Tiger scouts are awarded their Tiger rank. From left are Patrick Kosar, Ethan Coleman, Patrick Dean, Andrew D’Elia, John Kryst, Andrew Mitchell, and Aemon Lewis. Back row: Scout leader Kate D’Elia.
Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
Scouts being recognized for their rank. Front row from left are Nadir Rutty, Evelyn McVeigh, Brady Willis, Elena Mitchell, and Andrew James. Back row: Cub master Josh Mitchell.
Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
Scoutmaster Tom Tone breaks the arrow of cub scout Ryan Gurnick, who just became a boy scout.
Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
Cub scout Gavin Monagan becomes a boy scout after crossing the bridge during the Arrow of Light Ceremony.
Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
Cub scout John Knott, who just became a boy scout, is pictured with his family. From left are Randy, John, Cole, and Linda Knott.
Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
CLARKS SUMMIT — The cub scouts of Pack 160 moved up in rank at the annual Blue and Gold Banquet. The ceremony, where dinner was provided, was held at the Hillside park pavilion on Sunday, April 24.
During an invocation, cubmaster Josh Mitchell announced that about 25 to 30 scouts helped with the park’s spring cleanup the day before. He presented a charter recognizing the Abington Area Joint Recreation Board’s chartering of Pack 160. He hopes to hang the charter in the Hillside Park Community Center, where they hold their meetings. Mitchell recognized the den chiefs for their help with the meetings and teaching their younger fellow scouts with skills.
“The den chiefs are active members of Troop 160,” he said. “They are relatively experienced scouts.”
The lion scouts were then awarded the rank for completing their adventures including Fun on the Run and their Animal Kingdom requirements. During the tiger scouts’ recognition, den leader Kate D’Elia announced that the amount of scouts increased from five to eleven.
“I’m very proud of all the scouts in making new friends and welcoming everybody to join us,” she said. D’Elia acknowledged that the tiger scouts won the uniform inspection for their den. They also participated in a program called Tiger Jungle, in which they learned about nature and built birdhouses. Wolf leafer Jill Beckwith said that her scouts did a program called Howl at the Moon. She mentioned that they learned about verbal and non-verbal communication through skits and songs. She said that they learned about empathy for people with disabilities. There were eight scouts who moved up to the bear rank.
“It’s such a great group,” said Beckwith.
Mitchell acknowledged scouts who earned their webelo rank with a course called Cast Iron Chef. The banquet concluded with a crossover ceremony honoring three cub scouts who made the transition to boy scouts – Gavin Monagan, John Knott, and Ryan Gurnick.
Gavin is the son of Webelos II leader Casey Monagan. Gavin has been a cub scout for four years. He likes whittling and knife safety.
John has been in Pack 160 for four years. He enjoys camping. His brother Cole is also a boy scout. His mother Lori is a pack committee member.
Ryan has been in the scouts for years before joining Pack 160 last year. He likes whittling, fishing, camping, and tying knots.
Assistant scoutmaster Dave Jones handed each of the three scouts an arrow and read what it symbolizes in scouting, such as compassion, honesty, perseverance, positive attitude, respect and resourcefulness. After crossing a wooden bridge, the scouts handed their arrow to their new scoutmaster Tom Tone, who broke each arrow in half and handed it back to them. Mitchell encouraged the scouts to keep their broken arrow as a reminder of their accomplishment.
Mitchell announced upcoming events such as the annual pack trip to Battleship, N.J. Currently, 72 scouts and adults registered. There will also a be Parent & Pal Weekend at Goose Pond Scout Reservation on June 11-12. They will experience camp activities such as BB guns, archery range, scout skills, games, and more.
On July 17, there will be a resident camp at Camp Acahela in Blakeslee, where there will be BB guns, archery range, an obstacle course, swimming, fishing, boating, scout skills, games and more.
