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Yet another Eagle Scout here. I finished three days before my 18th birthday. I had many distractions like most others.
I started out as Quartermaster for a year, then was Troop Guide for three years. I joined one of the first Venture Crews (a co-ed troop), and served as a senior advisor to the leadership. I went to two international camporees (Michigan International Camporee '97, '00). I met people from about 20 countries around the world. I spent many summers at Camp Tapico in Michigan. I got the Mile Swim badge there (swam 1 mile in 55 minutes across the lake at 6am). I went to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (where they have the National High Adventure Base) and got the 50-miler award for canoeing/portaging/camping 65 miles in 4 days in the wilderness. I was the first Eagle in my crew. I joined the Order of the Arrow and went to NOAC '98 at Iowa State University. And of course, there were countless camping, fun, and service trips.
Would I give any of that up? Hell no. It gave me a great appreciation for teamwork, the outdoors, survival, and such. And I met many smart and ambitious people.
I must say, one of the biggest turnoffs of the whole experience was getting proselytized by the staunch Christians who dominated our council. They were good people and I liked them quite a bit, but I didn't appreciate being told that homosexuality was wrong, having to say things like "I will do my best to do my duty to God", and the 12th Scout Law. It was about that time that I realized I was a liberal and a weak atheist.
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"There are finer fish in the sea than have ever been caught." -- Irish proverb
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