Boy scouts program helping troubled teens

Arizona Department of Juvenile Correction's Adobe Mountain School began a partnership with Boy Scouts of America in August 2007. This is the first traditional Boy Scout troop of its kind in the country. Through this partnership, Troop 4 was established as part of the Thunderbird District in the Grand Canyon Council. Troop 4 meets with Scoutmaster Nancy Welton three or four Saturdays per month at Adobe Mountain School. The Boy Scouts of America's District Executive overseeing the success of the program is Carol Nottingham.

The boys participate in traditional scouting activities and act as role models for other youth within the facility. To date, the boys have completed requirements for merit badges in leather working, art, bird study, swimming and have also learned basic scouting skills including flag ceremonies, citizenship, knot-tying and more. Currently the troop is working on requirements for the Tenderfoot Rank.

The Thunderbird District and Grand Canyon Council have made a lasting commitment to bring this valuable program behind the fence. The Boy Scouts of America have also partnered with ASU in order to mirror the mentor program used by the Girl Scouts of America at ADJC's Black Canyon School since 2004. Jesus Martinez, an incoming senior from ASU has recently joined the troop as an ASU mentor and is serving as Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 4 to further benefit the youth in the troop.

Four eligible youth were selected to attend the Boy Scout Aquatics and Nature Day Camp at Lake Pleasant July 7 through July 10, 2008. The four boys who attended represented the school and agency very well as scouts. They earned four merit badges including rowing, canoeing, reptiles & amphibians and weather. Those that attended camp were offered a valuable opportunity to practice the scouting skills they have learned while in secure care in a highly supervised and structured setting.

Over the course of the past twelve months, a total of thirty-seven boys have participated in the troop. Currently there are approximately 15 active members. Now that the other youth at the facility have learned that four boys were able to attend camp, we feel certain that attendance in the troop will continue to grow.