It's only the latest service project Boy Scouts Troop 316 of Apex has participated in since last fall. Others included the annual delivery of luminaries in December and a canned food drive for the Brown Bag Ministry in February.
But those are just troop service projects. Troop 316 scouts often set up individual service projects as well. Boy Scouts of America not only requires service hours for rank advancement, but also to ensure scouts fulfill their Scout Oath pledge "to help other people at all times."
"It feels great to help the community and those in need," said Hunter Smith, who achieved Eagle, BSA's highest honor, during the past scouting year. "Through Boy Scouts, I've grown in countless ways and feel honored to give back to the community for all it has given me."
Smith recently worked for a week as a camp leader at St. Mary Magdalene's Vacation Bible School and volunteered with the Miracle League of the Triangle. Joey Walsh worked several hours at the Western Wake Crisis Ministry food pantry and served as a member of the Special Olympics cheer team. He also handed out programs and helped lead the Pledge of Allegiance at a Memorial Day ceremony hosted by the American Legion. Ben Shugg spent one Friday a week for six weeks teaching higher level math concepts to a group of 2nd graders at Turner Creek Elementary.
Seth Bartholomew and Austin Jones recently assisted the Men's Group of Merritt's Chapel United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill to treat the church's women to a free, fully catered five-course breakfast filled with exotic menu items. Bartholomew worked elbow-to-elbow with gourmet chefs in the kitchen while Jones helped feed the husbands and sons outside. These are just some of the volunteer stories Troop 316 generates on a regular basis. There will be more to come.
Camping Trips
Beyond service projects, Troop 316 did some camping during the past scouting year - quite a bit of it. Scouts and leaders went on 12 camping trips since July 2009, and will add two more to the list during the next month when the troop embarks on a high adventure "New River Adventure" rafting trip in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in June, and their annual week of summer camp at Camp Durant in Carthage July 4-10. Here is a list of the dates and locations for each trip so far this scouting year.
June/July 2009: Summer Camp at Camp Durant; Carthage, NC
June/July 2009: High Adventure Camp at Sea Base; Islamorada, FL
September 2009: Kayaking and Canoeing at Camp Campbell; Townsville, VA
October 2009: Wilderness Survival at Jordan Lake; Apex, NC
October 2009: Council Camporee at Camp Reeves; Carthage, NC
November 2009: Rock Climbing at Pilot Mountain; Pinnacle, NC
December 2009: Shotgun Shooting at Camp Durant; Carthage, NC
January 2010: Snow Skiing at Winterplace Ski Resort; Ghent, WV
February 2010: Rock Climbing at Triangle Rock Club; Morrisville, NC
March 2010: Catholic Jamboree at Camp Barstow; Batesburg, SC
April 2010: Backpacking and Shakedown at Uwharrie National Forest; Troy, NC
May 2010: Biking at Umstead State Park; Raleigh, NC
Last summer, Mike Kunath was selected to represent Troop 316's Diocese of Raleigh at the St. George Trek, a high adventure program at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.
Honors and Achievements
Troop 316 held its winter Court of Honor Feb. 27, during which 37 merit badges and 36 rank advancements were awarded. Two scouts, Ryan Carlsen and Hunter Smith, achieved BSA's prestigious rank of Eagle during the past scouting year.
Several of the troop's adult leaders were also honored during the Winter Court of Honor. Dwight Jones earned his Wood Badge beads, which symbolize significant achievement in leadership and direct service to young people. Gary Rodgers received the 2009 Distinguished Leader Citation last fall at a banquet sponsored by the BSA Crosswinds District. Also, Brandon Smith and Rayford Horton received the BSA Leader's Training Award in March.
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