Boy Scout Troop 53 Lawrence, Kansas

McGyver Spring Camporee

Over 200 Scouters and Leaders converged on Bromelsick for the Spring Camporee weekend April 20-22. We had beautiful weather and a great time! Saturday’s activities ranged from hatchet throwing to cardboard canoe races. The OA Call Out Ceremony capped the day off with 13 of our boys and two OG’s getting called out to join the honor camping fraternity – Order of the Arrow.

Check out the pics from the weekend.

Patrick Shields

Congratulations to Bishop Seabury Academy Senior, Patrick Shields, on an excellent Eagle Scout Board of Review – for about half an hour last Thursday he was the newest Eagle Scout in the nation. And for the rest of his life, he’s a member of a very select and honored fraternity of American men.

Eagle Scouts generally excel on many levels – and Mr. Shields is no exception. Besides being an outstanding student, Patrick’s also been very involved in the theater, forensics, and choir programs at Bishop Seabury. He’s been honored as “Best Actor” in a very competitive theater program and been part of nine different productions in high school. He’s also a top-5 competitor in the Kansas State High School Computer Programming Competition for two years in a row. He serves on Bishop Seabury’s Student Senate and was a Douglas County representative to Kansas Boy’s State in Manhattan last summer. And in addition, he was Magna Cum Laude in 2009 and 2011 on the National Latin Exam.

Looking ahead, Patrick’s already been selected for a scholarship hall award at the University of Kansas where he plans to major in computer languages and programming.

In service to Troop 53, Patrick’s been part of our youth leadership as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and active in helping teach Scouting skills to our younger Scouts. For his commitment and service, Patrick was honored by election to the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s National Honor Camping Society. He had the opportunity to exercise his leadership ability and skills with several summer trips to Camp Alexander in Lake George, Colorado. He was also a member of a very successful Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness high adventure trek to the Minnesota Northern Tier Canoe Base in 2011. Patrick also participated on a Philmont Scout Ranch high adventure trek.

In service to the community, Patrick’s Eagle Scout project consisted of planning, designing, constructing, and installing a backpack holder system for the hallways of Bishop Seabury Academy for the 6th and 7th grade students. The Bishop Seabury administration and staff report that his project has already accumulated many “service hours” by helping keep the school hallways free from clutter and hazards.

Patrick’s Eagle Scout Board of Review included Brian Van Schmus, Troop 53 ASM, John Harman, Pelathe District Commissioner, Scott Braden, Dr. Ryan Brittingham, and Rich Bailey, Pelathe District Advancement Chair. Dr. Steve Segebrecht, Life-to-Eagle Coordinator for Troop 53, ably served as Patrick’s Scoutmaster for the Board of Review. They all reported that it was an outstanding experience hearing of Patrick’s long Scouting and personal journeys – this was a memorable evening for each of these men.

Although Patrick will age-out of Boy Scouts very soon, we are thankful that he will remain in Lawrence and available to begin to give back to Scouting and Troop 53 as an Assistant Scoutmaster – looks like we have a home-grown merit badge counselor for Computers Merit Badge in Troop 53′s newest Eagle Scout. Please congratulate Patrick when you see him, an excellent example of the next generation of American men who promise “On My Honor”.

Kip Grosshans
Chartered Organization Representative, Troop 53

A great article on the benefits of scouting from Baylor University:

Nationwide study shows those who attain Scouting’s highest rank enhance youth’s values, ethics, decision making, relationships and personal development

WACO, Texas (April 10, 2012) – One hundred years after Arthur Eldred of New York earned the first Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America, researchers with Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR) and Program on Prosocial Behavior have released findings from a nationwide, scientific survey that demonstrates the significant, positive impact Eagle Scouts have on society every day.

“There is no shortage of examples or anecdotal accounts that suggest Scouting produces better citizens, but now there is scientific evidence to confirm the prosocial benefits of Scouting or earning the rank of Eagle Scout,” said the study’s principal investigator, Byron R. Johnson, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences, director of the Program on Prosocial Behavior and ISR co-director. “The central question of this study was to determine if achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is associated with prosocial behavior and development of character that carries over into young adulthood and beyond.”

Read the entire article here.

Sea Base

During the 2012 spring break, four leaders and fourteen Scouts headed to Sea Base for a week of sailing, snorkeling, fishing and lobster hunting. After checking into camp, we took our swim test and learned how to snorkel. The evening was spent watching a beautiful sunset and playing pool, ping pong, as well as sand volleyball. Saturday morning we made a 30 minute drive to Marathon, Fl where our 80 ft vessel, the Calypso Gypsy, awaited. After loading all of our gear, we set off for six days and five nights of adventure on the high seas!

During the week we snorkeled at the Sombrero, Looe, and Pelican reefs. We also snorkeled at Bahia Honda State Park which included floating from the bay into the Atlantic Ocean. These reefs were full of colorful fish including a barracuda and a six-foot black-tip shark! The sea was typically choppy with 3-5 foot swells due to winds ranging from 15 to 20 knots. Each day we were surrounded by dolphins as we sailed to Key West. As we sailed the Scouts learned terms such as port, starboard, leeward, windward, and the most important sailing term of all, Shay Shay Nay Nay. It would take four to six Scouts to hoist the genoa jib. After a fun-filled day at Key West, we headed back towards Marathon. Heading directly into the wind we could not sail but had to use the motor traveling only one to three miles per hour. Under the watchful eye of Captains Lance, Ron, and Tony we returned safely to Marathon.

Many thanks to Jennifer Shambaugh whose incredible organizational skills and tireless effort resulted in an incredible journey with no issues.

View more pics from Sea Base.

March Campout 2012

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … oh wait, that intro has already been used … how about:

The Troop 53 March Campout came in like a sunny & friendly lamb but went out like a cranky & wet lion.

Because of some campfire issues – Hayden’s and Devin’s Friday evening trip to town will live long in Troop lore – and our final “experienced” campout of the Troop 53 calendar was a great success. Seriously, after camping with these formerly new guys since April 2011, it’s easy to see why the Troop 53 future is so bright. We look forward to the April campout and the group of 20+ new Scouts, and so the cycle begins again for this next generation of American dads.

Saturday dawned bright & breezy and the early sunlight and relaxed schedule was a pleasure – excellent and experienced breakfast cooks displayed their wares as a new T-53 term was coined: ask Mr. Morris what the term, “pulling a Seamus” means with respect to menu choices. After breakfast, the goals were relaxing, bridge building, some relaxing, camp gadget making, relaxing & finding & sharing sunscreen, junior leader training, and planning for the Saturday night call-out ceremony – not necessarily in that order. Brett Carey and Steve Siler – with an excellent pit crew of Julie and Curtis Lesslie – helped train our next class of junior leaders most of the day on Saturday. Reports from that group indicate that questions were answered, skills were gained, puzzles were solved, and pizza was consumed – again, not necessarily in that order.

One of the distinct highlights on Saturday was an extended lunchtime visit by Mr. Jack Graham, long-time Troop 53 Old Goat & supporter *and* owner of the property that we fondly refer to as “Graham’s” when we plan our March campout – for the past 20 years or so. Ever the gracious host, Jack was happy to catch up on Troop plans and recent activities – several of our Scouts were excited to meet and thank him for such a perfect location and excellent opportunity close to home (although some of the Old Goats remember when Jack’s property was actually considered quite a ways outside of town …).

As dinner plans were made and excellent meals were created, consumed, and cleaned-up, Brett Jr (our OA Troop Rep) and Brian Van Schmus (our OA Troop Advisor) helped organize our Scouts and their plans for a torchlit ceremony to honor our Scouts and leaders selected for membership in the Order of the Arrow. Campfires were built, torches were created, smudgepots were placed and filled, and KU Blue face paint was applied (exactly in that order) to lead the troop in quiet procession to the west end of the property and still another pond – a perfect setting and another excellent ceremony.

Scouts who were honored with election to the Order of the Arrow include: Devin Van Schmus, Kyle Trompeter, Gabe Magee, Josh Kallenbach, Dylan Edwinson, John Eldridge, Justin Siler, David Balmilero, Josh Burrichter, Connor Wyle and Johnathan Lesslie. In addition, Larry Magee and Julie Lesslie were chosen to stand for Ordeal Membership in 2012. This was the largest Troop 53 election in our long history with the OA. In fact, Troop 53 was chartered just 4 years after the Order of the Arrow was founded at a Pennsylvania summer camp in 1915.

Mindful of the threat of Sunday morning rain – and also the beginning of 2012 daylight savings time – it was early-to-bed on Saturday night. Sunday morning “dawned” (sort-of) wet but *not* stormy on the 8th anniversary of the 2006 Microburst.

Sunday afternoon activities included homework, drying tents and gear, and naps – not necessarily in that order. And Monday’s meeting will be full of good memories and stories of an excellent weekend well-spent.

UPDATE: Three soon to be 5th and 6th year Scouters, Carson Gilliland, Conner Ballenger and SPL-Ethan Kallenberger organized and conducted an entertaining Friday night campfire. Organizing a campfire is a requirement all Communications MB participants must complete. Somehow the Three Amigos were able to book a featured performer in Troop 53′s one and only Calvin “Hobbs” DeWitt. Hobbs promised to “shred it”…and he lived up to the hype. His rendition of the Rolling Stones “Paint it Black” had the crowd demanding an encore. Rock on Hobbs!!

We look forward to the April campout and the group of 20+ new Scouts, and so the cycle begins again for this next generation of American dads.

Click here to see more pics from the campout!

View more pictures from the OA announcement.