Scouting America provides community, teaches young people valuable skills

(Update: Adding video, comments from scouts, Troop 23's committee chair)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- Scouting America which has programs such as: Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA, is teaching major life skills. 

For more than 100 years Scouts BSA has helped create generations of leaders by allowing boys and girls to explore their interests and serve the community.

Scouts BSA teaches character development, citizenship training, leadership, and mental and physical fitness. At Troop 23, scouts learn more than outdoor skills. 

"Interviewing is kind of an essential part of many facets of life," Lucas Gregory, Troop 23's Senior Patrol Leader said Tuesday. "I've gone through a couple interviews other than scouts for jobs and scholarships and colleges right now."

Troop 23 scouts are also learning about loans, insurance, personal finances -- taking care of a checkbook.

Committee chair Denise Gregory said, "It's just really exciting to see all these kids get ready for the world."

Troop 101 -- the first female Scouts BSA troop of Central Oregon- engages with the community, become more self-aware and explore different roles in leadership.    

Kenna Covert has been a scout of Troop 101 for four years.

Covert said, "We do a lot of service projects. There are some veterans that we have helped clean up their yards and stuff for, some of my favorites are the pickups where we go and we clean up a park. We don't do those very often, but they are by far my favorite."

Troop 101 scouts are building their confidence, character, and leadership through adventure and teamwork.

Kenna covert added, "We also wanted to join because we had been looking for a community for myself so that I could find my people. I definitely found that with scouts."