Troop 53, charted to Christ Community Church and celebrating 90 years of service in Lawrence, welcomed 19 new Scouts on March 30 at the church. Connor Chestnut, senior patrol leader; Jay Morris, membership chair; and Mitch Yulich, scoutmaster; introduced the 90th “freshman class.”

The young men were assigned to patrols and immediately began planning for their first overnight campout as Boy Scouts, the 2009 Spring Pelathe District Camporee.

In addition to planning campout menus and shopping for groceries, the new Scouts elected their own patrol leadership, then made plans to participate in cooking and fishing merit badge activities at the camporee.

The 19 Scouts came from several elementary schools and Lawrence neighborhoods. Starting on their Scouting trails to Eagle are: Brett Carey, Gabe Magee, Evan Frook, Josh Kallenbach, Matt Meseke, Natty Hoopes, Johnathan Kinder, Aidan Schaplowsky, Geoffrey Keys, Noah Yoshida, Eliot Jess, Ethan Kallenberger, Jordan Patrick, Spencer Conard, Matthew Eagle, David Balmilero, Gabe Mullen, Marshall Griffren and Kyle Trompeter.

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Justin Cook, 18, son of Stan and Katherine Cook, received Scouting’s highest rank, the Eagle Scout, during a joint Eagle Court of Honor, with his brother David, March 22 at the First United Methodist Church in Baldwin City.

Justin entered Scouting as a member of Baldwin Cub Scout Pack 3065 and rose through the ranks from Bobcat to Webelos. He earned the highest honor in Cub Scouting, the Arrow of Light.

Justin joined Baldwin’s Troop 65 in May 2002. His leadership positions included instructor, senior patrol leader, scribe, troop guide (twice), librarian, assistant patrol leader and scribe.

He received Brownsea and Junior Leadership training. His special activities and recognitions include COPE, Fireman’s Chit, Totin’ Chip, Philmont Arrowhead, Philmont Duty to God, two Polar Bear swims and Scouting for Food.

During his time in Scouting, Justin camped for 74 nights, hiked 100 miles, earned 24 merit badges, and earned 48.5 service hours. He attended summer camp at Theodore Naish Scout Reservation, Bonner Springs, six times. In 2006, he was inducted as an Ordeal Member of the Order of the Arrow, an honors camping society. He became a Brotherhood Member of OA in 2007.

Justin had memorable high adventure experiences as a member of Troop 65. He attended the Great Lakes Scout Jamboree in 2004, in Ontario, Canada. In the summer of 2005, he completed a 70-mile high adventure backpacking trip at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He went on a high adventure canoe trip in 2006 in Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario. He also climbed Mount Antero and rafted the Arkansas River in 2007, while at Packard High Adventure Base. In January 2007, Justin attended the Kanick winter wilderness camping program at Philmont, enduring three feet of snow and sub-zero temperatures.

For his Eagle Project, Justin directed the planting of oak saplings at the Baker Wetlands.

Justin, a senior at Baldwin High School, has been in the band for four years and participated in wrestling and golf. He was a member of school musicals and plays, and is a member of the forensics squad. He is a third-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

After graduation in May, he will attend Johnson County Community College. He is registered as an assistant scoutmaster with Troop 65.

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David Cook, 18, son of Stan and Katherine Cook, received the Eagle Scout rank, Scouting’s highest rank, during a joint Eagle Court of Honor, with his brother Justin, March 22 at the First United Methodist Church in Baldwin City.

David began his Scouting adventure as a member of Baldwin Cub Scout Pack 3065, and rose in rank from Bobcat to Webelos. He earned the Arrow of Light, the highest honor in Cub Scouts.

David joined Baldwin’s Troop 65 in May 2002. His leadership positions included instructor (twice), assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leader, quartermaster and patrol quartermaster.

His training, recognitions and special activities include Junior Leadership Training, Fireman’s Chit, Totin’ Chip, Philmont Arrowhead, Philmont Duty to God, three Polar Bear swims, Scouting for Food and World Conservation Badge.

During his time in Scouting, David camped for 71 nights, hiked 101 miles, earned 24 merit badges, and earned 42 service hours. He attended summer camp at Theodore Naish Scout Reservation, Bonner Springs, seven times and it was there he became an Ordeal Member of the Order of the Arrow, an honors camping society, in 2006. He became a Brotherhood Member of OA in 2007.

David had several outdoor adventures as a member of Troop 65. In 2004, he attended the Great Lakes Scout Jamboree in Ontario, Canada. In the summer of 2005, he completed a 70-mile backpacking trip at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He returned to Canada in 2006 for a high adventure canoe trip in the Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario. His final high adventure trip was to Packard High Adventure Base in 2007, where he climbed Mount Antero and rafted the Arkansas River.

For his Eagle project, David directed the planting of oak saplings at Baldwin Junior High School.

David, a senior, at Baldwin High School has been in the band for four years and has participated in wrestling and track. He is a third-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

After graduation in May, he will attend Johnson County Community College. He is registered as an assistant scoutmaster in Troop 65.