Five years ago Nick Malcom decided to join the Boy Scouts of America and after careful evaluation selected Troop 37 in Elverson. As a young boy, Nick quickly learned and embraced the principles of the program – physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. Rapidly Nick began to emulate many points of the Scout Law especially Loyal, Cheerful, and Helpful. In regard to this first point Nick was a regular attendee at most Monday meetings, troop functions, and community outreach programs. His ongoing helpful attitude, commitment to scouting, and big smile initiated numerous friendships that welcomed many other scouts and adults into the program.
Nick remains a key active member of Troop 37. Over these few years his participation intensified at meetings, community service projects for the troop sponsor (Lions Club), fundraisers, most outdoor activities, and the advancement program. So far Nick has earned forty-one merit badges and is quickly approaching the troop record of forty-five.
After several summers with the troop at one of the nationally proclaimed ‘ten best’ scout camps in USA – Horseshoe Scout Reservation – which straddles the Pennsylvania / Maryland border, Nick aspires to become an Eagle Scout. To reach this goal Nick must display leadership, continuous commitment to the scouting principles as well as remain an active participant with a troop. One other major requirement is leading and completing a major community service project. Currently Nick is contemplating his plan for implementation of that endeavor.
Meanwhile the adult leadership of Troop 37, in acknowledgement of Nick’s scouting growth and aspirations, chose to send him to the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) course. After attending that training with over 100 attendees, Nick was one of 15 selected to attend the NYLT Leadership Academy in Washington, D.C. where the youth are trained to be world-class presenters, evaluators and leaders of their council NYLT course; which Nick will staff in 2014. For many, the NYLT Leadership Academy serves as a point of inflection in their lives: the point at which their leadership skills rise to the next level.
As a personal witness of his growth from childhood to a young adult, his ongoing accomplishments, contributions to current members and most assuredly future scouts, I concur with Chester County Council in recognition of Nick Malcom as one of the Tri-County Area’s best Scouts with bestowment of this honor!
