Scouting news

Danny Affalter, of Boy Scout Troop 55 of Westside Presbyterian Church, was awarded Boy Scouting’s highest honor of Eagle Scout during a ceremony June 8 at the FOP Lodge near Lone Star Lake. Only 2 percent of boys entering Scouting attain this achievement.

Affalter started Cub Scouting with Pack 3370 at Deerfield School. He successfully completed all Cub and Webelos programs and received his Arrow of Light. He joined Troop 55 in 1995 and served in several leadership positions including patrol leader, troop historian, troop guide, assistant senior patrol leader and senior patrol leader. He has earned 25 merit badges, the Mile Swim, BSA Lifeguard and 50 Miler Patch.

He is a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow honor camping program, performing in several ceremonial teams. He is a warrior with the Tribe of Mic-O-Say at Bartle Scout Reservation, Osceola, Mo. He has attended backpacking adventure trips in Oklahoma, Nebraska and Arkansas. He also has completed three winter expeditions to Philmont’s Kanik program, canoed the boundary waters in Ontario, Canada, and took two summer backpacking trips to Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico, where he was crew chief in 2001.

Affalter’s Eagle project consisted of building wood benches for the play area at First Presbyterian Church.

Affalter is assistant scoutmaster for new scouts for Troop 55. He recently graduated from Free State High School, where he participated in soccer, basketball and baseball. He plans to attend Kansas State University in the fall.

He is the son of Dan and Diannia Affalter, Lawrence.

Michael Flavin, of Boy Scout Troop 55 of Westside Presbyterian Church, was awarded Boy Scouting’s highest honor of Eagle Scout at a ceremony June 8 at FOP Lodge near Lone Star Lake. Only 2 percent of boys entering Scouting attain this achievement.

Flavin successfully completed all Cub Scout and Webelos programs with Deerfield Pack 3370 and was awarded the Arrow of Light. He joined Troop 55 in 1996, and served in several leadership positions including patrol leader, troop cheermaster, troop bugler, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, and troop OA representative to Chapter Two. He is a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow and has served as local vice chief and served on several ceremonial teams. He is a tom-tom beater in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say at Bartle Scout Reservation, Osceola, Mo.

Flavin has earned 30 merit badges, the 50 Miler Patch, the junior leader training certificate and the “Ad Altare Dei” religious award for Catholic Scouting Youth.

He has made two winter expeditions to Philmont’s Kanik program, canoed the boundary waters near Atikokan, Ontario, and took two summer backpacking High Adventure trips to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

Flavin’s Eagle Project involved installing a new cedar-sided enclosure for the trash receptacles at Westside Presbyterian Church.

Flavin will be a senior at Free State High School, where he is an honor roll student and member of the marching band.

He is the son of Patrick and Nancy Flavin, Lawrence.

The Pelathe District had its annual Cub Scout Day Camp June 10-14 at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds. The theme for this year’s camp was “American Treasures.” About 300 Cub Scouts attended. Ralena McCurdy was camp director. Among the many activities offered were paint ball, slingshot, water ball, First Aid, cooking, leatherworking and orienteering. The cubs also participated in games such as kickball, Capture the Flag, USA Bingo, water relays and obstacle course. They made items such as Uncle Sam key rings, tie slides, pencil cups, bald eagle plaques, post cards and foam boats. Each day the Cubs had an after-lunch event.

Twenty-eight Boy Scouts and Venture Crew members contributed more than 1,053 hours of service to the camp. Mike Ornburn and Josh Spradlin, Eagle Scouts, and adult leaders from Troop 52, led the youth. Scouts that participated were Jack Berkowitz, Evan Cloar, Wes Hinkle, David Ohlhause, Todd Roberts, Matthew Rogers, Steve Wilson, Mason McCurdy, Henry Reiske and David Long, Troop 52; Aaron Ideus, Troop 53; Brian Cain, Joshua Gore, Brandon Mailand, Kenny Myers and Taylor Zook, Troop 55; Josh Kamerick, Troop 58; Nolan Kappelman, Troop 59; Josh Bailey, Josh Ahlert, Roland Klundt, Josh Freeman, Troop 61; Justin Wellman, Troop 64; Logan Keaner, Alex Coffey, Brent Leimkuhler, Troop 65; and Nicole Reiske, Venturing Crew 2691.

The highlight of the week was Family Night, which included a LifeFlight helicopter, a fire truck and a patriotic flag presentation by the Kansas National Guard. Cindy Hodges and Bruce Wagner, adult staff members, are retiring. Hodges served as craft director for eight years. Bruce Wagner served as program director for five years.

The Boy Scouts of Troop 14 in Ahwatukee, Ariz., presented the Eagle Scout Award to Brennan Dardis on June 7 at the Parish Center at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.

Brennan is the son of Mark and Melissa Dardis, Phoenix, and the grandson of Helen Dardis, Lawrence, and Mary Laughlin, Baldwin.

Some of the requirements of the Eagle Scout rank are a minimum of 21 merit badges, serving in leadership positions and conducting a large service project that demonstrates leadership skills.

Brennan’s project was a Christmas party for the homeless children of United Methodist Outreach Ministries. As part of the party, Brennan collected donated toys, organized a band, read Christmas stories and provided refreshments for more than 50 children. Santa Claus also paid a visit.

Brennan is a 2002 honor graduate of Brophy College Preparatory, Phoenix. He plans to attend Gonzaga University, Spokane, Wash., this fall.