Editor’s note: Today’s letters to the editor are from Southwest Junior High students learning about persuasive writing.

To the editor:

Boy Scouts are a great opportunity for teens. Boy Scouts are a group of boys ages 11 to 17. It keeps teens out of trouble by going on campouts and by belonging to a group with friends. It also lets teens practice and learn great outdoor skills that they otherwise wouldn’t know. Most teens are crowded inside playing the newest video games or watching TV, but if they were in Scouts they could be going outside with friends.

A Merit Badge is a badge that shows you have learned a new skill. There are more than 120 merit badges. There are also several ranks from Scout to Eagle, as well as many leadership positions available.

Troop 52 in Lawrence offers many scouting opportunities. We go on campouts about once a month and offer a great environment for everyone. A memorable trip we made was a 22-mile bike ride through a trail in the woods and there was cave that was right along the trail. Another trip was to Ibex. Ibex is a huge rock climbing facility in Kansas City, Mo. The boys ages 13 and over held the rope, while the new scouts climbed and the adults held the rope for them. We climbed from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and made tons of friends because this event is usually the new boys’ first campout. The troop is planning on going again next March. You can contact the Scoutmaster Chris Golledge at (785) 842-4120.

Vail Moshiri,

Southwest Junior High School