When one thinks about a “Boy Scout”, often a five or six year old boy comes to mind, knocking on your door, asking if you’d like to buy some Boy Scout peanuts.

However, this is hardly the case for boy scouts. Junior Nick Deutsch has been a part of the Boy Scouts of America for six years now, and although he did not begin the program on his own wishing, he now enjoys being a Scout.

“I didn’t really start out of my own personal interest. My aunt and uncle kind of forced me into it but I kind of grew to love it,” Deutsch said.

The group meets on Monday evenings every week and go camping together about once a month.

“We usually go to West Virginia, because that’s usually [where] the best camping spots [are]. Usually in Virginia, there are a bunch of national parks… so it’s not really real camping. You’re confined to a 30 by 30 space and it’s really not the best option for like 40 boy scouts,” Deutsch said.

Deutsch has learned many life-depending information during these camping trips, including how to start a fire, how to float when in water, and how to overall survive in the wilderness. However, the boys like to lighten the load by having fun as well.

“One time, Austin Bell popped a lugy on my face. So we were on a dock in the middle of the lake and I was standing near the edge just looking at the water, and it was really windy that day. And Austin, you could hear him conjuring the nastiest thing in the background. And then he spit, and the wind curved it, and it was so nasty but then it hit me in the face and I started screaming and jumped in the water,” Deutsch said.

Deutsch finds many things enjoyable about being a part of the boy scouts, but his favorite part isn’t directly related to the scout part of being a boy scout.

“This might sound a little weird, but the boys [are my favorite part]. They’re all just a good group of guys and they’re fun to hang out with. And I learn a lot of stuff from them, so that’s pretty cool,” Deutsch said.

One of the ideas you have about a boy scout might include the uniform that comes to mind. Deutsch particularly enjoys this uniform.

“[The uniform is] really dorky. It’s like this tan, collared shirt made out of the cheapest material possible. And then these green pants that zip-off like mid-thigh. So you have these booty shorts and collared shirt, it just looks super dorky,” Deutsch said.

The title of an Eagle Scout, the highest possible ranking obtainable for a Boy Scout, one must obtain by their eighteenth birthday. Along with a minimum of 21 merit badges, an Eagle Scout Service Project [classified as a project to help benefit the scout’s religious institution, school, or community], and having to be a Life Scout for a minimum of six months, the title is well-earned.

“{My main goal is] is just to achieve Eagle Scout, because I’ve been doing this for six years and it would all be a waste if I didn’t get it… I need two more merit badges and I need to complete an Eagle Scout project,” Deutsch said.

Deutsch plans to obtain his two merit badges within the near future, and complete his Eagle Scout project within the next year, to hopefully achieve his goal of Eagle Scout.