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Bessemer - February 15, 2010 Joseph Jendrusina is a 12th grade student at A.D.Johnson High school in Bessemer, MI. Joe currently holds a place on the schools Honor Roll with a 3.62 GPA. When Joe is not busy at school he spends time as a Boy Scout in Bessemer Troop 337. Just as Jendrusina is a model student, he is also a model Scout. An Eagle Scout of course. These past two weeks Joe has been with 32 other Eagle Scouts visit Japan in a cultural exchange program. On February 4, Joe bid his family goodbye and boarded a plane for Dallas, Texas, where he met other members of the U.S. contingent travelling to Japan as part of this cultural exchange program. While in Dallas, Joe and the other 31 Scouts and 7 Adult Leaders visited the National Scouting Museum and prepared for their trip overseas. |
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This is a friendship program between the Boy Scouts of America and the
Scout Association of Japan. The SAJ-BSA Friendship Program is an event that connects Scouts and Leaders from the countries of Japan and the USA. Participants enjoy an unique opportunity to learn about each other, gain a better sense of one's culture, and become immerged with the opposite's culture. Many times, the participants from the USA that travel to Japan are allowed to participate in SAJ events, as well as visiting with a Japanese family during a home stay. This experience is put together by the International Division of the Boy Scouts of America. While is a once in a lifetime educational adventure. To that end, objectives are determined so that the participants have a sense of what to expect. This year's objectives were the following:
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The SAJ/BSA trip began in earnest on February 5th when 32 youths and 7
leaders received an orientation on Japan and its culture. The host scouts
were gracious and worked very hard to make sure that their American
counterparts were having a good time. Everyone made it in from the different parts of the United States. After meeting Baden-Powell and Pee Wee Harris at the National Scouting Museum, the group had the opportunity to view the history and activities of the Boy Scouts. By 2:00pm C.T. the scouts had invaded the Dallas area to prepare for their trip to Japan. As the box lunches were finishing, the cards came out, and the noise level of the room escalated. The group had a great time getting to know each other. The scouts arrived 3 hours late in Japan after being held up with faulty parts on the plane in Dallas. After sitting at the gate for 2 hours, things finally started to roll. |
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On day two the scouts got up early and had breakfast. Breakfast was a
combination of western style (bacon, eggs and other things) and Japanese food (rice and
other things). The scouts first attended the opening ceremony, which was basically an orientation. They learned some basics about Japanese culture. They then joined the Japanese scouts and listened to a speech, which was about finding a balance between standard of living and nature. The scouts were then divided up into groups and played ice-breaking games which were followed by group discussions about a myriad of topics. Patch trading started after dinner and some people changed out of their uniforms and relaxed. The Scouts were all exhausted from jet lag and called it a day. |
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February 10th marked
the 100th Anniversary of Boy Scouting in America. The group spent the
day touring and learning about Toyko. Everyone loaded into a bus and
drove approximately 1 1/2 hours from Narita to Tokyo. The first stop was
the Senso-ji Temple. The temple was a great experience for the youth not
only to learn about the faith traditions, but also getting those first
souvenirs of the trip. But, to start things out right, the youth wanted
to sing Happy Birthday to BSA at the main gate to the temple to let all
of Tokyo know of BSA's big celebration! |
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| The scouts went to the Tokyo Tower to see all of Tokyo from Mt Fuji to Tokyo Bay. On the observation deck, they were able to see thru the floor and look at the ground 150 meters below. | |
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The scouts then visited the National Museum of Emerging Science and
Innovation. This interactive museum allows youths and adults to
learn about emerging technologies from around the earth. The following day the scouts met with the Honorable Miho Takai, Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). She recognized not only the partnership between SAJ and BSA but the 100th Birthday of Boy Scouts of America. BSA presented the Vice Minister with a book about 100 years of Scouting in America. The Vice Minister presented the scouts with a Japanese Fan. |
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Later in the day the scouts made two stops including the Giant Buddha
where they went into the Buddha to see how it was made over 700 years ago. |
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The scouts spent the next day around the Hakone area of Japan. The first
stop was a carpenter’s shop that the youths and leaders had the
opportunity to make special wood projects to remember the trip. Then
they went to Hakone Sekisho which was a toll gate that Samurai would
check traveling papers of families during 1600s -1800s. There was great
view from the very top guard area. |
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What tour would be complete without a pirate boat ride across Lake Ashi.
The boat (pictured above) took the scouts from one side of the lake to the other. On the
other side they rode a gondola to the top of the mountain to see Mt.
Fuji. Unfortunately, the fog had rolled in and they were unable to see Mt.
Fuji but did see some incredible geysers. To finish the day everyone had
the opportunity to eat a “black” hard boil egg. To make the shells
black the eggs were boiled in sulfur water for an hour. This would mark the end of an exciting trip which would coincide with the BSA 100th Birthday. By the time our viewers read this the Boy Scouts will be home, scheduled to arrive February 15th. |
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FACTS ABOUT SCOUTING Boy Scouts of America sells 2.3 million merit badges every year. The first Eagle Scout to earn all available merit badges was Leon Wallace in 1922. Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton became an Eagle Scout at age 13, businessman and philanthropist H. Ross Perot at 13 and former President Gerald R. Ford at 14. Of 121 merit badges, the one earned most by Boy Scouts across the country is First Aid. More than 84,419 Scouts earned the badge in 2008. Ernest Lawrence was the first Boy Scout to have a chemical element named in his honor—lawrencium. The invention merit badge (1911-1918) required the candidate to obtain a patent. SOURCE: Boy Scouts of America The Boy Scouts say membership last year was nearly 2.9 million, including younger Cub Scouts and older Venturers. That's down about 16% since 1999 and may reflect 21st century kids' preference for video games over camping. More than 51,000 boys reached Eagle rank last year, a record. There have been many famous people who were members of the Boy Scouts, former presidents, war heroes, businessmen and many, many more. Too many to list here but you can view a complete list. |
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