More than learning how to tie a square knot, start a fire by rubbing sticks together, or the strength of working as a team, boys in scouts learn how to grow from a boy to a man. Through the help and guidance of amazing scout leaders who serve as mentors, boys learn the essentials life that will last them far beyond their youthful years.

Reaping the rewards from such nurturing is Charles Harrison Bennett. Already the product of stable home, the extra mentoring he receives while part of the Boy Scouts of America has helped to further develop his character. Bennett has been a part of scouting at Wheeler Avenue Baptist for many years beginning first as a Tiger Cub in Pack 242. He advanced to Troop 242 where his true signs of leadership were tried and tested. Charles’ previous leadership roles were Quartermaster, Troop Guide, Den Chief, Assistant Patrol Leader, and Patrol Leader. He even represented his troop as an attendee and later staffer at National Youth Leadership Training. He is a proud member of the Order of the Arrow.

Always aspiring to the next level, Charles set his sights on earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Acquiring such an accomplishment is not a minimal task and takes a lot of sacrifices and hard work on any scout to earn by leading a worthwhile project that benefits the community. Charles decided that is Eagle Scout project would be one of historical significance by preserving documents of yesteryear digitally so future generations could learn from the past. Entitling his project “Saving the Documents,” Charles, with the support of his father Judge Alfred H. Bennett, partnered with the 61st Civil District Court with an army of volunteers to input data from original court records from the early 1900’s into a computer server. Charles’ efforts allowed his to earned his new ranking. Charles’s work along with eight other fellow scouts was celebrated at Boy Scout Troop 242’s Eagle Court of Honor ceremony and again recognized recently by their entire church family during Boy Scouts Sunday at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church (WABC).

The Boy Scouts of America at WABC were the first youth organization established by Audrey and Reverend Bill Lawson in the early days of the church. Since its creation in 1965, over one thousand boys and young men have gone through the church’s scouting program. Troop 242 is proud to report that more than 173 of their own have attained the rank of Eagle Scouts; one of the largest number of Eagles to come out of an African American troop in the country. Troop 242 Scouts are trailblazers in business, education, medicine, politics and other professions. There are many, many stories of boys who have been provided support, training and positive role models.

Charles is currently a sophomore at Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy. His future aspirations include attending college to pursue a course of study in computer science, with an emphasis on interactive media and game design. He desires to become a professional video game designer.