Three Generations and Counting

few actually know how America’s largest youth organization, (Boy Scouts of America), came to be.

While most are familiar with Boy Scouts of America, few actually know how America’s largest youth organization came to be. According to the Boy Scout Handbook, on the foggy streets of London in the early 1900s, an American businessman was given help finding his destination by a young boy. When he offered to pay the boy for his service, the boy explained that he was a scout and was doing a “good turn” – an act of kindness for which he expected no reward. The businessman, William D. Boyce, was so impressed that he spoke to Lord Robert Baden-Powell, who had founded the Boy Scouts in Great Britain, and went home to America loaded with information. He and a group of businessmen, educators and political leaders founded the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910.

As the Boy Scouts of America organization prepares to celebrate its 100th year in 2010, one local family is celebrating the third generation receiving the rank of Eagle, Scouting’s highest honor. Only about 4 percent of Boy Scouts achieve the Eagle rank, but the Robinson family of Owasso has 5 Eagles in the family and will soon add another. Bryce Robinson, 18, was recently honored in an Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony by Boy Scout Troop 93 of Collinsville, Oklahoma. Sharing the stage were his parents, Kip and Shelly Robinson, and sisters, Briana and Brittany.

Bryce, a 2009 graduate of Owasso High School, started his Scouting career in Cub Scout Pack 840 at Smith Elementary in 1999 and joined Troop 93 in 2002. His first scoutmaster was his grandfather, Allen Robinson, and his first assistant scoutmaster was his father, Kip. Both are Eagle Scouts and believe strongly in the ideals of scouting and upholding the Scout Oath – “On my honor I will do my best, to do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” Bryce’s uncle, Albert Kemp, and his cousin, Korte Robinson, are Eagles from Troop 93 as well. Albert now serves as Troop 93’s scoutmaster. That’s a lot of history and high expectations for an 11 year old, but Bryce was up to the challenge.

Boy Scouts seek to better their community through their involvement with their troop, and Bryce served his troop as assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader and now as a junior assistant scoutmaster. Bryce has enjoyed mentoring younger boys during camping trips in Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and Colorado.

Eagle Scouts must complete at least 21 merit badges, serve in several leadership positions in the troop and complete a service project helpful to a religious institution or school in their community. Bryce chose to renovate the 72-foot-long trophy cases at Owasso High School. This service project required over 130 hours. Bryce and more than 20 volunteers removed hundreds of trophies, cleaned and repaired the glass cases, and then organized the display into categories as it was refilled. Lenox Wrecker Service of Owasso donated the cost of materials.

Bryce shared that his favorite scouting memories revolve around Troop 93’s high adventure summer camps in the Buena Vista, Colorado area. “The camping, rappelling and whitewater rafting are great, but summiting Mt. Antero was the best,” says Bryce. “We made it to the top, which is 14,269 feet, and it was awesome, especially since we had tried so many times before and had to go back due to altitude sickness and bad weather.”  He plans to stay active in the troop as he starts college in the fall. “We have men who have worked with our troop for more than 20 years after their sons have finished the program, and I want to give back. I am very grateful for their dedication and the knowledge and wisdom they have given us.”

BSA Troop 93 meets on Monday nights at 7 p.m. at Discovery Bible Fellowship Church. The church is located at 11600 N. Garnett at German Corner in Collinsville, and prospective Scouts are welcome to call Scoutmaster Albert Kemp to arrange to attend a meeting.

For more information, contact

Boy Scout Troop 93

(918) 691-6215