Soaking wetand freezing cold’that’s how scout James Whitton, 16, described his most memorable night of camping.
‘Camping is always fun,? says Whitton. ‘On one trip, there was a huge storm during the night. When I woke up, everything was soaking wet’my clothes, blankets, everything. I was freezing cold and I couldn’t go back to sleep, but it was still fun.?
Whitton, along with Chad McConkey, Dean Bakker, William Sharp, and Todd Hakim, are all life- ranked scouts. The five boys are all currently working on becoming Eagle Scouts, the highest rank a Boy Scout can earn.
Troop 337 will host an open house at 7 p.m.,Nov. 13, at the Seymour Lake United Methodist Church, 3050 Sashabaw Road. The Boy Scouts are welcoming all Weblos interested in learning about the Boy Scout Troop.
‘Being a Boy Scout there is always something fun and exciting,? says Life Scout Chad McConkey, 16. ‘We learn things that will be with us for the rest of our lives.?
The process of becoming an Eagle Scout from a Life Scout is a tedious one, says McConkey. A Boy Scout must be a Life Scout for six months before they can become an Eagle Scout. Other requirements needed to become an Eagle scout include: being able to demonstrate the Scout oath and Scout law, a Scout must have achieved at least 21 merit badges, the Scout must be actively involved in the Boy Scout program during the six months, fulfilling all responsibilities, and the final step to achieve Eagle Scout rank is to complete the final Eagle Scout project. This project involves developing and fulfilling a plan that will help improve the community.
‘The boys are working and planning their ideas for the Eagle Scout project,? says Emile Bakker, Troop 337 assistant Scout Master. ‘This project makes them use a lot of their skills to help better the community.?
Brandon High School senior and Life Scout, William Sharp, 17, has already completed his Eagle Scout project. Sharp worked with a K-9 rescue center in Oxford to create a sanitary kennel station area. He worked with various volunteers to fulfill his project, which took an estimated 135 hours to complete.
He created a cement kennel area that involved separate kennels for each dog with a four-inch cement barrier that surrounds three of the four walls in the kennel. The back of the kennel does not have a four-inch barrier, so that fluid and waste can easily be run out during cleaning to keep the kennel sanitary.
‘Activities involved in working toward becoming an Eagle Scout will help me in the future,? says Sharp. ‘It will be something good for employers to see and just in life in general.?
The five Life Scouts make up a little less than half of Troop 337. Some activities Troop 337 has done over the years include: biking, canoeing, white water rafting, rock climbing, whirly ball, sporting events, skiing excursions, and of course camping. Monthly outings help Troop 337 come together, allowing everyone to bond and create new memories, while allowing them to demonstrate all the skills they have learned.
Details: (586) 242-4727.