Members of Boy Scout Troop 52, chartered to First United Methodist Church in Lawrence, participated in a high-adventure backpacking trek July 16-30 at the Philmont Scout Ranch, near Cimarron, N.M. The adventure began with an Amtrak ride from Lawrence to Raton, N.M., and then a short bus ride to base camp.

Troop 52 crew members hiked and backpacked itinerary No. 8, which covered more than 60 miles. Over the 12-day trip, the crew enjoyed the New Mexico mountain scenery and encountered various types of wildlife and weather. The crew consisted of seven Scouts: Lawrence Chen, Stefan Kuczera (crew leader), Vail Moshiri, Thomas Peterson, Drew Sheppard, Gavin Spence and Dakota Zinn; and four adults, Dan Cary, Kent Peterson, Bryan Spence and Rod Zinn.

Seven members of Lawrence Girl Scout Troop 7570, Katie Bandle, Leah Coons, Kaitlyn Johnson, Nila Mandal, Bailey Watson, Bret Watson and Rianon Wallace-Demby; and seven members of Lawrence Girl Scout Troop 7658, Lexi Adams, Elena Auer, Savanna Gaumer, Kayla Gore, Jessica Mielke, Hannah Murphy and Ruthie Ozonoff, were awarded the Girl Scout Silver Award on April 5.

The Silver Award is the highest national recognition for Cadette Girl Scouts. It honors the efforts of girls in skill building, leadership, career exploration and self-development. The award requires completion of a 40-hour service project. For their project, the troops combined to organize the fall Brownie Play Day Event: Operation H2O. During the two sessions, Brownies were taught about the importance of water conservation through science experiments, pond and creek exploration and games. More than 80 girls were served during the two sessions at Lawrence Hidden Valley Camp. The troops are led by advisers Cindy Johnson and Cris Bandle.

Jessica Mielke, an ambassador of Troop 7658, has earned the Menorah Award for Jewish Scouts. Mielke completed a series of tasks including researching famous Jewish people, learning about the Torah and the Jewish calendar and helping prepare for holidays. Her adviser for the award was Vered Harris, and her troop advisers are Cris Bandle and Cindy Johnson.

Boy Scout Troop 357 of Tonganoxie honored five new Eagle Scouts at a Court of Honor and reception Aug. 21 at VFW Post 9271 in Tonganoxie. To achieve Eagle Scout rank, the highest rank of the Boy Scouts of America, each young man completed at least 21 merit badges and planned, developed and gave leadership to others in a service project that benefited his church, community or school.

Scouts honored were Brett Morey, son of Burt and Jan Morey, Linwood; Cody Martin, son of Darin and Wendy Martin, Tonganoxie; Hunter Sturgis, son of John and Melissa Sturgis, Leavenworth; Thomas Miller, son of Ken and Tammy Miller, Tonganoxie; and Ezekiel “Zeke” Kissinger, son of Robert and Ursula Kissinger, Tonganoxie. All began their Scouting careers in Cub Scout Pack 3075 at the First United Methodist Church in Tonganoxie.

Morey joined Cub Scout Pack 3075 in 2000 and achieved the Arrow of Light Award. He joined Boy Scout Troop 357 in 2005 and has served as senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, chaplain aide and librarian. He is a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow and has earned 23 merit badges, contributed to several fundraising events and flag ceremonies and recently attended High Adventure Camp at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M. His Eagle project consisted of leading 18 youths and adults on a landscaping project at the Tonganoxie Public Library. In addition to his involvement in Scouting, he has been on the Tonganoxie High School honor roll, lettered in band and participated in debate, cross country and track. He is a sophomore at Tonganoxie High School and a third generation Eagle Scout, following in the footsteps of his father, Burt, and grandfather, Jim.

Martin joined Cub Scout Pack 3075 in 2000 and achieved the Arrow of Light Award. He joined Boy Scout Troop 357 in 2005 and has served as senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leader and librarian. He is a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow and has earned 36 merit badges, contributed to several fundraising events and flag ceremonies and recently attended High Adventure Camp at Philmont Scout Ranch, where he served as crew leader. His Eagle project consisted of leading 30 youths and adults in the installation of a flag pole and flower garden at the Tonganoxie Nursing Home. In addition to his involvement in Scouting, he has been on the Tonganoxie High School honor roll and lettered in soccer and track. He is a sophomore at Tonganoxie High School and a second generation Eagle Scout. His father, Darin, also earned his Eagle Scout award.

Sturgis joined Cub Scout Pack 3075 in 2001 and achieved the Arrow of Light Award. In 2006, he joined Boy Scout Troop 357, where he currently serves as senior patrol leader. Sturgis also has been assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leader, quartermaster, scribe, chaplain aide and librarian. He is a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow and has earned 26 merit badges, contributed to several fundraising events and flag ceremonies and recently attended High Adventure Camp at Philmont Scout Ranch. His Eagle project consisted of leading 30 youths and adults on a landscaping project at the Tonganoxie Elementary School where he reconstructed a flower garden and resting area. In addition to his involvement in Scouting, Sturgis has been on the Tonganoxie Middle School honor roll and has participated in football each year. He is now a freshman at Tonganoxie High School.

Miller joined Cub Scout Pack 3075 in 2000 and achieved the Arrow of Light Award. He joined Boy Scout Troop 357 in 2005 and has served as senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, chaplain aide, scribe, quartermaster and librarian. He is a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow. Miller has earned 31 merit badges, participated in several fundraising events and flag ceremonies and recently attended High Adventure Camp at Philmont Scout Ranch. His Eagle project consisted of leading 29 youths and adults in the installation of a flag pole at Chieftain Park in Tonganoxie. In addition to his involvement in Scouting, he has been on the All “A” Tonganoxie High School honor roll, played freshman football and earned varsity letters in wrestling and band. He is a sophomore at Tonganoxie High School and has two older brothers, Andrew and Tony, who are also Eagle Scouts.

Kissinger joined Cub Scout Pack 3075 in 2002 and achieved the Arrow of Light Award. He joined Boy Scout Troop 357 in 2006 and has served as senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, scribe and quartermaster. He is a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow and has earned 27 merit badges, participated in several fundraising events and flag ceremonies and recently attended High Adventure Camp at Philmont Scout Ranch. Kissinger’s Eagle project consisted of leading 12 youths and adults on a Clean-and-Paint the Fitness Room adventure at Tonganoxie Elementary School. In addition to his involvement in Scouting, Kissinger is an honor roll student and has participated in wrestling, basketball, football and track at Tonganoxie Middle School. He is a freshman at Tonganoxie High School and a second generation Eagle Scout, following in the footsteps of his father, Scoutmaster Bobby Kissinger, and his older brother, Zeb.

Troop 53 sent two crews to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M. July 7-19. Members of the first crew were Ryan Schulteis, Josh Ideus, John Hambleton, Dawson Conway, Luke Lesslie, Jordan Cutell, Patrick Shields and Andrei Elliot, with advisers Bill Schulteis and Wayne Ideus. Members of the second crew were Sean Morris, Brian Morris, Ryan Liston, Patrick Liston, Trenton Shambaugh, Alex Clabaugh and Connor Chestnut, with advisers Jay Morris, Mike Chambaugh and Joey Cunningham. The crews hiked more than 70 miles. Highlights included Mount Phillips (elev. 11,700 ft.), black powder shooting, panning for gold, rock climbing and rapelling, fly fishing, branding and the Tooth of Time.