Building character through Scouts

Building character through adventure and community outreach

“I realized Scouts was different than just community service and what we wear when I started to see a change in myself, ” Aarna Junatula (10) said about her first realization of what Scouts was really about. For students at AHS, Scouts of America provides experiences that teach leadership, responsibility, and service through real-world challenges.

Junatula was drawn to Scouting because of the opportunities it offered to learn new skills and work with others. “I joined Scouts because I wanted to challenge myself and try something different,” Junatula said. “At first, I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but over time I realized how much it helped me grow as a person.” She explained, “Scouts taught me how to communicate better, stay organized, and take responsibility, which helps me in school.”

Junatula added that the environment within her troop feels welcoming rather than intimidating. “It doesn’t feel like a strict hierarchy where people are bossy,” she said. Adding, “It feels more like a family.”

She also shared that Scouting balances responsibility and enjoyment. “There’s definitely work involved, but it’s also really fun. The main purpose is to learn and grow while still enjoying what you’re doing.”

Grace Cao’s (11) journey in Scouting began out of curiosity and quickly became something meaningful. “I originally started because it sounded interesting, but once I got involved, I realized how much Scouting pushes you to improve yourself,” Cao said. She adds, “The skills you learn aren’t just for Scouts, they help with time management, teamwork, and problem-solving in everyday life.”

Troop 468 setting up aim to hit the target at archery practice (Photo Credit: Joshua Zhao).

She added that challenges are a normal part of the experience. “Earning badges and completing requirements can be difficult, but having a supportive troop makes it easier.”

Samarth Yencharla (10) said he began his Scouting journey in 6th grade, about 4 years ago, after learning about it through friends and encouragement from his parents. “When I first joined my troop, I was nervous and thought about switching to a troop where I knew more people,” he said.

Yencharla spoke about how the scouts can be independent. “ The Senior Patrol Leader plus the assistant Senior Patrol Leaders guide the whole troop,” is what he said about how it is set up. He adds that the patrol leader guides the patrols for each individual quest.

He explained how the leadership roles enable Scouts to have ownership of the experience. “ Being part of the council teaches the scouts how to be responsible and work together,” he said.

Students at AHS have had a good experience with Scouts and what it teaches them. “Even though I started scouting with no prior experience, having a supportive troop helped me overcome challenges and made the experience meaningful,” Yencharla said.