By Bronxville Boy Scout Troop 5 Media Liaison  

Oct. 14, 2015:  On Monday, October 5, 2015, Boy Scout Troop 5 held its Court of Honor. 

Twelve Scouts advanced rank, and over 100 merit badges were awarded to 24 Scouts.  

In Scouting, there are seven ranks and 121 merit badges a Scout can earn. In order to advance, all candidates must participate in a Scoutmaster Conference and pass a board of review. The seven ranks are Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle.  

Upon crossing over from Cub Scouts into Boy Scouts, a boy earns the rank of Scout. He must then learn basic knots, help on camping trips, and become proficient in other Scout skills in order to become a Tenderfoot. The Scouts who advanced to Tenderfoot at the Court of Honor are JP Denfeld, Michael Krajiniczyn, Marco LeVecchia, Mack Layton, Andrew Mager, and Hudson Schnier.  

To earn Second Class, a Scout must learn how to use a map and compass, how, when, and where to build a campfire, and how to safely use pocketknives and wood tools. Second Class Scouts have proven their abilities in camping, first aid, swimming, and other Scout skills. The Scouts who advanced to Second Class are Tora Ozawa, Peter Vorbach, and Michael Krajniczyn.  

In order to achieve First Class, Scouts must learn how to use a compass, learn about nutrition, cook for their patrol, speak with civic leaders, learn lashings and how to tie a bowline, pass the BSA swimmer test, and be prepared to administer all kinds of first aid. The Scouts who advanced to First Class are Marco Crinieri and Ben Mehler.  

For Scouts who earn the rank of Star, the focus shifts from basic Scout skills to developing leadership skills and earning four merit badges of the twelve required to make Eagle Scout. They must also complete hours of community service. Star Scouts are expected to provide leadership, guidance, and inspiration to younger Scouts. The Scouts who advanced to Star are Clay Layton and Karsten Schnier.  

Twenty-four members of Troop 5 earned 101 merit badges since the last Court of Honor. To earn a merit badge, a Scout picks a subject and reads the Merit Badge Book. There are many requirements that must be completed to earn a particular badge. When he is ready, a merit badge counselor tests the Scout. Scouts can earn any of 121 different merit badges in areas ranging from scuba diving, to first aid, to fire safety, to citizenship in the world. Six new badges were recently introduced by BSA: sustainability, programming, game design, search & rescue, kayaking, and welding.  

At the ceremony, Scoutmaster Kevin Taylor congratulated the members of the troop on their achievements and reminded the Scouts that hard work and discipline are two of the character traits a boy needs to move ahead in Scouts. Discipline, he said, is what makes us good and great; it makes us more than just dreamers. It is the springboard to our personal goals, no matter how lofty they may be.  

In 2015, Troop 5 provided many activities for its Scouts to work on to achieve rank advancement and merit badges. In the spring, there was a camping trip to Vermont, where the Scouts learned how to fly-fish at the Orvis Fly-Fishing School. In the fall, the troop went to Saratoga, NY, where it received a special permit to camp on the battlefield that proved to be the turning point in favor of the Colonialists during the Revolutionary War. In the summer, many Troop 5 Scouts spent a week or more at Camp Read in the Adirondacks, where there were numerous opportunities to earn merit badges and complete requirements for rank advancement. 

Pictured here (L to R):  Marco Crinieri (First Class), Clay Layton (Star), Andrew Mager (Tenderfoot), Karsten Schnier (Star), and Peter Vorbach (Second Class).

Photo by Margaret Mager