Scouts Celebrate Boy Scout Week

Scouts from the local area are celebrating Boy Scout Week. The nationwide event occurs annually near February 8, the anniversary of the founding of Boy Scouts of America.

Boy Scouts enjoy a variety of activities including: camping, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, rifle shooting, tomahawk throwing, climbing, sailing and orienteering. They also attend summer camps for week-long adventures. “There are over 120 merit badges to choose from,” explained Scoutmaster Jeff Loutsch. “So the fun is only limited by your imagination.”

Local Boy Scout Troop 45 is for young men from the middle of fifth grade through 18 years of age. Meetings are held weekly with additional adventures planned once a month. Troop 45 attended a summer camp at Lewis and Clark near Yankton last summer and enjoyed a high adventure trip to the Boundary Waters. In the past year, Ben Wagner and Nathan Loutsch achieved their Eagle Scout awards. Andrew Falk is pursuing his Eagle Scout status. The Boy Scouts also lead a food drive each year. Collected items are donated to the Grant County Food Pantry.

Troop 45 at Ben Wagner and Nathan Loutsch’s Eagle ceremony. Back row: Dan Wagner, Greg Grajczyk, Wade Falk, Steve Farrell, Kirk Baldwin and Mitch Wagner. Middle row: Chris Loutsch, Alex Farrell, Jeff Conrad, Andrew Falk, Jeff Loutsch, Dewey Athey and Harley Helgeson. Front row: Jason Helgeson, Nathan Loutsch, Ben Wagner, Clay Mork, Zach Ringsaker, and James Conrad.

Troop 45 leaving for summer camp at Lewis and Clark by Yankton. Back row: Wayde Fraasch, James Conrad, Steve Farrell, Alex Farrell, Elijah Fraasch, Nathan Loutsch and Jeff Loutsch. Front row: Zach Ringsaker, Clay Mork, JD Lusk, and Andrew Falk.

Andrew Falk’s Eagle project. Left to right, Wade and Noah Falk, Alex Farrell, Jeff Loutsch, Zach Ringsaker, Dan Wagner, Andrew Falk, Ben Wagner, Nathan Loutsch, and Steve Farrell.

Scouting for Food – pick up day! Both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts collected bags of donated items from people’s front doors which were then donated to the local food pantry.

Scouting for Food – door hanger day! All scouts hung door hangers at homes as a reminder for the food drive.

Boundary Waters trip – six days on the water. Andrew Falk, Nathan Loutsch, Elijah Fraasch, Jeff Loutsch, Chris Loutsch, and Wade Falk.

Boundary Waters Trip – learning how to portage. Nathan Loutsch, local guide; Andrew Falk, Jeff Loutsch; Chris Loutsch; and Elijah Fraasch.

Rookies turtle races: Denim Fahleen, Lawson Novy, Raul Berrones, Keaton Johnson, and Grant Christenson. Front row: Jonathan Chapman, Lane Johnson, and Nathan Kelly.

Veterans turtle races – Jonathan Mobley, Gabe Beckman, Landon Novy, Jayden Johnson, and Braydon Bauer. Front row: Peyton Bauer, Trey Reil, and Jarrett Amdahl.

Scoutmaster Loutsch is assisted by Wade Falk, Jeff Conrad, Steve Farrell, Wayde Fraasch, Harley Helgeson, Jim Lusk, and Chris Loutsch. Committee members for the group are: Greg Grajczyk, Committee Chairman; Kirk Baldwin, Treasurer; Dewey Athey, Committee; Gary Wellnitz, Executive Officer; Pastor Carl Larson, Charter Organization Representative, and Marie Loutsch, Advancement Chair and Popcorn Chair.

Members of Troop 45 are: Alex Farrell, Senior Patrol Leader; Elijah Fraasch, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader; Andrew Falk, Quartermaster; Nathan Loutsch, Troop Guide, Troop Bugler, and Order of the Arrow Representative; Zach Ringsaker, Scribe; James Conrad, Chaplain Aide and Assistant Patrol Leader; James Lusk IV, Patrol Leader; Clayton Mork, Patrol Leader; and Jason Helgeson, Assistant Patrol Leader.

Cub Scouts is for boys in first grade through the middle of their fifth grade year, when they transition to Boy Scouts. Cub Scout Pack 38 is led by Abby Tschakert Cub master. She is also a Lion Leader and Webelos I and II leader.

Other adults leading the program include: Sara Johnson, Tiger Leader; Christopher Mobley, Wolf Leader; Kent Mobley, Assistant Wolf Leader; Verne Tschakert, Webelos I and II Assistant Leader; Maxine Athey, Committee Treasurer; Sara Johnson, Popcorn Kernel, and Pastor Bill Cornelius, Charter Representative from Emanuel Lutheran Church.

Cub Scouts in their various dens include: Lions – Jonathon Chapman, Leland Elbert, Nathan Kelly and Dylan Meister; Tigers – Denim Fahleen, Keaton Johnson and Lawson Novy; Wolves – Jarrett Amdahl, Peyton Bauer, Grant Christenson, Lane Johnson, Jonathon Mobley and Nathan Meyers; Webelos I – Dillon Anderson, Dominic Myers, Trey Reil and Caden Veen; and Webelos II – Braydon Bauer, Gabriel Beckman, Raul Berrones, Jayden Johnson, and Landon Novy.

Den or grade level meetings are held once or twice a month with the entire pack meeting once a month. Activities for the Cub Scouts include: the Raingutter Regatta, Halloween party, Pinewood Derby, swimming parties, Polar Day at Camp Iyataka, Blue and Gold Banquet, Spring Rendezvous at Camp Iyataka, bowling parties, and day camps.

Registration and visitors are welcome anytime in Boy Scouts. For more information, contact Jeff Loutsch at 605-432-7946 or Abby Tschakert at 701-527-3291.