Tag Archive for: Scouts

Local scouts hold Lego derby

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Tony and Simon Giroux, of Winslow, show off Simon’s “Double Play” Lego Pinewood Derby Car. (photos by Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Seventy-five youths, mostly Cub Scouts, from Hartland to Buxton rolled into Camp Bomazeen, on November 4, for the annual Lego Pinewood Derby.

“We love to see Camp Bomazeen so filled with Scouts,” event chairman Julie McKenney, of Belgrade, said. “It was a sunny day so the Scouts put their cars together outside with their parent’s help and then everyone came inside the dining hall where the track was set up for the races. Counting Cubs and Scouts, parents, leaders, and siblings, there were close to 200 people in the place cheering on the Lego racers. It was very exciting. Love to see all the new folks and the smiling faces.”

Gabriel Booker and his father Michael Booker, of Augusta, work on his Lego car. Gabriel came in first overall last year and third overall this year at the races. (photos by Chuck Mahaleris)

Gabriel Booker, of Augusta, came in third fastest overall with his Raptor Rider Lego car. He knows just the right blocks to put together as last year his car was the overall winner of the event. His father, Michael said Gabriel is in second grade, at Lincoln Elementary School, and he is a Wolf Cub, in Augusta Pack #684. “He loves Scouts and all the fun things that they do,” Michael Booker said while watching Gabriel put together the block car.

Simon Giroux and his father Tony Giroux, of Winslow, are members of Cub Pack #445. “I built this car. It has a Storm Trooper inside. I call it Double Play,” Simon said. He is in second grade at Winslow Elementary. Tony enjoys seeing his son use his creativity to come up with the design for the car before he builds it.

Cheryl Sarto was very pleased with the program. She and her children Mya and Jaycob came from Biddeford for the event. “They loved it,” Cheryl said. “We originally went because friends that we met at Camp Hinds Day Camp this past summer are from Pittston and were going as well. So it was definitely worth it for us.” Jaycob is a Webelos in Saco Cub Pack #311 and is in the fourth grade.

Brayden Humphrey was there with his dad Ryan Humphrey. Brayden attends Somerset Elementary School, in Hartland, where he lives. Braydon had a full story for the driver of his car “Spidey”. He has Legos at home so this was a fun event. “It was a fun event to come and build a car and race it,” Ryan said. “He helped me with the metal parts,” Braydon said about the axles that hold the tires.

Up to four cars could run on the metal track at once and an electronic eye recorded who crossed the line first and computers recorded the speeds of each car. “It is very high-tech,” McKenney said.

Local scouts honor veterans at parade

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Vassalboro Scouts at the Waterville Veterans Day Parade. Front row, from left to right, Tiger Scout Kasen Maroon, Wolf Scout Beckett Metcalf, Tiger Scout Greyson Malloy, Wolf Scout John Gray, and Wolf Scout Lux Reynolds. Second row, Tiger Den Leader Shane Maroon, Dragon Scout Lila Reynolds, Asst. Cubmaster/Wolf Den Leader Chris Reynolds, Webelos Scout Anthony Malloy, Arrow of Light Scout Christopher Santiago, Arrow of Light Scout William Vincent, Webelos Scout Henry Gray, Asst. Scoutmaster/Cubmaster Christopher Santiago. (photo courtesy of Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Anthony Fortin of Augusta

In Waterville, Scouts from Vassalboro, Winslow, Windsor and Augusta marched in the Veterans Day Parade with some of the Cub Scouts from Windsor leading the pledge of allegiance at City Hall. Windsor Pack #609 Cubmaster Shawn McFarland said, “This was our first parade and first community event. I am so proud of these Littles! Thank you everyone.” The pack, which became official this month after several years of non-operation, is also going to be marching in the Gardiner Parade of Lights. Christopher Santiago is a leader for both Scout Troop and Cub Pack #410, in Vassalboro, and said, “Vassalboro Scouting came out to thank our veterans and marched in the Waterville Veterans Day Parade alongside its Charter Organization, American Legion Post #126. A great job by our scouts and their families who braved the cold on this important day. Thank you Veterans!”

In Augusta, members of Scout Troop #431 served lunch to veterans at American Legion Post #2 and in Litchfield, Scout Troop #672 took part in a flag retirement ceremony with members of American Legion William R Bold Post #181, Litchfield.

Augusta Troop 631

Pack 609 Tiger Cub Brody Dyer holding a handmade sign

SCOUTS: Tristan Morton completes orienteering course

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Tristan Morton, of Augusta, shooting a reverse azimuth.

by Chuck Mahaleris

Tristan Morton, of Augusta Troop #603, moves across terrain and trails as part of his Orienteering Requirement for the First Class Rank at Augusta’s Viles Arboretum. Working over a mile, he navigates to landmarks and cross-country, Tristan shoots a back azimuth to verify his position after boxing around Viles Pond. After verifying his position, he is ready to navigate to his next objective.

Scouts need skills like map reading, terrain identification, and compass work to be at home in Maine’s woods. Since ancient times, rough maps of the Earth and simple compasses have guided explorers, warriors, and pioneers like Lewis and Clark, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, and Amelia Earhart. The skill of learning to understand a map and compass are vital to anyone who spends time outdoors and is an integral part of Scouting itself.

The World Crest is a Scout emblem that has been worn by an estimated 250 million Scouts worldwide since the Scouting movement was founded in 1907 by Lord Robert Baden-Powell. He later explained the significance of the World Crest, “Our badge we took from the ‘North Point’ used on maps for orienteering.” His wife, Lady Baden-Powell, added, “It shows the true way to go.” The emblem’s symbolism helps to remind Scouts to be as true and reliable as a compass in keeping to their Scouting ideals and showing others the way. It is hard to show others the way if you are not familiar with map and compass skills, and so all Scouting programs teach Scouts orienteering.

Scouts hold haunted woods event at Camp Bomazeen

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Dread Pirate Eric Handley, of Sidney, helped with registration for the Haunted Woods. He is also Scoutmaster of Sidney Troop #401 who camped over the weekend.

Text and photos
by Chuck Mahaleris

Sullivan Mudie, of Augusta, was at camp with his mom Lynette Mudie. Sullivan is a Lion Cub in Pack #684 and is in kindergarten. “I liked seeing the bumblebees,” Sullivan said. “And shooting the pumpkins with the BB Gun.”

Kids and parents clad in cute or creepy costumes skulked through Camp Bomazeen on October 14 for the annual Haunted Woods event. Cub Scouts and their parents donned fantastic or phantasmic costumes on Saturday and visited different activity areas around camp such as Archery, BB Gun Shooting, the Haunted House run by Augusta Troop 603, outdoor cooking, the obstacle course, pumpkin painting, and arts and crafts. In the evening, after the younger Scouts went home with their parents, the older Scouts from area Troops took part in the haunted hike that lasted until the witching hour (11 PM). Julie McKenney of Belgrade organized the program. “It is so much fun to watch the younger kids and their parents have fun together at Camp,” she said. “Everyone loves to get into the spirit of Halloween and it is a great family program. Then at night, the older Scouts test their Scouting knowledge and their courage as they have to survive the Haunted Trail at night.” The Troops also had a gateway competition and a stew cookoff.

The Haunted House beneath the dining hall was guarded by the Grim Reaper (Joseph Maranda) and his son Owen Maranda, of Augusta and Chelsea. Owen is a Tenderfoot Scout in Troop #631, where his dad is one of the Assistant Scoutmasters. “I’m having fun directing people into the Haunted House,” Owen said.

Vassalboro scouts learn orienteering

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Front row, from left to right, Lion Scouts Alex Madison and Boone McLaughlin, Tiger Scouts Greyson Malloy and Kasen Maroon. Second row, Webelos Scouts Henry Gray, Anthony Malloy, and Eli Richmond, AOL Scouts Christopher Santiago, Hunter Brown, and William Vincent, Wolf Scouts John Gray, Sam Madison, Beckett Metcalf, Connor Millett, Lux Reynolds, and Declan McLaughlin. Back row, Cubmaster Chris Santiago and members of the Maine Wardens Service. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Members of the Maine Warden Service took time out of their schedules to teach Scouts in Vassalboro Cub Scout Pack #410 orienteering to help the Scouts understand how to navigate their way in Maine’s woods. The compass training took place at Thurston Park, in China, on Monday, October 16. Jessica Murray was very pleased, “Thank you wardens,” she said. “My kids learned a bunch and we appreciated the time everyone gave the kids and parents.”

Young man shows that one person can help save lives

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Photo by Gary Mazoki

by Roberta Barnes

The ribbon cutting ceremony held on September 23, 2023, in Palermo, was for a lifesaving resource added into the Recreational Field, on the Turner Ridge Rd. Family, friends, fellow scouts, first responders and law enforcement officers from Palermo and neighboring towns were present to celebrate this vital resource.

This resource that is beneficial for all surrounding communities is the result of the completion of an Eagle Scout project. An Eagle Scout Project is a community service effort that comes at the end of a scout’s career and must be completed to attain scouting’s highest rank.

The Eagle Scout project Kaleb Brown completed is evidence that one person’s idea can result in creating a resource that can save lives. The project that Brown, senior Patrol Leader of Palermo Boy Scout Troop #222, and high school senior, presented to the Scout Council was for a permanent LifeFlight helicopter pad to be built in an area where it is needed.

Transportation and time are essential factors when critical care is needed. In Maine over 37,000 patients have been airlifted to receive critical medical care by LifeFlight since it was founded in 1998. Just in the past year over 2,000 patients were airlifted. Each airlift requires a safe landing site.

What inspired Brown to take on this project was an event that happened when he and his best friend were each 15 years old. His friend was critically injured in a car accident caused by a drunk driver and died on route to the hospital. The only permanent concrete pads for airlifting close to Palermo were in Augusta and Belfast. His mother, Barbara Files-Lucier, assistant scoutmaster who had been a paramedic for 14 years, also served as an inspiration for his project.

When Brown met a woman at a hospital whose daughter had died, it let him know he had chosen the right project. At the ribbon cutting ceremony instead of him cutting the ribbon he asked the woman whose daughter had died if she would like to cut it. She lives close by and had enjoyed watching as the pad was being built.

As with all Eagle Scout projects, Brown’s project required determination, discipline, and hours of hard work to coordinate everything required to complete the project. His first step after the Sount council had approved his project was to get permission to use a sizable portion of the field from the youth association owning that field. After that he went door to door asking businesses for donations.

Brown going door to door resulted in generous donations by local businesses, and individuals that covered the entire $20,000 cost. Once enough donations had been received, he still had to be available to keep the construction of the pad smoothly on track. Eagle Scouts are allowed mentors and community support, but the responsibility of the completion of their project is on their shoulders.

An example of the community coming together and people volunteering time was Brown and family members painting the pad. The painting was after all the steps required for the pad’s construction pad had been completed by businesses and individuals donating their time and materials.

Brown’s project required 500 hours of his time and dedicated work to complete a resource that can save lives. Now first responders in all areas surrounding Palermo have this site keyed into their systems to use when needed. If other landing areas used in the past are not available at a needed time, this pad can now be used.

Prior to the ribbon cutting along with speakers from associations and various levels of government, Kaleb Brown, and his mother each spoke.

While Bown and his mother outlined all that had gone into the project they each gave a heartfelt thank you to all the people who had donated funds, materials, and their time at various stages of the project. They expressed how each person’s donation was important in making this life saving resource a reality.

As Brown’s mother spoke, stepping stones for the commitment required to complete his Eagle scout project were explained, including the discipline required for school grades and his martial arts training.

Kaleb Brown’ s words that summed up this project were, “Hard things are right things.”

Skowhegan scout given award for patch design

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Roundtable Commissioner Christopher Bernier, left, of Winslow, presented Taylor Hayden, of Skowhegan, with the display plaque that features his original artwork and the first patch from the run of patches made based on the art. (contributed photo)

Taylor Hayden, of Skowhegan, is a Star Scout in Troop #485. He is 15 years old and attends Skowhegan Area High School. On Wednesday, September 13, Taylor stood before Scouting leaders from all over Kennebec Valley District to receive a plaque for his contributions to Scouting by designing the patch for the Spring Camporee which was held in May, at Camp Bomazeen, in Belgrade.

Taylor was pleasantly surprised when he learned that his had been selected: “It’s outdoorsy and very artistic in my way of drawing things,” Taylor said. He plans to hang the plaque in his living room where his other Scouting awards are displayed.

Taylor Hayden, of Skowhegan. (contributed photo)

Eagle Scout completes LifeFlight helipad

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Kaleb Brown, the Senior Patrol Leader of Palermo Boy Scout Troop #222, recently finished his Eagle Scout project by installing a helicopter pad for LifeFlight. This is the only permanent, concrete pad between Augusta, Waterville and Belfast. This is a multi-community asset as the First Responders of Palermo, China, Somerville, and Liberty will have access to the pad.

Kaleb noted, “There is a need and I can help. People shouldn’t worry about access to higher care if they or someone they know is critically injured in a remote area. Having a designated, permanent helicopter pad for LifeFlight (not just a field or a road that is shut down) saves precious minutes. Those minutes are critical to a patient’s survival.”

They are holding a public ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, September 23. The pad is located at the ball fields, at 645 Turner Ridge Rd., in Palermo. There will be guest speakers, emergency vehicles, the media, and LifeFlight will be on the pad!

This project was a huge undertaking and required a myriad of volunteers, materials, and funds to be a success. With generous donations by local businesses all $20K was covered!

Auburn Concrete, Belfast Chamber of Commerce, Bob Bruso, Darryl Heroux. Don Salvatore, Hancock Lumber, Haskell & Sons Dusty Haskell, McGee Construction
Modern Woodman of America, Nathan O. Northrup Forest Products and Earthworks, Palermo Youth Athletics, Paul Keller State Farm, and Wooly & Grunts Farm.

Local scouts attend national event

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Thumbs Up from Anthony and Connor: Anthony Fortin, of Troop #603, and Connor Poirier, of Troop #631, both of Augusta, gave the thumbs up as they began cooking breakfast for the contingent at the sub-camp campsite at the Summit Reserve. (contributed photo)

submitted by Chuck Mahaleris

The Boy Scouts of America Jamboree attracted over 13,000 scouts from around the world and over 5,000 visitors to the 10-day event in July including Scouts from Maine.

Over the course of the Jamboree, which takes place every four years, the BSA gathers together. Scouts and Scouters explored all kinds of adventures – stadium shows, pioneer village, Mount Jack hikes, adventure sports and more – in the heart of one of nature’s greatest playgrounds. With 10,000 acres at the Bechtel Summit Reserve, in West Virginia, to explore, and directly across from the New River Gorge National Park, there was no shortage of opportunities to build Scouting memories.

The 45 scouts and leaders from Pine Tree Council (which covers southern and western parts of Maine) took a bus to the event which was held at the Summit, making stops in Washington, D.C. Contingent Leader, Joan Dollarhite, wrote on July 17, at Camp Snyder outside Washington, D.C., “Tents are pitched, pizza ordered and eaten. We had a great ride and are looking forward to sightseeing tomorrow.” The scouts earned the money for the trip through many fundraisers.

From soaring high above the ground on a zip line to conquering high ropes courses and scaling rock walls, there was no shortage of adventures at the Jamboree. Local Scouts took on the challenge of the climbing wall, navigated their way through orienteering courses, tried new things like branding or welding, and braved the rapids during an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip.

There were also demonstrations from the U.S. Coast Guard and motivational speeches given by Scott Pelley, correspondent for 60 Minutes and former news anchor and managing editor of CBS News who talked about bravery; and Lt. General and Eagle Scout, John Evans, who spoke to scouts about the importance of leadership.

Maine’s scouts not only found their adrenaline rush but also took part in programs designed to foster personal growth and build self-confidence. They also found opportunities to overcome mental and emotional obstacles as well and engage in team-building exercises that required communication, problem-solving, and collaboration. These experiences not only enhance outdoor skills but also cultivate character and resilience. The Jamboree helped to develop leadership skills.

They also took part in a massive good deed. Scouts at the National Jamboree assembled 5,000 “Flood Bucket” cleaning kits consisting of 15 items ranging from rubber gloves and scrub brushes to scouring pads and towels packed tightly into a 5-gallon bucket. These kits serve as essential “first aid” resources that provide flood victims with the practical and emotional support necessary to begin restoration of their homes and personal belongings. The completed kits, valued at $375,000, are being packed tightly into a five-gallon bucket and will be wrapped and transported to a warehouse and then distributed as needed to flooded areas throughout West Virginia as “first aid” resources for flood victims.

Anthony Fortin, of Augusta, attends Cony High School, and is a member of Troop #603. “I earned Radio, Sustainability, and Family Life Merit Badges; did some patch trading; soared across a zip line; had fun at the Camp bashes (parties); attended Catholic Mass with a thousand other Scouts; played the kazoo and the bugle; and met many new people from all over the country,” Anthony said.

Michael Fortin, committee chairman for Troop #603, in Augusta, also attended. “It was fulfilling to see all of the scouts have this amazing experience,” Fortin said. “Many of the scouts on this adventure did not know the leaders and conversely, we did not know most of them. Spending time together provided the leaders with the opportunity to get to know them and witness these young people on their scouting journey. The heat, humidity, and hilly terrain were challenging for us older adults to navigate, but we endured it all to ensure our scouts were safe and had an absolutely awesome time. We saw many examples of scouts who unselfishly embraced the Oath and Law and demonstrated what it truly means to be a Scout.”

Waterville scouts find new partner

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Scouts pictured are Nicholas Tibbetts, Mason Pelletier, Micah Waldie, Xander Dunton, Elijab Benn, Isaac Benn, Joshua Knight, Tucker Waldie, Malahki Kornsey and Sam Bernier. All are of Waterville except the Benns who live in Westbrook. (photo courtesy of Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

After 89 years of partnership with the Pleasant Street United Methodist Church, Waterville Boy Scout Troop began 2023 with a new Chartered Organization.

“Fortunately, we didn’t have to hunt too long as we found the Waterville Masonic Lodge #33 as our new Chartered Organization,” Scout leader Bruce Rueger said. A chartered organization is a community-based group whose objectives, mission and methodologies are compatible with those of the BSA.

It agrees to use the Scouting program to further its mission to serve young people. The partnership is intended to be deeper than, say, a sponsorship arrangement between a youth baseball team and a local business. In signing an annual charter agreement with the local council, the organization agrees (among other things) to follow BSA rules, regulations and policies; maintain and support a unit committee made up of at least three persons for each unit; and ensure appropriate facilities for regular unit meetings. “They celebrated our new relationship by presenting the troop with a new troop flag recognizing our 90 years as a member of the Boy Scouts of America.” The Scouts received their new flag on March 21, 2023.