Nov 12, 2002 By Laura Mazur For The 4 min read

For Kenneth Hager, Boy Scouts has been a tradition, and traveling has been a dream. Soon, both of these loves will combine to become a chance of a lifetime for the member of Boy Scouts Troop 610 in Uniontown.

In December, Hager will participate in the World Scouting Jamboree in Thailand, where Scouts from about 160 countries will gather.

Hager, the only youth attending from the area, will perform a service project while visiting the foreign land.

“A lot of kids are going to get a car for their 16th birthday, but I’d rather travel to the other side of the world,” said Hager.

There are no requirements needed to attend the jamboree, except the monetary funds as well as the desire to journey abroad.

Hager will leave Christmas Day from Pittsburgh International, fly to San Francisco to stay a night, then take a flight to Hong Kong to board Thai Air and arrive in Sattahip, Thailand, on Dec. 27.

Because of the International Dateline and time zones, Hager will return Jan. 10, yet his excursion will last 16 days.

He will visit three Buddhist temples, ride boats along the canals and explore other sites.

What is unique about the Boy Scouts attending this Jamboree is that they will be the only organization with only boys forming the group.

Hager attended the Scouts’ national jamboree last summer and learned of the transpacific excursion there.

He then spoke to his parents of the trip. After they gave their approval, Hager began to plan. The National and World Jamborees each occur every four years.

“Other people should want to go. Other kids should jump at the chance to go,” said Hager of the trip.

The 15-year-old Hager will turn 16 on the first day of his overseas voyage.

Hager plans to make that trip after having attained Eagle Scout status, the highest rank in Boy Scouts.

The requirements to be an Eagle Scout include 21 merit badges, yet Hager has earned 37 of them. The range of badges encompasses many areas of interest, ranging from art to roller skating and railroading. He needs two more that are required for the status: personal fitness and family life.

The time needed to fulfill the requirements of the badges is about three months for each.

He plans to finish the work on these two badge requirements by Dec. 7.

“It means a lot to me. A lot of kids have almost met the requirements, get tired, fall short and get lazy at the last few steps,” Hager said. “If they really wanted to do it, all they’d have to do is try.”

Although a native of the Uniontown area, Hager is no stranger to traveling.

Through Scouting, he has toured Maine and Chattanooga, Tenn., Conestoga Boy Scout Camp in Somerset, where he worked at a trading post for nine weeks, and Philadelphia to visit national historic parks.

“There are a lot of advantages of being a Scout,” he said.

By council regulations, three camperees, or camp outings, are required of troops each year, but Troop 610 ventures the thrill of camping about once a month.

This troop is known to be the most competitive troop in the council because of the activities in which Scouts participate. C

aving, whitewater rafting and rappelling are a few of the nature-delving events in which the troop partakes.

Richard Hager, father and Scoutmaster to Kenneth, said he’s proud of the Scout’s achievements.

“He has held a lot of leadership positions. He has learned to work as a leader and be a leader,” Richard Hager said. “He’s a really super kid. I’m really proud of him. …He could do anything he wanted to.”

Additionally, Kenneth Hager, a sophomore at Uniontown Area High School, is a member of the Order of the Arrow, another Scouting group, treasurer of Wagion Lodge 6, senior patrol leader in his troop, junior river guide and is active with his high school stage crew working with lights, sound and the set. He assists the high school band and belongs to the forensics team and chorus.

A member of the Church of the Brethren, he is, as well, a member of the youth group at the Nazarene Church in Uniontown.

Although he is a few years from graduation, he already plans to pursue a career in either structural engineering or civil engineering. This summer, he will go to Philmont Scout Ranch to tend to trail improvements.

“It’s all about three elements: citizenship, character building and physical, mental and moral fitness,” Richard Hager said of Scouting. “It’s a great opportunity for any kid to still be a boy but still grow up to be a great man.”