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Rite of passage
Stevens passes milestone in scouting.
By Brett Dalton
Herald-Tribune
Fort Scott, Kan. -- When 12-year old Ryan Stevens joined the Cub Scouts in Fort Scott four years ago, he was one of eight area youth who joined at that time. Last month, he became the only one of those eight to advance to Boy Scout Troop 114.
Stevens, a fifth-grader at Eugene Ware Elementary School, received the Arrow of Light honor, the highest of Cub Scout honors, during a "crossing over" ceremony on Monday, Feb. 26. The requirements of the Arrow of Light badge, according to the Boy Scouts of America Web site, include developing outdoor skills, gaining an understanding of the values of scouting and preparing to become a Boy Scout.
When asked about his thoughts on completing his four-year stint in Cub Scouts and advancing to Boy Scouts, the soft-spoken Stevens said simply, "It's pretty cool."
Stevens' former stepfather, John Hayes, who still spends plenty of time with Stevens, said he is proud of Stevens' accomplishment.
"Ryan has worked real hard during the last four years in Cub Scouts," Hayes said. "He completed his overnight camping trip that he had to do, he earned badges for first-aid, along with several other badges he had to earn."
Hayes said Stevens did have some troubles while trying to advance to Boy Scouts, but he persevered and it paid off.
"Ryan got a little frustrated toward the last part of Webelos training, getting his memorization done," he said. "He was talking about quitting. But once we got him past that memorization..."
Hayes has helped raise Stevens ever since the young boy was born, and though Hayes and Stevens' mother are no longer married, Stevens still refers to Hayes as his dad, Hayes said.
Hayes said that even though he isn't Stevens' biological father, he still intends on being around for Stevens as long as he needs him, including being there to help Stevens reach his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout, the Boy Scouts' top honor.
"I made a promise to him early on, and that promise is going to be kept," Hayes said. "I encourage him all the way. I told him I'd stay with him all the way through it."
While earning the Arrow of Light is an accomplishment in itself, it may be even more impressive in Stevens' case.
Stevens has hemophilia, a rare bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot normally. Because of his condition, Stevens has to be extra careful during many of the scouting activities, such as camping and other outdoor activities.
"It affects him in that he has to be very careful about not getting any bruises or cuts, or anything like that," Hayes said. "If he gets a bad bruise or a bad cut, he has to get a shot, no questions asked."
Hayes said Stevens has also had to overcome a serious stomach condition he developed as a young child, which limits how much he can eat, while also having undergone hernia surgery.
"He's been through a lot already in his young life," Hayes said.
His medical conditions is one reason that eventually becoming an Eagle Scout would be a major benefit for Stevens, Hayes said.
"There are a lot of advantages to getting Eagle," Hayes said. "If he can make Eagle, he can show any employer that even though he has problems, he can still be an asset to any company he may work for."
Stevens said he is excited about advancing to Boy Scouts, though there is one thing he's going to miss about his days as a Cub Scout.
"The snacks," he said.