Masonic Temple Bee Hive Lodge No. 393, 404 W. Penn, Lawson 64062
- 412, American Legion Post/Methodist Church, 505 N. U.S. Highway 169, Smithville, 64089-9524
- 417, LDS Shoal Creek Valley Ward Liberty Stake, 1130 N. Clayview Drive, Liberty, 64068-3405
- 418, LDS 2nd Ward Liberty Stake, 1100 N. Clayview Drive, Liberty, 64068-3405
- 419, LDS Platte City Ward Platte City Stake, 2700 Ensign Drive, Platte City, 64079
- 433, Heartland Presbyterian Center, 16965 N.W. Missouri Highway 45, Parkville, 64152-5144
- 444, Park Hill Christian Church, 6601 N.W. 72nd St., Kansas City, 64151-1677
- 447, River of Life Church, 4214 N.W. Cookingham Road, Kansas City, 64164-1101
- 460, Gracemor Accelerated School PTA, 5125 N. Sycamore Ave., Kansas City, 64119-4207
- 494, Holt United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 259, Holt, 64048-0259
- 495, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 5409 N.W. 72nd St., Kansas City, 64151-1404
- 702, LDS Excelsior Springs Ward Liberty Stake, 319 E. 5th St., Lawson, 64062-9372
- 707, Bethel United Church of Christ, 4900 N.E. Parvin Road, Kansas City, 64117-2048
- 740, Bethel Baptist Church, 3700 N.E. Barry Road, Kansas City, 64156-1204
- 900, North Oak Christian Church, 9900 N. Oak, Kansas City, 64155-2008
- 992, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 7027 N. Locust St., Kansas City, 64118-2556
News editor Jeffrey M. Salem can be reached at 389-6653 or jeffsalem@npgco.com.