Ivan Holder Jr. wanted to spend his free time doing something awesome. For him, that meant joining the Boy Scouts of America.
“I saw all the cool events and stuff they did and I became interested,” explained the sixth grader.
Since becoming a Boy Scout, he said he’s learned how to be respectful, care about his community and also do “outdoor stuff,” like build fires. He’s also made worthwhile friendships with other young men in his troop, Troop #123, and has been so successful as a scout, he will soon become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable within the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America.
The Broad Ripple Magnet High School student’s father is also his troop leader. Ivan Holder Sr. said African-American boys, like his son, have the unique opportunity through scouting to become productive men in today’s society.
“People look at scouting and see a punk with this uniform on. ‘I don’t want to be this person.’ But really, scouting takes a little boy and turns him into a respectful young man,” said Holder Sr. “That’s what the world needs today instead of (males) joining gangs, walking the streets, and smoking marijuana.”
The elder Holder wasn’t satisfied with simply dropping his son off at scouting events and picking him up. He believed the boys weren’t getting the full experience of being a scout and decided to get involved. He started out as a Citizen Cub Master then worked his way up to being a Cub Master. Today he is a Scout Master and leads Troop #123.
Troop #123 is part of the T-Sun-Ga-Ni District, part of the Crossroads of America Council which is comprised of 25 counties in Central Indiana. The Crossroads of America Council is one of more than 30 scouting councils across America.
“It was a challenge but you just have to have patience with them,” said Holder Sr.
What makes Troop #123 unique is that it is an all African-American Boy Scouts troop— the young men are ages 11 to 17. The troop’s home is also in the Avondale Meadows area of Indianapolis—a high crime area.
Holder said his scouts are in a critical time in their life where the lure of drugs, gangs and chasing girls distracts them from becoming a productive citizen that makes wise choices. Scouting does provide fun things like camping and learning how to build a water source for animals, but ultimately, he said it turns boys into mature male leaders and provides them with lifelong skills.
“Scouting can also help a young man get into college. If he becomes an Eagle Scout, he can probably get into any college he wants,” said Holder. “I’ve also talked to a lot of entrepreneurs and many said ‘I can hire a scout because I can trust him.’”
Due to their unique makeup, Holder said the troop’s biggest hurdles are financial stability, retention and parent support.
“Some of the parents say their son can come, but they won’t contribute. These traditional units don’t have any problems getting money. We have to fundraise and find sponsorships,” said Holder. Troop #123 has had a maximum of 14 boys, but currently has seven.
“The Recorder supports Troop #123 because we are committed to initiatives that enhance today’s youth. Young people need positive and fulfilling ways to spend their time and scouting is a wonderful way to increase one’s self esteem and leadership capacities among other things. The Recorder is extremely proud of our long-term relationship with the troop over the past several years,” said Shannon Williams, president and general manager of the Recorder Media Group. The Recorder is a sponsor of Troop #123.
Holder said while Black parents support athletics and encourage their sons to have “hoop dreams,” they fail to see scouting as a more viable and realistic way to help their sons be successful.
He said this is evident in the things scouts learn such as financial literacy, public speaking, honesty and kindness, maturity and crisis management skills.
Learning these skills comes at a fair cost. There is a required $24 annual registration fee and a $15 uniform fee. Optional items include a handbook, Boys’ Life subscription, and camping equipment.
Jeff Whitten, field director and team leader of afterschool programs at Crossroads of America Council, Boy Scouts of America, said in addition to Boy Scouts, there’s Cub Scouts (ages seven to 10 years old); Venturing, a co-ed program for youth ages 14 to 20 that helps participants pursue special interest and develop leadership skills; and Exploring, another co-ed program for youth ages 14 to 20 that helps youth explore career opportunities.
He said nationwide scouting has decreased, but in Central Indiana, scouting stays strong.
“We’ve teamed up with a lot of schools, community centers and Boys and Girls Clubs to offer scouting during an afterschool time frame,” said Whitten.
He adds that though there has been an increase, there is still a strong need for more African-American boys to become scouts, volunteer adults to serve as mentors, and sponsors to make the program viable.
“We are particularly looking to add troops to those six areas identified by the Department of Public Safety,” said Whitten. “A lot of activities we do may be unfamiliar to these boys, but scouting is a method in which we can help young boys build character and put them around a good group of mentors. Scouting also gives these experiences in an outdoor setting.”
To donate funds to Troop #123 or for more information, contact Ivan Holder Sr. at (317) 217-0226. For general information on scouting, contact the Crossroads of America Council at (317) 813-7125 or visit Crossroadsbsa.org.
