Scouts

Troop 131 and Pack 243

I am an active member of Scouting America Troop 131 located out of Sutton, MA. Out of all the activities I pursue, Scouting is both the most time demanding and important to me. I have been a member of the program since Cub Scouts when I was in 1st grade and plan to continue until I age out. I have held many leadership positions including Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Den Chief, and Senior Patrol Leader. Just last year, I held the latter two positions, helping with 3 dens in my local Cub Pack for meetings and led my Troop by planning weekly meetings and monthly campouts. In this upcoming year, I plan to achieve my Eagle Scout Award, become a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, and look towards higher opportunities at the council and national level.

Me and my dad eating dinner at a local Camporee

OA and Summer Camp

Outside of my Troop, I also participate in the National Honor Society for Scouting called the Order of the Arrow, I am a Brotherhood member in Catamount Lodge and have attended many campouts, fellowships, and service days in the program. My favorite campout in the Order of the Arrow was the New England Fellowship at Camp Hinds (Maine) where I got to compete in Ultimate Frisbee with many other lodges. I was also a member of the Treasure Valley (TVSR) Camp Staff in Rutland, MA this past summer, where I plan to work again. I worked at the waterfront where I taught a bunch of merit badges including canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and small boat sailing, as well as being a lifeguard during free blocks and evening programs. When I applied to work at TVSR I had no intention of working in the waterfront, but now that I’ve worked a summer there, I couldn’t imagine working in a different area with a different group of people. Working at TVSR was one of the best things I have done throughout my life: I have met countless new people, developed my skills as a staff member and in life, got Red Cross lifeguard certified, and found a place I can call a second home.

A photo of my brother and I at an Order of the Arrow Halloween campout

A picture of a chicken on my head from Summer Camp

A photo of me and my coworker putting the sailboats into the water

High Adventures

Throughout my time in Scouting, I have participated in two high adventure campouts. I did Maine High Adventure in a contingent of some of my Troop members and the National Jamboree with a group of people from all over Central Massachusetts. Maine High Adventure is a canoeing trek program across many rivers in Maine. The trip my contingent decided to make was an 80-mile trip down the Allagash. On this trip, we did a large mix of white water, still water, and portaging. The trip was 5 days long on the water and another 3 days of travelling. Overall, I’d say this was my favorite adventure I’ve had in Scouting, I got to hang out with some of my closest friends and experience something I wouldn’t be able to experience anywhere else. The other high adventure I’ve done and am signed up to do again this summer is the National Jamboree. This is a two-week trip that is, in short, a vamped-up Summer Camp. It has all same primary activities, but all of them are much bigger and more unique. The entire event hosts over 20 thousand people and takes place every 4 years. I did many activities like 3D archery, a giant zipline, attended shows, and did a water obstacle course. My favorite part of the adventure was the casual atmosphere it presented. Despite the event being the largest Scouting event in the United States, it still felt like a laid-back trip that was full of fun things to do.