Able Scouts

This announcement appeared in the Spring 2023 issue of Abilities Digest.

The National Special Needs and Disabilities Committee is pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the Woods Services Award. Only two of these awards may be granted nationally each year to BSA volunteer Scouters for exceptional service and leadership in the field of Scouting with disabilities.

One of this year’s awards goes to Eleanor Philips, member of the Greater Saint Louis Area Council (GSLAC). Eleanor has contributed beyond measure to special needs Scouting. She has worked tirelessly to ensure full participation of special needs Scouts in all Scouts BSA programs and events. Since the 1980s, she has been a Scoutmaster for a troop with Scouts with disabilities. She has been taking her troop to camp since 1988. Her Scouts have been to Boundary Waters once and twice to Philmont. Eleanor’s first trek to Philmont was long before Philmont was prepared to accommodate youth with special needs. Eleanor worked with Philmont and made it a very successful experience.

At the council level, Eleanor has served on the GSLAC Special Needs Committee in several capacities. As training chair, she has been the “go to” person in the council for training adult leaders in dealing with scouts with disabilities. She is also Dean of the College of Special Needs. She has been the special needs trainer for camp staff and NYLT staff for many years.On the national level, at the most recent National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC), Eleanor led an Admonition Team, setting up special quiet areas to give Scouts with special needs a place to “chill” when needed, and headed a group to answer special needs related questions from Scouts or leaders. Also, at NOAC, she served as a special needs present-er on a panel discussion. Nationally Eleanor was a special needs coordinator at the 2017 National Jamboree and was an assistant subcamp head at the World Jamboree in 2019. In addition, since 2022, she has been an advisory member of the National Special Needs and Disabilities Committee.

A few of the many Scouting Awards she has received are the District Award of Merit, the Silver Beaver, and the Special Needs Scouting Service Award. In her home council, anytime anyone mentions Special Needs Scouting, Eleanor is immediately the first name thought of, with a whole-hearted endorsement and unquestionable knowledge that she will do all within her power to help and get any job done well. Doing her Best – Doing her Duty – To help others at all times.

The Woods Services Award is a community service award sponsored by Woods Services and administered by the BSA National Special Needs and Disabilities Committee. The award was created in 1978 by the Woods Services and Resi-dential Treatment Center. Since 1913, the Center has provided services to children and adults with disabilities.

The beautiful recognition is provided by Woods Services. In addition, the National SND Committee is presenting Elanor with the community service square knot and the special needs device to wear on it. Congratulations Eleanor!