Hundreds of friends and family came out to the New Hanover Township Fire Company on Swamp Pike Saturday evening, in support of the achievements earned by the Cub Scouts of Pack 367, chartered by New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Pack’s annual Blue & Gold Banquet, this year themed Cubs of the Round Table, is the special event at which Scouts are presented with the badge of rank they have been working so hard to accomplish since last summer. More than 60 excited Cub Scouts, full of the energy that can only be possessed by 6-11 year-old boys, earned their badges and look forward to the next step in their Scouting journey.
For one special group, Saturday’s banquet marks the end of their Cub Scout experience. The Arrow of Light den are the oldest boys in the Pack, many of whom have spent the last five years together working toward this point to achieve Cub Scouting’s highest achievement, the Arrow of Light award. These 16 fifth-grade boys have been working with their Den Leaders, George Trowbridge, Bill Hundemann, and Joe Schell, and their Den Chief Collin Neiman, a Boy Scout with Troop 367, to complete the rank’s requirements focusing on outdoor skills, physical fitness, and to learn more about citizenship and working with others. Following the Arrow of Light ceremony in which the Scouts received their awards, Mr. Cless challenged each of the Scouts to continue to ‘Do your best,’ and to, ‘continue on the trail of Boy Scout achievement towards the Eagle rank and upward to even higher challenges.’
The Scouts who earned the Arrow of Light award and accepted Mr. Cless’ challenge that night were C.J. Cless, Connor Eagle, Danny Garczynski, Christopher Goggin, Jordan Hayes, Robby Hundemann, Reece Leotta, Ryan Magilton, Johannes Orehotsky, Matthew Reitenbaugh, Zander Schell, Jacob Sterner, Kyle Trout, Nicholas Trowbridge, Cameron Ubele, and Keith Weller. Earning the Arrow of Light award is certainly a grand accomplishment; however, these Scouts have decided that is not enough for them. They have all now turned their focus on the Boy Scout’s highest accomplishment, to become an Eagle Scout.
Immediately following their Arrow of Light Ceremony, the 16 newest Arrow of Light award recipients declared they will indeed continue their Scouting journey by joining Troop 367, also chartered by New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church. During another impressive ceremony, the Scouts were welcomed by a large contingent of Boy Scouts from Troop 367 lead by Scoutmaster, Scott Repa. Standing between the two groups was a bridge that is painted half in blue and yellow and half in green and tan symbolizing the transformation from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. As each Scout proudly crossed the bridge they were stripped of the uniform parts identifying them as Cub Scouts and then were presented with a new neckerchief, neckerchief slide, and green shoulder loops, all visible elements of their new membership as a Boy Scout.
Each of the new Boy Scouts are eager to begin working on a new set of objectives by attending weekly Troop meetings and outings, including a planned camping trip to French Creek State Park later in March. This is only the beginning of an exciting and enriching journey that will prepare them to become responsible, participating citizens and leaders guided by sound, moral values.
Cub Scouts is for boys in first through fifth grades. Cub Scouts do fun things with other kids! They get to wear a cool uniform, go places like camping trips, and see things museums and sporting events. They play all kinds of sports and build things, like race cars and bird houses. To learn more about Cub Scout Pack 367, visit their website: www.pack367.com, or go to one of their meetings held at New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church on Lutheran Road in Gilbertsville on Monday evenings (September through May) from 7:00-8:00. If the location or time of the meeting is not convenient, you are encouraged to visit www.beascout.org to find a pack in your area.
