ESTHER SEND has been volunteering with Boy Scout Troop 131 for 17 years. Esther Send can’t earn badges for Boy Scout Troop 131.

But she can offer a lot of advice and motivation to make sure each member of the Suttons Bay-based troop is in the best position for rank advancement.

“They have to do the work,” the 54-year-old said. “But I’ll be there pushing them along as needed.

“It’s their doing of course. I’m just in the background.”

Send, in her 17th year volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America, has helped many in her troop advance through the ranks. She’s seen some of them go on to pursue degrees at the college level and others become active members of the community she’s lived in her entire life.

No matter what path they choose, Send knows the time they spend in the Scouts provides them with all the skills necessary to become lifelong leaders.

ESTHER SEND, center, helps out with Flag Day ceremonies. It is one of the community events that Send has been involved with during her time with the Boy Scouts. “I’ve seen some boys start out pretty shy,” Send said. “It’s fun to watch them become good leaders throughout their time in the scouts and eventually have the younger boys look up to them.”

Badges are the stepping stones along their path.

Send gets involved in as much of the badge earning process as possible. Not only does she help guide the Scouts in the troop she volunteers for, she sits on the board that reviews rank advancement.

“Every rank needs board review,” she said. “The process is like an interview.”

According to the Boy Scouts of America’s web site, board review is to be handled in a professional manner, but with enough of a relaxed manner to reduce the nervousness a Scout might experience. Eagle Scout review is handled in the same manner, but with a greater air of seriousness.

“Eagle rank review is more involved ... sometimes two hours long,” she said. “The board consists of more people and includes someone from the council.

“It’s an honor to be on the Eagle Board.”

Send said there are about 120 different badges a Scout can earn. Twentyone are needed to earn the Eagle Scout rank, 12 of those from required categories. Among them are badges awarded for citizenship in the community, personal fitness and family life.

The personal roundness developed by earning these badges makes it easy to see why becoming an Eagle Scout is considered an honor.

“It’s an excellent thing to be able to include on an application,” Send said. “If someone is an Eagle (Scout) and the other applicants aren’t, they’ll be much more likely to be given the position.”

Send participates in the majority of the Boy Scouts’ activities.

She’s helped troops retire flags during Flag Day ceremonies, patrolled Suttons Bay during the art festival and boat show and even assisted the Samaritan’s Closet, a thrift store in Lake Leelanau, in moving from one location to another.

Community service aspects are important, but the adventures she’s experienced during her time with the Scouts is just as important to Send.

“I get to do some things I’ve never gotten to do before, like small boat sailing,” she said.

Send also takes on the role of the troop’s “Popcorn Kernel.”

As the Scouts’ major annual fundraiser, organizing and managing the iconic popcorn sale is a big commitment. Money earned through the sales go directly back into the troop, providing members with the funds necessary to purchase items such as uniform pieces.

According to Send, the group constantly works together on various projects and recreational activities like camping trips. It not only gives members the opportunity to build relationships with each other, but also with the adults that volunteer their time. Send feels this aspect makes participating in the Scouts a worthwhile activity.

“I have fun with it. I think boy scouting is a really good program,” Send said. “We have a small troop (between 15 and 18 on the roster) so we get to know the boys well.

“I just enjoy being around and helping the kids.”