A Scout Plays Santa

He sold more popcorn than almost anybody, but he had a bigger goal in mind

- Derek Burnett

Quick-what's the Scout slogan? If you said "Be Prepared," accept partial credit: That's the motto. The slogan is "Do a Good Turn Daily." Scouting's founder, Robert Baden-Powell, considered service to be just as important as tying knots and paddling canoes. In Troop 506 of Ham Lake, Minnesota, a 13-year-old Life Scout (just one rank below Eagle Scout, and an unusually high rank for someone that age) named Jonathan Werner is blazing new trails when it comes to "good turns."

Like many troops, 506 sells popcorn each fall to raise money. Many Scouts dread trying to convince people to buy from them. But in 2019, while still a Cub Scout, Jonathan watched as kids who'd made $1,800 or more in sales crossed a stage to receive a Lego set as a reward.

"I really wanted that Lego set," he says.

The next year, he earned his Legos. But Troop 506 doesn't just give out Lego sets. Under its generous reward program, Scouts receive a percentage of their sales in gift cards and cash points redeemable for Scouting-related activities. Inspired, Jonathan spent the next few years developing an astonishing knack for selling.