Scouts in the News
December 20, 2008
Germantown scout troop in inaugural parade
In the basement of Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, amid the singing and the homecooked food, was the joy of unbelievably good news:Boy Scout Troop 358 will participate next month in the historic presidential inaugural parade in Washington.
"It's amazing to me," said 16-year-old senior patrol leader Derrick Kershaw, grinning in braces near a buffet table at Wednesday evening's scout holiday party.
Kershaw, a scout since first grade, has several lines of merit badges, including ones in first aid, swimming and graphic arts, sewn onto his khaki-and-green uniform. He loves being outdoors, and now he gets to participate in "something that happens once in a lifetime."
Like most of the scouts, Kershaw found himself captivated during the height of the campaign.
Every night, he and his family huddled in front of the television, flipping through news channels, obsessed with the possibility.
After Barack Obama's victory, his mother, Suzanne, was scouring the Internet for inauguration tickets for her family when she came across an opportunity for scouts to actually be in the parade.
When she presented the application at the next troop meeting, no one questioned the troop's chances, though the deadline was in two days.
"This election gave everybody a sense of possibility," said Suzanne Kershaw, 54. "We're now living in a season of hope, and that moves you to act."
For generations, Troop 358 has celebrated proud milestones. It's one of the oldest African American troops in the country, according to the Congressional Record. And in its 54 years, 52 members have risen to Eagle Scout, with four on the horizon.
"We don't have a record of criminals. We don't have a record of dropouts," said the Rev. G. Daniel Jones, lamenting the stereotypes of young black males while praising the troop's history of educational achievement and community service. "We have dedicated leaders committed to giving these young men a chance."
Two weeks ago, the scouts received the news. Out of about 1,400 applicants, their troop would be in the parade, on an official float, in full uniform.
"It feels great," echoed Terrell Barringer, 17, a star quarterback at Dobbins High and soon-to-be Eagle Scout.
"Obama is just-" he gushed. "To see a black face in the middle of this, and now to be a part of it. This is something I will tell my kids about."
"It definitely inspires them," said scoutmaster Brian Wallace, 31. "It gives them a sense of the opportunities that scouting provides."
The troop's next challenge: travel, lodging and food.
During Wednesday's party, the chairman of the troop committee, Charles Whiting - who is also principal of Dobbins High School - told the boys that they won't spend a night in a hotel. Instead, their bus will likely leave Philadelphia at midnight to beat the expected gridlock. The scouts will basically live on the bus until showtime, possibly putting some of those merit badges to use.
The boys also need new duds - Boy Scout uniforms have just been redesigned. Since the weather in January is "iffy," Whiting suggested that parents buy larger shirts to leave room for layers.
With uniforms costing about $100, Whiting has arranged for Dobbins fashion students to sew badges and hem cuffs.
"We're going to make sure you don't have to suffer too much," he told parents.
The trip will cost another $100 for expenses such as food and transportation. How to raise the money will be discussed at the scout meeting early next month.
Mark Bundick, 39, wearing a Santa hat, came to the party with his 13-year-old son, Nigel.
"Who would've thought we'd get to see something like this?" he asked. "Now he's going to be a part of it. I guess he gets a better view than I do, and that makes me so proud."
December 01, 2008
Scouts build dog houses, learn construction skills
Kathy Toppins
EDMOND — Nine Troop 94 Boy Scouts worked over several sunny November days to build three dog houses to donate to Edmond Animal Welfare. The Scouts decided to do this service project after visiting the shelter and learning about animal welfare issues from Officer Mike Sullivan.
Troop Committee Chairman Philip Bryan said he designed the lean-to dog house to get the most houses out of the fewest pieces of exterior-grade plywood. Another consideration, he said, was keeping water out of the wood and off the dog.
The lean-to design, he explained to the Scouts, will force rain water to run off the roof and away from the dog. To protect the house from ground water, Bryan designed a treated lumber base that will not rot if it gets wet. “Water is the enemy of construction,” Bryan said. The house also lifts off the base for cleaning.
Whenever possible, the 11- to 13-year-old boys used an assembly line to construct the houses. They learned the meaning of “measure twice; cut once.” After measuring, all the Scouts had an opportunity to cut plywood using a safety saw along a metal guide. The Scouts moved the cut plywood to two caulking stations. With wood caulked, Scouts at the waterproof glue and pneumatic nail station began assembling the dog houses.
“We’re building the dog houses to last,” Bryan said to the Scouts as they began to realize that sticky caulking followed every construction step. “You cannot caulk too much.” The Scouts had to wait for a warmer day to apply multiple coats of exterior house paint.
Scouts from Troop 94, based at Santa Fe Presbyterian Church, are working on their Citizenship in the Community merit badge. Grant Luthy, 11, said, “My family has two dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors. I love working with dogs. I’m glad we can build houses for dogs since winter is coming.”
“The shelter sometimes donates dog houses to low-income families who have a dog, but can’t afford a dog house,” said Edmond Animal Welfare Supervisor Jim Fish. “Edmond city ordinances specify that animals must have shelter, food and water if and when they are let out.”
Fish encouraged any group interested in making dog houses to contact the shelter. In addition to dog houses, Fish said, “We can always use kitty litter, puppy food and kitten food.”
November 27, 2008
Area Scouts gather 17,000 pounds of food
Northeast PA
The totals are in and the Boy Scouts' annual Scouting for Food drive generated nearly 250,000 pounds of food for local food banks.
That's enough food to feed more than 8,500 people for a week.
This was the 21st year that the Scouts have conducted this annual food drive, with nearly three million pounds of food distributed to local food banks during the last two decades. In Monroe County, more than 700 Scouts and volunteers collected nearly 17,000 pounds of food.
"With the approach of the holiday season, this is a time of year when local food banks often have shortages," said Tom Harrington, scout executive and chief executive, Minsi Trails Council, BSA. "It's a great learning experience for the Scouts to be out serving our local communities and helping fill those food banks in time for the holidays."
In early November, 250,000 empty grocery bags were distributed to homes throughout the six-county area served by the Boy Scouts' Minsi Trails Council. With a 2008 campaign theme of "Fill a Bag "¦ Feed the Hungry," the Scouts then went back and collected full food bags the following weeks.
This is the largest of the many major service projects that the Boy Scouts conduct each year. More than 5,000 local Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and volunteers participated in the food drive. In addition, 46 local business locations participated in collecting food.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Boy Scout leads effort to restore Chula park after flooding
Chillicothe, Mo. -
An 8-inch deluge in June put the Chula community park completely under water; but, thanks to the efforts of Chillicothe Boy Scout Zach Parks, the park is once again in pristine condition.
Parks, 14, said he chose Chula Park for his Eagle Scout project after seeing in the newspaper photographs of the park under water and reading about the damage caused by the heavy rains.
“I wanted to do something that could help the community and I thought this could do it,” said Parks.
The project began in late August and Parks coordinated the efforts of around 25 people from Chula as well as some of his friends and fellow Boy Scouts. Together, more than 250 man hours were put in toward the park rehabilitation.
Parks is a freshman at Chillicothe High School and a member of Boy Scout Troop No. 121 which is sponsored by Grace Episcopal Church and the Chillicothe Elks Lodge. He is the son of John and Nancy Parks. John Parks grew up in Chula.
Cub Scout receives National Medal of Merit
Michael Klotz, a 9-year-old Cub Scout from Pack 893 chartered by St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Midlothian, recently received the Boy Scouts of America National Medal of Merit, which is given to members of the Boy Scouts on recommendation of the organization's National Court of Honor. It is given to scouts who "perform an act of service of a rare or exceptional character in saving or attempting to save a life."
In April 2007, Michael, then an 8-year-old Bear Cub Scout, heard his mother call for help as he was playing in his home with two friends. The three children found Diane Klotz unconscious. Michael knew his mom had diabetes and thought she may be in insulin shock. He directed his two friends as to how they could help him gather the items he needed to help her - a glucose testing kit; glucose tablets; cool, damp cloths; a sweet drink; and a telephone.
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