Perry concludes journey on 'Trail to Eagle'

On Saturday, April 23, the troop celebrated Robert Perry's accomplishment of earning the Eagle Scout rank with an Eagle Scout Court of Honor at Auburn United Methodist Church. Robert passed his Eagle Scout board of review on September 15, 2015, making him one of three Troop 50 Scouts to earn Boy Scouting's highest rank in 2015.

Senior Patrol Leader Nicky opened the court of honor, and Robert's older sister, Jessica, offered an opening prayer. Troop 50 Scouts Davis, Kyle and James Robert, all of whom have been active with Robert in Scouting since Cub Scouts — provided background on the symbolism and historical relevance of the eagle.

Scoutmaster Andrew Baird administers the Eagle Scout Promise to Robert as his parents look on.

Scoutmaster Andrew Baird presided over the Eagle Court of Honor and recounted some stories from his experiences with Robert, which included leading Robert's 2013 Philmont expedition in addition to serving as his assistant scoutmaster, and now scoutmaster. After reciting the Eagle Scout Promise with Mr. Baird, Robert's mother, Jill Perry, pinned him with his Eagle medal. Robert in turn presented Eagle Scout mother and father pins to his parents.

Robert's father, Jim, presents Robert with a collectible eagle pocketknife
that belonged to Robert's grandfather.

The troop formally recognized Robert's accomplishment with Troop Committee Chairman Rob Stanford's presentation of an Eagle Scout neckerchief slide, and Chartered Organization Representative Michael Tullier's presentation of membership in the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA). Robert's mother presented him with a matte to frame and display the ranks he earned through Scouting, and his father, Jim, presented him with a collectible eagle pocketknife that belonged to Robert's grandfather.

Robert presents Eagle Scout mentor pins to (left to right)
Scoutmaster Andrew Baird, Troop Committee Chairman Rob Stanford, and
Chartered Organization Representative Michael Tullier, who also served as his Eagle Scout project coach.

Robert offered thanks to everyone for attending and their help and support that led to his completion of the Eagle Scout rank. After Robert presented Eagle Scout mentor pins to Mr. Baird, Mr. Stanford, and Mr. Tullier, his brother and fellow Eagle Scout, Chris Perry (Class of 2009), closed the ceremony with a prayer.

As a founding member of Troop 50, Robert served previously as assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, and troop guide. Through his Scouting participation, he earned 25 merit badges and the God and Church Protestant religious emblem, as well as accrued more than 80 nights of camping and 100 miles hiking and backpacking, which included a 12-day excursion to Philmont Scout Ranch, the BSA’s largest national high-adventure base in Cimarron, New Mexico. He became a member of the Order of the Arrow, the national Boy Scout honor society, in 2011, and in 2012 he completed the BSA’s National Youth LeadershipTraining, a six-day course equipping Scouts with leadership skills and experience applicable to both Scouting and personal situations.

Robert's family now includes four Eagle Scouts (left to right)
his uncle Bill Perry, Eagle Class of 1977; Robert;
his brother, Chris Perry, Eagle Class of 2009; and his uncle Fred Perry, Eagle Class of 1970.

Robert also is the newest Eagle in a family that includes three other Eagle Scouts: his brother, Chris Perry of Auburn, Eagle Class of 2009; and uncles Bill Perry of Lawrenceville, Ga., Eagle Class of 1977; and Fred Perry of Lawrenceville, Ga., Eagle Class of 1970.

Robert's Eagle Scout project at Pick Elementary School in full bloom.

For his Eagle Scout leadership service project, Robert constructed two large raised planter boxes at Pick Elementary School, where students now enjoy a large-scale, outdoor gardening environment as part of their studies about the plant growth cycle. Perry’s project accrued 187 volunteer hours from planning to completion, including the 50 hours he personally spent planning, leading and supervising the various stages of the project.

A senior at Auburn High School, Perry is a member of the National Honor Society and Anime Club, as well as an active member of Auburn United Methodist Church’s youth ministry programs, and a former soccer player who competed through Auburn Parks and Recreation and Thunder soccer programs. He is employed part time at Niffer’s Place in Auburn. After graduating from high school this May, he will attend Auburn University, where he plans to major in computer science.

Since its founding in 2012, Troop 50 has guided nine young men to earning Boy Scouting’s highest award.

• Read more about the Boy Scouts of America's Eagle Scout Class of 2015 on Scouting magazine's "Bryan on Scouting" blog.
• View additional photos from Robert's Eagle Scout ceremony on the troop's online photo album.

Scouts survive the Waverly 'wilderness' during weekend outing

During the weekend of April 15-17, the troop ventured up Highway 280 to the "wilderness" of Waverly for its monthly camping trip and to continue work toward completing Wilderness Survival Merit Badge. The troop camped on property belong to Andy and Dixie LaMar, which served for many years as the home of the annual Blast and Cast fundraising event at which the troop has volunteered by running its tomahawk and sling-shot throwing stations.

Joe and Tyson use a map to locate caches that contain secret phrases
as part of Saturday morning's wilderness skills challenges.

Saturday's activities focused on activities increasing Scouts' knowledge of wilderness survival skills. Scouts rotated among stations that allowed them to try out their fire-building skills and success lighting fires by various means; and in teams of two and three find their way using compass coordinates; use a map to locate caches; and measure distances without the use of measuring tools.

Scouts removed spent shotgun shells from at least five areas along the trail where
Blast & Cast events were held previously.

After lunch, the troop performed a brief conservation service project for the LaMars by collecting spent shotgun shells and trail flagging left over from their annual Blast and Cast event. Scouts also took advantage of being at the site of the Blast and Cast by throwing tomahawks and shooting slingshots. Following that, Scouts spent the rest of the afternoon setting up their wilderness survival shelters and cooking their dinner by patrol.

Scouts' efforts to create survival shelters ranged from basic survival to the Taj Mahals of wilderness camping.

On Sunday, after breaking down camp, Scouts and leaders observed their "duty to God" during a devotional service that focused on the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness as detailed in Matthew 4:1-11. Like Jesus' efforts to have his own quiet time in the wilderness, our campouts provide Scouts and leaders time to get away from distractions and temptations. However, just as the devil followed Jesus to the wilderness, the troop reflected on the distractions and temptations that follow us and disrupt our efforts to connect with nature, build better friendships with one another, and enjoy our own quiet time.

During its post-campout critique the following Monday, the Patrol Leaders Council, in addition to noting that all Scouts survived the wilderness survival campout, gave high marks to the patrols' menu-planning and food preparation, the quality of Scouts' wilderness survival shelters, and the opportunity for Scouts to acquire individual and troop service hours. Youth and adult leaders recognized the need to address patrols' attention to time management, use of duty rosters, flexibility and teamwork, respect for individual patrol campsites and observing buffers around each, and everyone's general disposition and positive attitudes.

Check out additional photos from our weekend campout on the troop's online photo album.

Eagle Scout - Class of 2016

     The troop is looking forward to a banner year with four potential Eagle Scouts ready to take their place in the Eagle's Nest. James Robert Adams passed his Eagle Board of Review this week and is the first Troop 50 Eagle of 2016. James Robert is a founding member of the troop from 2012 and is an Auburn High School Senior who will graduate this May.

James Robert celebrates his completed Eagle Board of Review with his family.

     For his Eagle Scout service project, James Robert constructed an obstacle course and other play elements at Cary Woods Elementary School in Auburn. The obstacle course consisted of three elements including a tire traverse, a balance beam, and an A-frame climbing wall. Other components included two hopscotch and two four-square layouts that were painted on an unused parking area behind the school. A chain barrier was also installed to block off the old parking lot.

Concrete anchors were created to secure the tires to the ground. 

Painter's tape was used to outline the elements before painting. 

James Robert's brother rigorously tested the
A-frame to make sure it was safe to use. 

     The project, which occurred in late March, was beset with with spring rains at times. This created some issues with pouring concrete and pressure washing the parking lot but everything came together in the end. The students of Cary Woods have already been utilizing the course to get some good exercise. More photos of the project are found in the online photo gallery.

     As we move toward graduation, the troop has two more Life Scouts scheduled for the May meeting of the Saugahatchee District Eagle Board. They will join the total of seven Troop 50 Eagle Scouts who will graduate from Auburn High School this spring. We wish them well in their upcoming endeavors and know that they are well prepared for what the future holds.

A tradition continues

From left to right are Aiden, Creighton, Everett, Luke, and Jason.

On Friday, April 8, a tradition continued as Troop 50 welcomed its newest scout from Pack 29 during the pack's annual Arrow of Light ceremony at Auburn United Methodist Church.  Luke (the one pictured with the troop hat) becomes the latest of a long line of scouts coming from the pack.  Four scouts and four leaders from the troop were present to welcome Luke into our family.  We are very happy to have Luke's family as part of our troop as well. 

Another very unique tradition continues with Luke's addition to Troop 50.  Pack 29 has an annual scout spirit award called the Jimmy Stewart Award.  This award is presented to a scout each year based on the scout's spirit and work ethic in scouting and beyond.  It is a huge honor among Pack 29 scouts to receive this award and Troop 50 has had the distinct pleasure to have all four of the Jimmy Stewart Award winners as part of our troop.  Winners are Mark (2013), Nicky (2014), Hunter (2015), and Luke (2016).  We are so honored that these excellent scouts have chosen to be a part of our troop.

Luke joins six scouts who have joined the troop in recent months.  The troop will round out its new scout class next month as it welcomes a new scout from Pack 811.  The troop's continued growth of new membership is important as we lose several more members this year who will be moving on to college and careers.