How about 13 year old Eagle Scouts? ;^)
I was involved in a discussion with an LdS Scouter last night who, in his zeal to promote LdS Scouting, used the example of a 13 year old "Eagle" to try and make his point.
However, I do have to give Scoutmaster's post a big bump. What he says is absolutely correct.
I have learned to "categorize" Scouts 3 ways;
1. those who are gung-ho, love Scouting and are Eagle bound,
2. those who enjoy it, want to be with friends, but are not rank motivated, and
3. those who are there only because parent(s) make them attend.
The first two are easy to work with, the third, not so much, but try and teach them the values contained within the Oath and Law.
That's why I enjoy being a leader so much, so many types of Scouts and just as many ways to have an impact on their lives.
There's an immense joy in working with a Scout who falls into that category #3 and finding one thing about Scouting that he enjoys, or that he would enjoy. Then, in a Scoutmaster conference, letting him know that you're never going to pressure him to earn a rank or a merit badge, but that you'll move mountains to make certain he can do one thing as long as he meets the requirements.
I had a Scout once who was only interested in the one thing that interests all new Scouts - fire.
He worked with one of our crusty old Scoutmasters until he could start a fire with a wet sock in a rainstorm. Then he learned a dozen interesting ways to start fires - all working with a designated Assistant Scoutmaster. 0000 steel wool and the battery from a Mini-Mag flashlight. Half a ping-pong ball and a couple of drops of glycerine. Some dry grass in the reflector of an Army surplus L-shaped flashlight (those reflectors are magic). The you-can't-blow-me-out birthday candles.
The Scout finished by making a presentation to the rest of the Troop that amazed all of the Scouts and half of the Assistant Scoutmasters.
At the next campout, Providence prevailed and it rained. He wound up helping almost every patrol start their fire.
From that point on, he was hooked on Scouting and his interest blossomed into other areas.
He didn't reach Eagle. He aged out at 18 as a Star Scout.
Those are the success stories you keep you going.
I have trouble within my program with 14 yr old GMA (Gold Medal of Achievement) earners. Somehow when our progam went through a transition 9 years ago, our national office forgot that most boys are not mature enough by the end of 8th grade to have really EARNED this award, and they left little in the plans for the next age group to continue to work towards it.
For both programs the emphasis must remain on build character into the boys that will carry through to adulthood - regardless of rank attained.