District Scouts Troop Into City For Celebration

Elizabeth Bailey

The Boy Scouts of Hoosier Trails Council, Lenni Lenape District, gathered at Greensburg High School, Saturday, for an opportunity to celebrate the centennial of the organization and earn a variety of Merit Badges.

The all-day event was organized by program chairman Dale Sandlin and had 620 participants, of which 430 were Boy Scouts. During the course of the day, the scouts had the ability to earn 30 different merit badges during sessions taught by 36 leaders.

Of those present, 34 scouts and 10 adults were from Greensburg’s Troop 577. These included scouts Travis Acton, Michael Back, Zach Bartosz, Andrew Bryant, Dakota Chance, Josh Chase, Trey Christianson, Hunty Claybrook, Kael Claybrook, Adam Hartman, Deven Imel, Chris Jarman, Will Jarman, Matthew Katchur, Ryan Martin, Reid McClintic, Ben Meadows, Jeremy Meadows, Nicholas Moorman, Nathaniel Myer, David Navarra, Tyler Pederson, Daniel Preuss, Jakob Ryle, Andrew Shroeder, Trever Shields, Chaz Smiley, Drew Soendlin, Cole Wagner, Timothy Wenholz, Titus Wenholz, Nicholas Wilson, Jacob Myer and Devon Chance. Leaders included Rick Meadows, Michelle Meadows, Te Wagner, Doug Hawkins, Diedra Hawkins, Bob Darby, Jim Hawkins, Ted Schroeder, Cathy Bryant and Greg Navarra. Local troops 574 and 573 were also in attendance, Rick Meadows noted. He continued by noting the gratitude of all the scouts and leaders for the hospitality of Greensburg Community Schools in allowing them the use of the high school for this event.

The Hoosier Trails Council is made up of 18 counties and the Lenni Lanape district includes Decatur, Bartholemew, Jackson and Jennings counties, District Scout Executive Melissa Head explained. The council spreads from Lafayette to Northeastern Kentucky, Council President Tom Kieffer continued.

The centennial merit badge day was the first all-council event in some time, but it was not the only event celebrating the Centennial of the Boy Scouts of America.

The year of celebration began with the Council Camporee and continued through a Pinewood Derby and will conclude with a Gala Eagle Reunion in May, Kieffer noted. There is much to celebrate from the past 100 years, he said, as approximately 110 million lives have been touched by the organization either through scout or leadership experience.

For the national organization, the centennial celebration includes the reopening of previously retired merit badges such as beekeeping and stalking, Kieffer explained. While there are 122 active badges for scouts to earn, those involved in scouting this year will have the opportunity to accumulate some that their predecessors and successors will not have the ability to access.

Much has changed throughout the long legacy of scouting, Sandlin and Head noted, as badges have been added in areas such as composite materials and computers. In addition, the council has moved into the 21st century with their Website, www.hoosiertrailsbsa.org, where those interested can follow the goings-on of the council via press releases, podcasts and Facebook.

Scouting encompasses individuals ranging in age from first grade through 20 years, Head explained. Cub Scouts include grades 1 through 5 while those who have finished fifth grade or have turned 11 move up to Boy Scouts until the age of 18. The Venture Scouting program includes both boys and girls from ages 14 through 20. For more information about joining scouts, volunteering as a leader or other programs, contact Head at 812-350-7611 or visit www.hoosiertrailsbsa.org.

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