We wanted to take a minute to honor Bill Dunlop, a dedicated leader and father who passed away unexpectedly just before Christmas. Bill was COR for Troops 3/323 since 2019 and was involved with Cub Scout Pack 323 for a solid decade before that. He was vitally important to so many scouts and helped so many other leaders with his humor, knowledge, and constant encouragement. Memorial services were held Jan. 17 and his remains were interred at All Saints Lutheran Church. We’ll miss you, Mr. Bill, there will never be another like you.
On November 8, many of our scouts assembled at All Saints Lutheran Church for leadership training. They learned about leadership principles, working as a team, and how to lead effectively. During the training, they participated in many exercises, such as guiding blindfolded people through a course, and tossing one person balloons that represent responsibilities. After the training was over, scouts were rewarded with pizza and soda.
On October 25, our scouts assembled at All Saints Lutheran Church, our charter organization, for a service project. Our scouts worked together under the leadership of Sam to pick weeds, trim bushes, clean the storage room, and power wash the sidewalk. They were rewarded for their efforts with appreciation and donuts.
On October 24-26, a few scouts from our troop had the opportunity to work on a project with the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary. The Eagle Scout Project, led by Thomas McCauley, focused on improving the baby alligator and crocodile enclosures by replacing worn materials and making them safer and easier for staff to maintain. Lucas Whitesell commented on how impressive it was to see everyone working together and taking pride in the project. The team of Scouts and volunteers spent several hours measuring, cutting, replacing worn materials, and reinforcing sections of the enclosures to make them even more durable. It was amazing to see the space transform throughout the day. The staff at the sanctuary were extremely appreciative of just how functional and secure it had become. This project was not only a great service to the sanctuary, but also a memorable experience in teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership.
Written by Thomas McCauley
On October 17-19, more than 20 scouts from our troop went to Camp Geronimo to participate in Camp-O-Ree, which was themed around the Wild West this year! We participated in eight challenges – Wild West Wranglers, Cowboy Cooking, Jumping Jackalopes, First Aid, Tales from the Trail, Escape Room, Rifle Shooting, and Axe Throwing. After all the challenges, we attended the closing campfire, where the staff announced the winners, performed skits, and handed out prizes.
“Our group was called the firestarters, but we were doing the opposite of that” – Jordan
