Boy Scouts of America will celebrate its 100 year anniversary in February. One local Green troop, #335, headed by Scoutmaster Michael J. Trinko, continues the scouting tradition with its troop of 17 boys, ranging from fifth grade to high school- aged boys. Since its inception, 30 boys have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. This is an active troop which meets weekly at Greensburg United Methodist Church and offers many opportunities to camp, hike, bike, canoe and experience all that Boy Scouts has to offer.
Examples of some of the activities this troop has participated in this past year include the recent annual Klondike Derby winter campout (and yes, it is in tents!). This includes various dogsled races and events set up throughout the day, as well as two nights of camping in the snow. This year temperatures reached -6F with wind chill!
Another big event is the annual high adventure camp, which is held in the summer and at different locations each year. This past year, Troop 335 went to Isle Royale National Park on Lake Superior, in Upper Peninsula Michigan. This year they're planning on canoeing on The French River/Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada.
Summer camp is another much anticipated week-long event, held at Camp Manitoc in Peninsula, where the boys can earn merit badges and work on advancements toward their next levels of scouting. Activities include swimming, hiking, shooting (rifles, shotguns and archery), kayaking, canoeing, sailing, fishing, climbing wall and BMX mountain biking, to name just a few. Some of the merit badges earned this summer were canoeing, swimming, lifesaving, bird study, space exploration, environmental science, nature, climbing and wilderness survival.
Throughout the year the boys have also gone canoeing on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania, had a cabin campout at Camp McKinley near Lisbon, visited the Henry Ford Museum and the Great Lakes Shipping Museum in Detroit, camped and taken hikes and bike rides along the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath, camped at Camp Tuscazoar and took part in Dover Dam Days, raised the American flag at the Green High School football games throughout the season, participated in the 20th annual Rogues Hollow Haunted Camp-out, held a canoe Olympics event and learned swimming rescue techniques, learned CPR at the Green Fire Station, had their annual "Turkey bowl" bowling party and Christmas party, as well as lock-ins at the church and Scout Sunday. The scouts also take part in helping with Green Good Neighbors throughout the year, mainly in sorting and organizing donated canned and boxed foods, stocking shelves, and also help on Wednesday mornings in the summer.
