Cub and Boy Scouts

Photos:

Cub & Scout Meetings 08
Court of Honor 03//31/08
Scout Sunday 2008
Pine Wood Derby 2008
Cub Christmas Party 2007
Pinewood Derby 2007
Scout Sunday 2007

Blue Ridge Church has sponsored Boy Scout Troop 269 since 1947.

The Troop recently celebrated their 60 Year Anniversary.

A Scout is: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

Blue Ridge Methodist Church was granted a Scout Troop Charter on March 31, 1947. The Honorary President of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America at that time was Harry Truman and the Honorary Vice-President was Herbert Hoover. Because of the dedication and service of adult volunteers and leaders, the charter has been ren

ewed every year since. The original charter was presented to the troop in February, 2006 as part of a Scout Sunday Recognition and is now displayed in the Fellowship Hall.

    Cub Scouts start out as Tiger Cubs when they are in first grade. The next lever is Bobcat, followed by Wolf. The final Cub Scout level is Bear after which they become Webelos. Webelo stands for WE BE LOyal Scouts. Each of these levels is recognizable by the color of the scarf they wear with their uniform.
    Cub scouts move up in February – cross over into the troop – at the Pack’s annual Blue & Gold Banquet. At that ceremony, those Webelos will be recognized for their achievements while in the Pack. They will become the new ‘first years’ as they are fondly referred to by the troop.
    The Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts participate in the Pinewood Derby, the annual local camporee, the Klondike Derby, the Merit Badge Academy, annual family camp outs and much more. The Boy Scouts have attended summer camp every year at H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation. The Cubs and Webelos attend Cub and Webelo camps when they can depending on availability of adult volunteers. Boy Scouts participate in at least 12 outings a year most of which are overnights. Cubs are sometimes invited to vist an overnight with their adult partner.

     The Pancake Breakfast and Chili Supper are looked forward to every year by the scouts, adult volunteers and members of the church and the general public. The proceeds help to defray the cost of summer camp so that each boy is able to attend. Boy Scouts and Webelo Scouts work these events.
    Although not every boy attains the rank of Eagle Scout, the physical, mental and moral challenges, the leadership skills, the friendships, the outdoor experiences, including h

iking, camping in ALL kinds of weather, cooking over a fire, getting dirty, swimming in the river - all contribute to his development and character and help to shape him into who he will become as an adult. The influences

that scouting will have on him may not show themselves for many years to come, but they are embedded in him for all time.
    There are opportunities to earn merit badges for boy scouts and patches for cub scouts in more that 130 areas of interest, including navigation, engineering, fire-fighting, photography, astronomy, education, wood-working, medicine and cooking to name just a few. As a young man is exposed to something new, it may spark a life long interest or even a career path.

    The troop has awarded 248 ranks of Eagle Scout. The earliest we have recorded was in 1950 and the most recent in 2007. These names are listed on the board in the Fellowship Hall on the west wall. The Cub Scout Pack is always looking for new scouts and adult volunteers. Recruiting is getting more difficult as boys of that age are starting sports and other activities that require their time, their parent’s time and financial commitment.

    Scouting too, requires a commitment. A commitment from parents to be trained to be effective leaders and to assist boys by providing praise, encouragement and instruction. The rewards will be repaid over and over again as you watch the boys develop into young men who are able to pass on their leadership skills to the next generation of cubs. It’s a circle anyone would be proud to be part of. Many opportunities also exist for mothers/grandmothers/aunts to volunteer by joining the Mother’s Council. These women work hard to help make the scouting experience rewarding. They oversee the Courts of Honor and Eagle Courts, provide assistance with fund raisers, transportation, community projects – help to sew merit badges on sashes, make mother’s ribbons and make the scarves the boys wear every week as part of their uniform.
    If you have any questions or know someone that might be interested in joining - visit a scout meeting on any Monday night at 7:00 or call Blue Ridge United Methodist Church, Phone: 353 - 1435 for information.