Members of Benicia’s Boy Scouts Troop 8’s High Adventure Team sit and stand atop the Tooth of Time summit during a 2015 trip to Philmount Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Pictured in the front row from left to right are Kevin McLarty, Steve Goldsmith, Blaise Place, Nick Heyer, John Lovett and Zach Lovett. Pictured in the back row from left to right are James Peck, Asa Goldsmith, Dave Kensiski and Eric Kensiski. (Photo courtesy of John Lovett)

The Boy Scouts are an opportunity for youth to gain important life skills outside of the classroom. Such skills include leadership, teamwork, wilderness survival, community service and much more. Many famous people got their start as Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts, including Martin Luther King Jr., Bill Gates and five U.S. presidents, including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Benicia has plenty of Boy and Girl Scouts organizations, including Cub Scout Pack 108, Cub Scout Pack 128 and Boy Scout Troop 7. One troop that meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month and is currently open to potential scouts ages 11 to 17 is Boy Scout Troop 8.

Troop 8 is one of the oldest continually operating Boy Scout troops in Benicia, having started up in 1943. As in other troops, the scouts earn merit badges for their work in such areas as auto mechanics, astronomy, zoology and more. They also get to enjoy one local weekend camping trip a month during the school year in such places as Point Reyes National Seashore, Angel Island and Mount Diablo. Additionally, the troop goes skiing and snowboarding at Sugar Bowl in the winter and has a weeklong summer camp at the Wente Scout Reservation in Willits.

The troop also has a High Adventure Team that takes part in more challenging outdoor adventures for high school scouts.

“The High Adventure Team does four to five backpacking trips a year and just returned from hiking the Lost Coast up in Humboldt County,” Scoutmaster John Lovett said.

According to Lovett, community service is an essential part of Troop 8’s mission.

“We have the lead on Benicia’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program,” he said. “We also perform flag ceremonies for the community including Opening of the Straits and Relay for Life.”

Lovett says the boys learn leadership and outdoor skills as well as the ability to respect others.

“We are an inclusive troop so the boys learn to work with and respect people from all walks of life including those with disabilities,” he said.

Most importantly, Lovett hopes that the scouts gain the tools necessary to become skilled, professional adults.

“Scouting is a values based program,” he said. “My hope and my goal is that Troop 8 scouts become good citizens when they turn 18.”

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23 at Benicia Community Center, located at 401 East K St. This slight schedule deviation is to coincide with the new school year. After that, Troop 8 meets at the usual time and location on the first and third Tuesday every month. All visiting and prospective scouts, ages 11 to 17, are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Lovett at john@jmlovett.org.

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