Oldest continuously chartered troop

Newsboy photo/ Sharon Kerr SHAWN PIERCE, senior district executive for the Boy Scouts of America, presented the Noon Lions club with the charter for Troop 932.

The oldest scout troop in the area?

When Shawn Pierce, senior district executive of the Boy Scouts of America, presented the Noon Lions Club with the framed charter for Troop 932, he told the group he was researching its history.

"I believe it is one of the oldest- if not the oldest- continuously chartered troop in my area," Pierce said. Pierce covers Jasper, Newton, Hardin, and Tyler counties.

"My purpose is to increase the growth and visibility of the Boy Scouts," Pierce said. He offers leadership

training for scout leaders, and a new learning-forlife program to help school educators with classroom programs that teach ethics, values and morals.

"It can be geared to any class level, but we are trying to serve the special needs classes," Pierce said. He brings the program to the schools and teaches the teachers.

Boys Scouts isn't just Cub Scouts (first through fifth grade) and Boy Scouts (sixth through 12th grade) any more. They have added a coed high-adventure program for ages 14 - 20 that includes sports like rock climbing and scuba diving.

"Exploring" is another coed program for 14 - 20 year olds. It is a work-site based part of the learning-for-life career education program.

Pierce is originally from Kentucky and is making a career in the Boy Scouts. He works out of the Three Rivers Council office in Beaumont.

For more information, call 409 842-5240 or visit www.3riversbsa.org.