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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.

An Eagle Scout from Champaign, Illinois, is being recognized for courage, leadership, and living the Scout motto – Be Prepared. Lily S. of Troop 2119 received the Medal of Merit from Prairielands Council, Scouting America, for rescuing a friend from drowning during a summer 2024 gathering. After noticing her friend struggling in the pool’s deep end, Lily used her lifesaving training to stay calm, safely assist her friend to the shallow water, and make sure she was okay. She never sought attention for her actions, only sharing the story later to teach younger Scouts the importance of first aid and lifesaving skills.

For Eagle Scout Drew Neill, it all began with an article he read in the eighth grade titled “Authentic Down to Their Underwear.” The article described Civil War reenactors who wore the same clothes, ate the same food, and listened to the same music that had been popular more than a hundred years earlier. The idea of reenacting, or “living history,” fascinated him, and he eventually dedicated both his personal and professional life to it.

Congratulations to Paul W. Kaufman on his appointment as First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware. With nearly two decades of service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Paul has built an exceptional career in civil fraud enforcement, recovering hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, advancing innovative litigation practices, and mentoring the next generation of federal prosecutors. His work as a respected educator, scholar, and trial advocacy instructor has influenced countless attorneys across the country.

From Cub Scout to NHRA champion, alum Antron Brown knows that success is built one lesson, one challenge, and one opportunity at a time. Fresh off his victory in Bristol, Tennessee, four-time NHRA Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown is showing the next generation that the values learned through Scouting, including leadership, perseverance, teamwork, and determination, can help drive success both on and off the track. Scouting America is proud to partner with AB Motorsports, led by Antron Brown, to inspire young people through the excitement of NHRA drag racing.

Congratulations to alum Ed Sutton, Advisor of Mercy Flights Explorer Post 131 in Medford, Oregon, on receiving the Oregon Silver Sparky Award, one of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s highest honors for outstanding achievement in public safety education. For nearly 30 years, Ed has helped introduce young people to careers in emergency medical services through Scouting America’s Exploring program.