Drive-up Court of Honor Ceremony for Troop 34

Senior Patrol Leader Ben Wagner gives Vincent Vierow his badges, while Scoutmaster Donaldson, Scoutmaster Vierow and Conrad Donaldson look on.

Despite the change to virtual weekly meetings and adaptations to their camping outings, Troop 34’s boys and girls have continued to advance in their ranks and merit badges. On Monday, August 24, the boys adapted their usual Court of Honor Ceremony to recognize these achievements and held a Covid-compliant drive-up ceremony to pass out rank advancement and merit badge patches. Troop 34’s girls’ troop also held a COVID-compliant Court of Honor in August.

Although the Troop missed their annual week-long summer camping trip this year due to Covid, they did have one- and two-night camping outings. Parent Matt Wagner, who grew up in scouting, reflects on the 2018 change when girls started participating in the Scouts BSA organization—giving them the choice between the traditional Girl Scouts organization and Scouting. “When I went to Scout camp, it was me and my buddies, my male buddies, my dad and all the other guys. And then it was, I think, in 2018, I dropped my son at Scout camp and there were girls everywhere and boys everywhere. You know, it was just a whole new perspective and personal excitement that girls were given this opportunity. I think benefits aren’t just for the girls. I think there’s an opportunity in the benefits for the boys. They can see that young women and girls can be just as proficient with paddling a canoe or a kayak or shooting a rifle or identifying trees and foliage as they are. I hope that that makes everybody a little bit more tolerant and open-minded as we raise this next generation of kids.”

Information and photos courtesy of Matt Wagner

Troop 34 Girls learn lashing. Photo courtesy of Stephanie O’Hara.

Cub Scouts Pack 34 “Adopts” the Greenway

Cub Scouts and their families cleaned up trash along the Greenway.

As a contribution from their pack to the community, Central Park Cub Scout Pack 34 “adopted” the Greenway. In addition to doing regular trash pick ups and weeding, Pack 34 is trying to help the park get certified as a “Wildlife Habitat” by the National Wildlife Federation. With the help of staff from Denver Parks and Recreation Department on Sept. 12, the Cub Scouts installed a bat box on the Greenway near Beeler St. They also scattered seeds in the area and have created pollinator gardens and a plant guide with photos, names and links to further information at https://rb.gy/vw91rb.

Information from Bridget Weaks and Ellen Weaver and photos courtesy of Bridget Weaks

Cub Scouts from Pack 34, with the help of staff from Denver Parks and Rec, install a bat box in the Greenway near Beeler St.

Cub Scouts from Pack 34 scattered seeds to for a pollinator garden in the Greenway.