“We live in such a society as instant gratification,” said Jenny Dover, a Boy Scout committee member. “And this is about teaching long-term commitments.”
Boy Scout Troop 152 has had a long tradition in Lexington. Over 100 Eagle Scouts have come through the troop. They have managed to keep involvement strong and continue to make Scouting relevant in today’s world.
There has been a flux in Scouts in the last five years, growing from two patrols to three; and now due to a drop in numbers, Senior Patrol Leader Derek Sautter suggested a shift back to two patrols. Their current Patrols are named Cobra, Lumberjack, and Adventure.
The subgroup of patrols within the troop serves to diversify the skill sets among the entire group, allowing them to cook and work together as a team. Patrols assign duties, which rotate over the years. Roles include Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, Quarter Master in charge of camping supplies, the Scribe who takes attendance and manages paperwork, a Historian who takes pictures and makes updates once a week, and a Librarian who takes care of merit badges, merit books, and camping cookbooks. “Skill sets are the primary things you learn,” Sautter stated.
Senior Patrol Leader Sautter is sixteen, and has been active in Boy Scouts since third grade. Recently they planned for next month’s activities, discussed CPR certification, and prepared for the week long camp they’re about to depart to: Seven Ranges camp in Kensington, Ohio.
Boy Scout Troop 152 originating in 1953, as Troop 1, they grew large enough to branch out. Troop 131 serves Eastern Elementary, and Troop 152 serves Central Elementary, though they allow students to choose either. The 152 meets in a cabin which was moved from downtown Lexington. The cabin used to be the office of a train station.
Now the structure sits back in the woods off Fox Road, adorned with a signed canoe half in the rafters. It bears names like Jay Goyle, who was among the Boy Scouts who signed it. Goyle was elected to the House of Representatives in 2006 and served until 2012.
Committee leader Sweval highlighted the fact that their 100 Eagle Scouts have gone onto become prominent doctors and engineers. The committee of Troop 152 believes part of keeping the Boy Scout tradition alive is leaving the opportunity standing for students to pursue sports and other activities, and then return to the Scouts.
“It’s okay, we’ll see you in three months,” Sweval said, “Rather than compete with sports, we just leave the doors open.” Boy Scouts are involved in sports but those who are elected to serve Patrol positions for six months, are expected to carry out their duties. “We’ve enforced kicking Scouts out of their positions,” former Eagle Scout Aaron Reinhart stated, “To help them realize their responsibilities. They’re our future leaders.” His son is a Boy Scout in Troop 152.
The older Scouts typically speak in front of the adult committee, making pitches with their ideas for internal change in Patrol structure, and offering plans to the adults for upcoming Eagle Scout projects. The goal is to be Boy Scout led, and Troop 152 is very adamant about that. The qualities of young leadership among the boys are very developed, setting the example for the younger boys, and communicating professionally with the adults. “Boy Scouts prepares them for job interviews, and college interviews,” said Don Wolf, adult committee member. “We’re here to make young men of the Scouts, and if they get a badge to go along with it, great.”
Justin Konyn, seventeen, proposed his Eagle Scout project to the committee. He envisions five trees outside the Lexington Senior Center, each tree signifying a branch of U.S. Armed Services. Konyn received approval from the committee, with some words of caution. He must complete the remainder of his merits and get a jump-start on his Eagle project before he turns eighteen.
“I was just told, that for good trees approved by the Ohio Department of Transportation, that it would be around $200,”
“There’s not very many like us,” Sweval stated, speaking as a committee member and former Eagle Scout. “It taught me quickly with my boys going from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, it’s fun and it’s tough letting go. You want to be there, but you just have to let them go prove themselves.”
The committee, made up of parents and involved adults, find the opportunity for laughter among the lessons. “As long as they’re not going to bleed, they get out there and do it themselves.”
