Boy Scout Troop 316, sponsored by St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Prosperity, returned Saturday from an adventurous week of learning, challenge, and responsibility at Camp Old Indian.
The week long camp helps youth achieve scouting’s aims of strengthening character, physical and mental fitness, and good citizenship.
Seventeen youth members and two adult leaders spent the week at the Blue Ridge Council’s camp in Travelers Rest.
Troop leadership is senior patrol leader Grant Mays, assistant senior patrol leader Delaney Smith, quartermaster Austin Patterson, patrol leader Jared Ballantyne, patrol leader Preston Cook, assistant scoutmaster Bob Beard and scoutmaster, Mike Cousins.
Youth participated in a number of programs based on their scouting level.
Younger scouts, Elijah Abrams, Jonah Bedenbaugh, Curtis Boland, Ty Je Dandy, Ben Hawkins, Sam Moore and Regan Woods participated in the Pathfinder Program. They spent the week learning skills necessary for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class advancement.
Ben Hawkins successfully completed the mile swim to earn the mile swim patch.
Older scouts, Jared Ballantyne, Reid Brigman, Preston Cook, Brock Franklin, Noah Hydrick, Carter Mays, Grant Mays, Austin Patterson and Delaney Smith, spent the week attending various merit badge classes necessary for rank advancement.
Troop members selected and earned the following merit badges: nuclear science, environmental science, space exploration, wilderness survival, music, citizenship in the world, textile, lifesaving, swimming, astronomy, leatherwork, forestry, basketry, public speaking, rifle shooting and fingerprinting.
Merit badges requiring additional study could not be completed during one week at camp and will be completed locally. They include communications, personal fitness, law, chemistry, wood carving, bird study, emergency preparedness, scouting heritage and bugling.
The numerous merit badges available provide each participant with the opportunity to learn about topics as well as develop skills useful for a lifetime. Many vocations as well as avocations have been selected through exposure to merit badges.
Eagle Scout James Ballantyne participated in the Ranger Program.
This program provides high adventure activities to older scouts such as rock climbing, tubing on the Green River, white water rafting on the Nantahala River, hiking to the top of Table Rock and mountain biking.
On Wednesday evening, parents joined their sons at camp for a mid-week celebratory meal.
Throughout the year, scouts are encouraged to earn all or some of their fees for a week at summer camp through popcorn and camp card sales.
The annual Friends of Scouting campaign also provides funds for those youth who may need additional financial assistance in order to attend summer camp.
Troop 316 members express their gratitude to their chartering organization, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, and the generous Newberry County citizens who have supported scouting through financial contributions.
Without their support, the numerous scouting opportunities and memorable times at Camp Old Indian would not be possible.
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