Members of Boy Scout Troop 59, chartered to First Presbyterian Church in Lawrence, participated in a Kansas prairie campout Nov. 7-9 on the Kay Ranch near Clay Center. The ranch has no marked trails or roads and is mostly a tall grass pasture.

The Troop set up camp with temperatures below 40 degrees and a severe wind chill. Tom Meek, Clay County Soil Conservation Service agent, taught the Scouts about the prairie ecosystem and how to identify grasses.

The Scouts hiked through native prairies and practiced map and compass techniques. They also used GPS units to navigate in unfamiliar terrain. Mark Stogsdill, Scoutmaster, and his wife, Sheila, made a surprise afternoon visit and participated in the GPS training hike. The Scouts found several animal skeletons and burrows.

On Sunday, when the Scouts woke up it was 18 degrees and a thick layer of frost coated their tents. Because they could not build fires, they had to rely on layers of clothing for warmth.

Scouts attending were James Windholz, senior patrol leader, Patrick Fay, Scott Ragan, Sam Corkins, Derek Kappelman, Matthew Day, Drew Sheppard, Taylor Smith, Tanner Smith, Nathan Kappelman, Sam Evans and Justin Lewis.

Adults attending were Diane Lewis, assistant committee chair, and Kirk Evans, Philip Wrigley, Clay Kappelman, Doug Fay, Patrick Smith and Keith Wood, assistant Scoutmasters.

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Scouts from Eudora Troop 64, Pack 3064 and Lawrence Troop 53, participated in an emergency response training activity at the Eudora Recreation Center on Nov. 11. The Scouts and adult leaders acted as victims for the event, enabling the Douglas County Emergency Management Certification Class members to demonstrate their skills.

Scouts and leaders participating from Troop 64: Andrew Briery, Connor Bradley, Nathan Bradley, Patrick Bradley, Devon Middleon, Matt Jones, Alex Whitten and Elizabeth Bradley, Damon Bradley, John Scott, Heidi Briery, Ann Wimmer and Roy Wimmer; from Pack 3064, Nick Suerer, Morgan Jones, Zach Jones, Matt Jones Sr., Tim Suerer and Dan Jones; and from Troop 53, Alex Doktor, Cole Overton, Adam Auer, Ross Chumbley and Bryan Chumbley.

The Scouts enjoyed pizza and soda before the emergency response training activity began.

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Lawrence Boy Scout Troop 52, chartered to Lawrence First United Methodist Church, announces election results. Scouts elected were Darren Rawlings, senior patrol leader; Matthew Dominguez, assistant senior patrol leader; Thomas Peterson, historian; Elias Schneck, librarian; Mason Davis, Caelan Golledge and Gavin Spence, patrol leaders; Andrew Dominguez, scribe; Stefan Kuczera, quartermaster; and Dakota Zinn, chaplin’s aid. Adults elected were Rod Zinn, Troop 52 Scoutmaster, and Kent Peterson, Troop 52 committee chairman, whose duties will begin on Dec. 31.