The Tri-State Area Boy Scout Council: Influencing the Lives of Local Boys

The Boy Scouts of America can make a difference in an individual as well as in a community. The lives of three brothers Nathan Payne, 20, Alex Payne, 17, and Tyler Payne were affected by Boy Scouts.


Nathan participated as a Boy Scout until he turned 18. He became an Eagle Scout, which means he has the highest ranking as a Boy Scout possible. He is now an Assistant Scout Master and has had that position for the past three years.


“Boy Scouts has taught me to be a better citizen in the community and important life lessons,” Nathan said. “I have learned interpersonal skills and leadership skills in order to deal with various situations.”


Alex has been in Boy Scouts for 11 years and has also earned an Eagle Scout position. As a senior at South Point High School, Alex thinks the Boy Scouts has taught him and, will help him throughout the upcoming year.


“I have learned many things like the basics of survival and society. Boy Scouts has taught me to work hard, whether it’s in the woods or in the classroom, and to get things done and not procrastinate,” Alex said. “I think these characteristics will help me out while trying to get into college and therefore I have a head start.”


Tyler has been working towards his Eagle position for eight years, and his ranking now is a Heart Scout. His goal of becoming an Eagle Scout is not easily accomplished.


“I want to try to get every badge that is possible,” Tyler said. “There has only been, like, two people who has ever done that.”
The Boy Scouts of America really focus on a few goals when it comes to the boys lives.


“Our mission is to help instill values that help youth make ethical decisions throughout their lives,” said Rick Loudin, scout executive. “We are an educational program that provides citizenship training, leadership training, and strives to make people physically and mentally fit.”


Boy Scouts includes four primary programs: Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Venturing and Exploring. The Venturing and Exploring programs are coed from ages 13 to 20. All of the programs consist of weekly meetings which members must participate in.


Loudin also said that the Boy Scouts do numerous fun things throughout the year. They go camping, which sometimes consists of 50 mile backpacking and 100 mile canoe trips. They have days when they go to Marshall University football games and get honored for being a Scout. They also get to go to one practice a year and meet the Marshall University football players.


Community service is a big part of scouting, because it makes the Scouts better citizens while helping the community.


“In the Tri-State they give between 100,000 to 150,000 hours of community service a year, which can be anything from volunteering at football games to cleaning up the parks in the community,” Loudin said.


The Tri-State area holds about 2,500 Scouts. Every year, they conduct a few fundraisers and the most popular one is the Boy Scout popcorn, which brings in the majority of their fundraiser money. They also have two golf tournaments a year and a luncheon.


“It is the most honoring feeling I have ever had,” Nathan said. “The President of the United States sends you a letter congratulating you and it feels great.”


Loudin believes receiving an Eagle will push boys to succeed.


“Eleven out of the 12 astronauts that have landed on the moon were Eagle Scouts,” Loudin said. “If a boy gets in Scouts and stays five years then they are most likely to graduate high school and college.”


The Tri-State Area Boy Scout Council serves Boy Scouts in ten counties throughout West Virginia., Ohio and Kentucky. They are also one of the 32 agencies funded by the United Way of River Cities.


“The United Way of River Cities funded us $40,000 this last year. All of the money funded is used for program assistance. It does a number of things such as training for adults to lead, providing material to make meetings better, and many other things,” Loudin said.


The Tri-State Area Boy Scout Council has changed lives in many ways and is still changing lives.