Modern Scouting in the Dallas Area
With a background in real estate, oil and gas exploration and extraction, and importing and exporting, Texan Stacy Stine Cary is well acquainted with business and entrepreneurism. In addition, Stacy Cary is a tireless volunteer who supports several cause-oriented organizations, including the Boy Scouts. When the Scouting movement began in the early 20th century, its emphasis was on outdoor skills, such as camping, hiking, swimming, and rowing and canoeing. Modern Scouting continues to emphasize those skills, but with a distinctly 21st-century flavor. One indication of how Scouting has worked to stay abreast of a changing world is the merit badges Scouts earn to demonstrate their proficiency in various skills, as well as to advance in rank to the coveted Eagle badge. In 1910, only 13 badges of merit were offered, including Ambulance, Fireman, Electrician, and Stalkers. The list gradually grew and some of the badges were renamed; for instance, the Ambulance badge became the First Aid badge in 1911, and it has remained the most popular merit badge today. The Fireman badge became the Firemanship badge. The Stalkers badge was renamed Stalking and in 2010 was again renamed Tracking. Throughout the years, the Scouts have been offered a total 261 merit badges, of which 134 are still available. Modern merit badges that reflect the Scouts’ efforts to offer American youth meaningful skills and interests in an evolving world include Sustainability, Programming, Moviemaking, Orienteering, and Snow Sports. Boy Scouts in the Dallas, Texas, area belong to the Circle Ten Council, which comprises Dallas, 10 neighboring counties in Texas, and Bryan County in Oklahoma. The council was chartered in 1913, although troops of Scouts formed in the area as early as 1910, the year Scouting came to the United States. The Council serves more than 55,000 Scouts.
