Plant City Boy Scout Troop 744 is an example of how much community service can be achieved when the youth are given the opportunity to participate in events.
Along with Pack 5 and Pack 734, it is another scout club that represents Plant City.
The accomplishments and accolades of Troop 744 is due impart to its youth-led operation.
“They make the decisions,” said Anthony Benavidez, scout master for Troop 744. “The boys create a schedule or a calendar, and they do two to three things monthly. We like to do at least one of those as a community service project.”
As a new affiliate with the First Call – First Responder Church, the troop has already been engaged in tasks that are community-centered.
Back in December of last year, they conducted a flag retirement ceremony – a ritual in burning an American flag that is in bad condition.
“When a flag has become worn and tattered, it’s respectful,” said John Mitchell, committee chair for Troop 744. “There’s a proper way in order to dispose of the flag. That’s one of the services that we do as a boy scout unit.”
However, it’s not the first time that the troop has performed the ceremony. Often times they will receive requests and donations to retire flags.
The troop is currently housed within the First United Methodist Church of Plant City – a relationship that has gone back almost 60 years.
The club consists of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), whose ages range from 11 to 18; and Cub Scouts for kids in kindergarten and up to fifth-grade.
“The main difference between Cubs and BSA scouts is that Cubs are more adult-driven and the BSA is youth-driven,” Benavidez said.
During meetings, the Boy Scouts will plan out a calendar for different activities or events that they have in mind. Once they’ve come up with ideas, they’ll take a vote.
The Boy Scouts have the opportunity to become either Sea Scouts or Venture Scouts as well.
In the Sea Scout program, kids learn about water safety, how to navigate a boat, and become certified in SCUBA, CPR, and boat safety.
Venture Scouts climb rocks, practice archery, go kayaking and design robots.
At age 18, they can transition to junior leader and at 21 can become a full-fledged leader.
There are over 120 merit badges that can be earned through such things as hiking, cycling, game design, and community work, to name a few.
They also take courses in cooking, welding, and auto maintenance.
The boys attend summer camp with other troops and partake in various activities for badges, spanning anywhere from one to five weeks.
“We also like helping at the food bank and making bags for people that are less fortunate with food,” said Nicholas Schiavone, senior patrol leader for Troop 744.
The group is currently working toward the highest and final rank – Eagle Scout.
“Since I joined in first grade as a Cub Scout, there was a little pack by my school and it was really small,” said Ethan Mitchell, assistant senior patrol leader. “It was me and one other kid. While I was there, I learned to not take things for granted. It taught me that some people are not as fortunate as others and that you can always help out in the community.”
These activities also prepare them when transitioning into adulthood with social skills, life skills, teamwork, and even making friends.
To become promoted, they have to make a case for why they should move up a rank by going through an interview process.
“We allow them to fail because without failure, there’s no growth,” Benavidez said. “When they’ve fallen and they’ve gotten back up, to see them start walking again and turn that walk into a run, it’s amazing.”
As part of the Timucua District, Troop 744 meets with other troops within The Greater Tampa Bay Area Council.
At the meetings, they exchange ideas for activities, fundraisers and anything else that can benefit each troop.
Last year, the troop presented flags during a Veterans’ Day event at the Florida Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds. December of last year, they sang Christmas carols at a local nursing home and took part in the Plant City Christmas Parade.
Now in 2022, they are still coming up with ideas to help better themselves and Plant City.
“Personally, I believe that as a troop we could go around Plant City cleaning up the streets with trash and litter and just help cleaning up buildings,” Schiavone said.
Benavidez’ son Sebastian, stated that, “in scouting we have a slogan and it’s ‘do a good turn daily.’ Even the smallest thing that could help out the community, like opening somebody’s door for them, it could make their day because who knows what could be going on with them. It’s always good to do your best at anything. It’s worth taking a shot.”
For those interested in joining Troop 744, please contact Matthew Nickerson at (352) 442-4227, or Anthony Benavidez at (813) 326-1013.