CSI for Scouts

     Monday's troop meeting involved a presentation by a special guest. The Scouts welcomed Deputy Heather Norred of the Lee County Sheriff's Office, who taught Fingerprinting Merit Badge. Deputy Norred started the presentation with a history of how fingerprints were understood to be unique and how they became useful as a method of identification. She demonstrated how fingerprints are cataloged and used to identify fingerprints found at crime scenes. The reality of how crime scenes are processed and fingerprints are used is much different from what is seen on television.

Deputy Norred talked about the history of fingerprinting

     The practical portion of the presentation involved the Scouts using an ink pad and fingerprint cards to take impressions of all ten of their fingers. Next, Deputy Norred showed the Scouts how to lift fingerprints off of objects at a crime scene. Using a brush and graphite powder, she successfully lifted the prints from several scouts including one from a bullet that she allowed Will to handle. 

A bullet is dusted for prints

 

Will's fingerprint successfully pulled from the bullet

 
    Deputy Norred also shared stories from her fourteen years in law enforcement and patiently answered questions about subjects such as pepper spray and stun guns. She even allowed the Scouts to handle her baton but resisted calls to demonstrate her Taser on one of them. The boys enjoyed the opportunity to earn a merit badge in such a fun and interesting way. Many thanks to Deputy Norred and Sheriff Jay Jones for giving us this opportunity.    

Michael shows off his skill with a baton

    
     More photos are available in the online photo gallery.

11 years in the making

Eleven years ago, with his dad John Jerome as his Tiger Cub den leader, John London "Jake" Jerome III started his trail to Eagle as a Tiger Cub Scout in Pack 800. Today, Jake noted that it's "more about the journey than the destination" when receiving his Eagle Scout rank in a ceremony at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, where he and his family are parishioners.

Jake with his family: sister Maggie, father John and mother Donna.

After the presentation of colors, Assistant Scoutmaster Jake Camp led the opening ceremony and Holy Trinity Assistant Rector Father Thomas Joyner offered an invocation. Longtime family friend Greg Glasscock outlined Jake's Scouting and personal journey by recalling many of Jake's activities and accomplishments -- often recalling his high level of commitment to staying involved and doing his best. His sister, Maggie, read a poem, "On Eagle's Wings," by Eve Englebright.

Jake receives his Eagle Scout medal from his mother Donna,
while his father John looks on.

Scoutmaster Baird administered the Eagle Promise to Jake, accompanied by other Eagle Scouts in attendance. Jake's parents, Donna and John, presented Jake with his Eagle Scout medal and neckerchief slide, respectively. Jake in turn presented his parents with Eagle Scout Mom and Dad pins.

Jake shared memories of his Scouting "Trail to Eagle."

Jake then addressed the crowd of more than 50 family, friends and other Scouts by recollecting many of his Scouting experiences, a trip to Northern Tier, and the many opportunities he had to serve in leadership positions -- including in his previous troop and as Troop 50's first senior patrol leader. He joked about not understanding why he was honored by being elected the troop's first SPL, but despite that he felt he hadn't broken the troop and challenged Andrew, the troop's current SPL, to avoid doing the same. Finally, Jake presented Eagle Scout Mentor pins to Rudy Martin, who had provided significant resources and support for his Eagle Scout project; as well as Greg Glasscock and Scoutmaster Baird. He also presented one to his dad, noted that his dad's "investment" far exceeded the money spent on trips and campouts, but included the life lessons he learned along the way.

Jake presents an Eagle Scout Mentor pin to Andrew Baird,
who started with Jake on his "Trail to Eagle" as a Tiger
den leader in Jake's Cub Scout pack and ended on
that trail as his scoutmaster. 

Jake's grandfather, the "original" John London Jerome, adjourned the ceremony with a closing prayer. Guests stayed for a reception following the ceremony.

View the troop's online photo album for photos from Jake's Eagle Scout ceremony.

From the time the Eagle Scout rank was first presented in 1912 through its centennial year in 2012, more than two million Boy Scouts have earned the rank. Last year, 57,976 Scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank — more than in any previous year and around 7 percent of all Boy Scouts who were members in 2012. In 2012, the average age of boys earning the Eagle Scout rank was 17 years of age.

Ready? Survive! -- 2013 Fall Combine

"Ready? Survive!" was the theme of this year's Saugahatchee District Fall Combine, which combined the district's traditional fall camporee with its fall Webeloree, giving Boy Scout troops the opportunity to show off their skills while also helping Webelos Scouts as soon-to-be-Boy Scouts see what Boy Scouting and Scouting camping is all about. Around 50 area Webelos Scouts attended Saturday's activities, which included first aid instruction in the morning that helped Webelos earn the Readyman Activity Badge, and wilderness survival demonstrations in the afternoon.

Troop 50's first aid instruction focused on treatments for a variety of afflictions Scouts may encounter in the outdoors. These included insect and snake bites, as well as burns. Scouts used posters to lead discussion and special-effects makeup to create lifelike scenarios as they taught the Webelos Scouts.

Saturday afternoon, Webelos Scouts returned, this time for wilderness survival-themed displays and demonstrations. Troop 50 provided Webelos the opportunity to make their own paracord survival bracelet with many different colors to choose from.

As part of the evening's campfire, the troop concluded the gathering with a flag retirement ceremony, which included several American flags and an Alabama state flag. The troop served as narrator and honor guard while giving Webelos in attendance the opportunity to be part of the retirement ceremony.

• Check out more photos from the event in the troop's online photo album.