Scouts, leaders and families of Troop 53, charted to Christ Community Church, celebrated the Troop’s 93rd anniversary at their spring Court of Honor on Feb. 23 at the church.

The participants were welcomed by Mitch Yulich, scoutmaster; Ryan Schulteis, senior patrol leader; and John Allen, senior pastor; and were treated to yarns of campfire cooking and leadership training in the outdoors.

Scouts earning the rank of Tenderfoot were Keagan Engbrock and Cole Overton.

Scouts earning the rank of Second Class were Ryan DeLatorre, Kyle Gregg, Matt Mitchell and Isaak Workman.

Scouts earning the rank of First Class rank and wearing the Troop 53 neckerchief were: Adam Auer, Connon Ballenger, Ross Chumbley, Alex Doktor, Ivan Davidson, Connor Harman, Jacob Langrebe, Ryan Lisston, Andrew Ornburn, Matt Pribbenow, Anthony Van Schmus and A.J. Ware.

Alex McKinsey and Luke Lesslie were recognized for earning Star Scout; and Peter Lesslie and Joey Waisner were honored for reaching the level of Life Scout.

More than 50 merit badges were also presented to 15 Scouts during the ceremony.

Two recent Eagle Scouts, Evan Mielke and David Teefey, each received a Bronze Palm for additional merit badges earned beyond the 21 required for the rank of Eagle.

Scout John Hambleton and leaders Jeff Hambleton and Wayne Ideus earned the 50-Miler Award for community service following a high adventure trek to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Commissioner John Harman closed with the announcement that Troop 53, charted in 1919, received the “Centennial Quality Unit Award” during the 100th anniversary year of the founding of the Boys Scouts of America.

Connor Chestnut was also announced as the new senior patrol leader for 2009, prior to a reception hosted by several mothers of Troop 53.

Upcoming events include the Order of the Arrow ceremonies and welcoming a new “freshman class” of 19 Scouts and their families to Troop 53.

Eudora Boy Scout Troop 64 participated in a campout March 20, at Charles Slaughter’s farm, southeast of Eudora. Scouts had an evening campfire with a skit, stories and jokes. Scouts and guests attending were Connor Bradley, Nathan Bradley, Patrick Bradley, Elizabeth Bradley and James Giffin. Adults attending were John Scott, Jerry Criqui and Damon Bradley.

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The Pelathe District of the Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America had its annual recognition dinner in February at the First Baptist Church in Lawrence. Two volunteer Scouts received the Pelathe District Award of Merit, the highest award conferred at the district level, to honor their dedication to the youth of Douglas County.

Award of Merit recipient Harry Smith was introduced by Glen Sharp. Smith is the immediate past chair of the district’s camping committee, and currently serves as an assistant scoutmaster for Troop 60. Smith is noted for the many district camporees and Webelos camping events he planned and led during the past three years. As an assistant scoutmaster for the newly rejuvenated Troop 60, Smith is involved in integrating the new Scouts into the camping program.

Award of Merit recipient Audrey Taylor was introduced by Patty Allen. Taylor is the committee chair for Troop 59 and an assistant crew adviser for the all-girl Venturing Crew 2052. During the past summer, Taylor helped lead the crew to Ireland to participate in the Irish National Scout Jamboree. Taylor has also served several terms as the district’s “popcorn kernel” and on the Cub Scout day camp staff.

The Pelathe district received the Centennial Quality District Award for 2008 for the second year in a row. The theme was “Together, we ARE making a difference” and three Eagle Scouts, Phillip Wrigley, James Baker and Jordan Wright gave testimonials about what Scouting has done for them.

Guests attending from the Heart of America Council were Steve Roberts, council controller and a member of the HOAC executive staff, and Jason Ballew, senior district director for Team West. Mike Goodwin, a board member from the nonprofit Kansas Trails Commission, gave a talk about the mission of his group and thanked the Scouts for their assistance in building and maintaining the trails around Douglas County.

Jacob Allen, the professional Scouter and senior district executive for Pelathe District provided a quick overview of the district’s accomplishments in 2008, including a growth in membership and Scout units; and Pelathe district commissioner John Scott, a 2008 Silver Beaver recipient, closed the evening with the Commissioner’s Minute.

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Lawrence Boy Scout Troop 52, chartered to the Lawrence First United Methodist Church, participated in a Troop Winter Campout at Camp Naish on Feb. 28. Activities included cooking, sled building, racing and winter camping. Scouts attending were Dakota Zinn, Vail Moshiri, Cory Church, Lawrence Chen, Robert Newman, Andrew Denny, Gavin Spence, Eli Schneck, Jake Del La Torre, Matt Dominguez, Andy Dominguez and Ben La Roque; adults attending were Rod Zinn, Marlon Schneck and Jace Newman.

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Troop 64, sponsored by the Eudora Lions Club, will also participate in the Scouting-for-Food food drive today, the Spring Camporee at Camp Bromelsick April 3-5, and the K-State Merit Badge Conference April 25.

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Boy Scout Troop 55, chartered to Westside Presbyterian Church, traveled to Devils Den State Park in Arkansas March 14-16 for a mini high adventure camping experience. The boys spent a day and a half backpacking the historic 15-mile Butterfield Trail and camped overnight on the trail. The Scouts carried food, tents and sleeping bags while on the trail. On the first night, the boys set up tents, cooked a backpacking meal and explored Blackburn Creek.

The next day, the boys finished hiking the trail. On the last day, the Scouts explored Devils Den cave as well as other parts of the park before heading back to Lawrence. Scouts attending the event were Kjell Mullenix, Tyler Barnes, Clayton Pfeifer, Lucas Mackey, Connor Remboldt, Tyler Archinal, Tyler Robbins, Jeremy Woodhead, Michael Heschmeyer, Andrew Harris, Jamie Braden, Daniel Spencer Clap, Levi Koch, Josh Gore, Adam Hayes and Austin Johanning. Adults attending were Scott Braden, Cammie Braden, Carrie Koch, Rick Heschmeyer and John Pfeifer.