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Sixteen years ago, alum Jaden Boncler was born weighing just over one pound. After complications during pregnancy, he arrived months early and spent nearly six months in the NICU at St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs. His family was told he had virtually no chance of surviving.

Congratulations to 18-year-old triplets Caleb, Aidan, and Noah Kornblum on earning the rank of Eagle Scout after an 11-year journey defined by perseverance, leadership, and service. Their achievement was far from easy. While attending Missouri Torah Institute, the brothers balanced demanding academic schedules with scouting responsibilities. As observant Jews, they also faced unique challenges. Many scouting campouts took place over Shabbat, requiring careful planning and determination to complete the required camping nights while remaining true to their faith. Rather than viewing these obstacles as setbacks, they found ways to honor both their religious commitments and their scouting goals.

Service has a way of making history personal. Scouts from Troop 324 in Stuttgart, Germany, recently traveled to the Lorraine region of France for a weekend of service and learning that brought the past to life. At Lorraine American Cemetery, they worked alongside cemetery staff to clean the headstones of more than 10,000 Americans who gave their lives during World War II. It was a simple act of service, but one that left a lasting impression.

From showcasing excellence in leadership among their peers to demonstrating dedication to their duties, the values of a scout and a Soldier are similar. For nearly 10 years, Cadet Tyler Cochran, a Marion Military Institute student assigned to 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, has been a member of Scouting America, and his experience has contributed to his enlistment in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. “It’s just always helped propel me,” said Cochran. “It opened up my eyes to a bunch of different career paths.”

Congratulations to Scouting America alum Clovis Hung on an incredible achievement! At just 15 years old, Clovis has become the youngest graduate in the history of UC Irvine’s School of Humanities, earning a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in anthropology. Beyond his remarkable academic accomplishments, Clovis remains active in Scouting, where curiosity, leadership, perseverance, and a commitment to lifelong learning are integral to the journey.

From Scout to Cubmaster, Matt Flory’s journey is a reminder that Scouting’s impact often extends far beyond childhood. As a youth, Matt participated in Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA, earning the rank of Life Scout before stepping away during high school. While he has often reflected on not completing his Eagle Scout journey, Scouting found its way back into his life years later when his oldest child joined a local Cub Scout pack.

Sometimes the biggest Scouting journeys begin with a challenge we are afraid to face. For Chris Matthewson, that challenge was the water. As a young Scout, Chris struggled with swimming. Deep water brought fear and anxiety, and the thought of earning the Swimming Merit Badge felt overwhelming. While others jumped in, Chris held onto the wall and wondered if he could overcome that fear.

Fifteen-year-old Mason Cooley of Troop 289 in Spring Hill, Kansas, is proving that one Scout with a vision can make a tremendous impact. For his Eagle Scout service project, Mason partnered with Lasagna Love after noticing hundreds of meal requests across Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita were waiting for volunteers to help. His goal was ambitious – to make and deliver 500 lasagnas to families in need.

If you’ve ever trekked at Philmont Scout Ranch, you have seen or heard about the wreckage scattered across Trail Peak. For generations of Scouts and Scouters, it’s been a memorable stop along the trail. But how many know the story behind it? On April 22, 1942, a B-24 Liberator on a training mission crashed into Trail Peak during severe weather, claiming the lives of all eight crew members. The aircraft had departed Albuquerque that morning on what was supposed to be a routine navigation training flight. Today, the wreckage remains one of the most visited aircraft crash sites in the world, thanks to the thousands of Scouts who pass by it each summer.

“Be Prepared” is more than a Scout motto. It’s a mindset that stays with you for life. This week, that lesson was put into action during an outdoor family movie night in Washington, D.C. When lit Roman candle fireworks were thrown into a crowd, one attendee immediately recognized the danger. Knowing the device would continue firing, he ran toward it, picked it up, and threw it away from families and children before anyone was seriously injured.

A Scout’s commitment to helping others can last a lifetime, and sometimes it begins with a single moment. In 2024, while attending summer camp, Chino student Aarav Desai witnessed a fellow Scout collapse from severe dehydration during 100-degree heat. That experience inspired him to tackle one of Southern California’s fastest-growing public health challenges: extreme heat. Today, Aarav is the founder of Conservly, a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combines advanced AI with hands-on community service to protect vulnerable residents.

As the National Jewish Committee on Scouting marks its 100th anniversary, longtime Scouter Mark Kaye is helping tell that story through an extraordinary collection of Jewish Scouting memorabilia. After decades of collecting, he has loaned 350 artifacts to a special exhibit at the Ten Mile River Scout Museum in New York, showcasing the rich connection between Jewish values and Scouting.