Project Aguila Takes Flight For Alamo Area Boy Scouts

July 24, 2012 - PRLog -- The Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council, have a new push to recruit more kids, parents, and adult volunteers.  “Project Aguila” (Project Eagle) was kicked off in August of 2011 as a local Alamo Area Council board initiative to create long-standing units in areas where the council has identified the need for a program that prepares boys for life.  

“Initial community support, enrollment numbers, and activities within Project Aguila have been impressive,” says Angel Martinez, Communications Executive with the Alamo Area BSA.  

A total of five elementary schools in the Harlandale ISD and one in the Edgewood ISD are currently participating in Project Aguila with a total of 162 students, 63 adult volunteers, and 82 Cub Scouts who earned rank advancements.  All units participated in a Field Day at McGimsey Scout Park where the youth enjoyed many activities including BB Guns, archery, and crafts.  The program has a 73.7% retention rate measured against an average of between 60-65%.  

Focusing on Cub Scouting (boys in the first through fifth grades, or 7 to 10 years of age), Project Aguila financially provides additional paid program staff leadership, membership dues, camp fees, training, uniforms, program supplies, and recognition for Scouts and adults for three years.  The goal is to continue to see healthy increases of parent involvement in youth participation while managing the expectation for these Cub Scout Packs to become financially self-sufficient.

Parents who volunteer in the program become trained role models displaying traits of ethical and moral character as they lead and participate in activities with youth and other adults.  Volunteering for the Scouts is also an aid to good parenting; Scouting gives involved parents the confidence and resources to work alongside their boys in whatever activities may come their way.

“Teaching the parents and boys to become self-sufficient is one of the keys to the success of this program; and, high retention rates and kid advancements mean that this program is healthy and fun,” says Michael de los Santos, Scout Executive for the Alamo Area Council, BSA, based in San Antonio, Texas.

About the Alamo Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
The Alamo Area Council, BSA, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, serves a 13 county area imparting the Scouting program to over 28,000 youth and 7,000 volunteer adults in South Texas.  The Boy Scouts of America continue to prepare young people for life by providing the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training utilizing outdoor activity, citizenship, and sports fitness.  For more information on the Alamo Area BSA, please visit Http://ww.AlamoAreaBSA.org.