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SCOUT PROGRAM OF THE MONTH

Date: November 26, 2000
Publication: Aurora Beacon News

In order to recognize the work done by the thousands of boys and girls involved in Scouting through the Fox Valley, The Beacon News features a Scout Program of the Month. The close-up look at a group alternates monthly between girls and boys.

This month's program is Boy Scouts of America Three Fires Council Foxfire District Troop 53, chartered by St. Rita of Cascia Parish.

During nice weather, the 12-year- old troop meets in parks and forest preserves. During the winter months, troop members meet in the basement of St. Rita's Church.

Members of Troop 53 are: Matt Hoover, 16; John Freeman, 15; Tony Freeman, 15; Casey Banbury, 15; Jon Gray, 15; Kyle Sparks, 15; Greg Bauer, 14; Matt Clementz, 14; Chucky Gust, 14; Nick Rosa 14; Jim Wrona, 14; Sean McCann, 14; Andy Freeman, 13; Ben Ingraham, 13; Nicky Grzywa, 13; Elliot Barry, 13; Kevin Bauer, 13; Robbie McAnelly, 13; Andy Guzauskas, 13; Tom Doctor, 13; Brian Davids, 13; Matt Felldot, 13; Tom Hurrell, 13; Daniel Brandt, 13; Jason Roberts, 12; Blake Cline, 12; Sean Fenske, 12; Ben Peterson, 12; Jason Gray, 12; Mike Spoula, 12; Jono Rosa, 12; Mike Mutersbaugh, 11; Jason Richmond, 11; Dan Rudniki, 11; Jared Urso, 11; John Konovodoff, 11; Clark Johnson, 11; Greg Freeman, 11; Matt Wrona, 11; Jake Palmatier, 11; Steven Shoyer, 11.

Adult leaders are: Steve Hoover, committee chairman; Harold Bender, Scoutmaster; Mark Bender, Rhonda Bauer, Wayne Bauer, Dirk Feldott, Mike Freeman, Mark Gemmer, Bob Ingraham, Ziggy Rosa, Jim Rudniki, Linda Wrona, Mike Palmatier, Joe Krantz, assistant Scoutmasters; Mary Ellen Bender, Fr. Lou Busemeyer, Jean Clementz, Kathy Cline, Joann Freeman, Shane Sparks, Jim Wrona, Tom Hurrell, Tim McCann, committee members; Lynn Sparks, treasurer; Paula Davids, newsletter editor; George Sterling, chartered organization representative; and Marianne Gemmer, Dianne Hurrell, Jane Johnson, Andrew Konovodoff, Nancy McCann, Patricia Quetsch, Merit Badge counselors.

Troop 53 Eagle Scouts are: Bryan Gemmer, Rob Beagley, Josh Grzywa, Shane Sparks and Mark Bender.

Since its rejuvenation more than a decade ago, Troop 53's charter organization is St. Rita of Cascia Church in Aurora; however, schools represented in its membership are Aurora Central, Marmion and West high schools, as well as Annunciation School, Holy Angels School, Jefferson and Jewel middle schools, Freeman, Hall and St. Rita School.

Troop 53 Scouts have participated in many projects including Eagle projects that helped clean up and support wildlife efforts of Kane County Forest Preserves, organizing and carrying out a dance and party for Hope D. Wall School, recycling oil and paint products through Dial Soap Company, and the most recent effort to provide flags to many of the public and parochial schools in Aurora.

Scout projects have served the Aurora Animal Shelter and private citizens (yard clean-up), provided toys for a day care center, sent cookies to Youth Correctional Centers for boys and girls, made Easter Baskets for needy children, and provided a recreational/game/refreshment afternoon for a senior day care center.

• Troop 53 regularly participates in the Fourth of July parade in Aurora and has provided support to Tanner House clean-up projects.
• The young men have shown that service given back to the scouting program is important.
• One of the Scouts of the Order of the Arrow is the local chapter treasurer.
• The troop has 25 scout members of the Order of the Arrow and 10 adult members.
• The Scouts and leaders have been active in staffing a Webelos Retreat to encourage Cub Scouts to participate in earning religious awards and continuing in their faith journey, playing music in Rockford at the Diocesan Cathedral for the liturgy on Scout Sunday.
• One Scout was part of the year 2000 Philmont contingent from our Council.
• He earned money to support the trip by collecting aluminum cans.
• In the Troop, there are eight Life Scouts, eight Star Scouts, 12 First Class Scouts, 10 Second Class Scouts and one Tenderfoot.
• The troop has produced five Eagle Scouts, the highest rank in scouting.
• All of the Life Scouts are working on completion of the Eagle rank.
• The troop's young people have participated in and earned many religious awards, including the Catholic Awards of Ad Altari Dei and Pope Pius. They participate in the weekend Catholic retreat, or Cathoree, every year.
• Troop 53 has many trained Scout leaders.
• Sixteen adult leaders wear a "trained" patch on their sleeves.
• The district training award has been earned by 10 of its members.
• High adventure events have been included in the program to interest the older scouts.
• This year, a trip hiking and biking the Appalachians is in the works for the summer event.
• The younger scouts will be focusing on camps that encourage learning about and earning merit badges and advancement.
• The older patrol of scouts have been to four different summer camps during their four years in the Troop.
• This past August the summer camp adventure took them to Camp Crooked Creek in Kentucky.
• The Scouts have been to camps in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Kentucky.
• During the winter, they will make plans for next year's summer camp.
• Troop 53 is a boy-run Troop, with a support team of leaders and parents. They have a regular Patrol Leader Council meeting where the troop leadership on the Scout level meets to plan activities and learn leadership techniques.
• They plan at least one outing per month.
• The favorites are summer camp and the yearly cabin campout during the winter.
• They enjoy canoeing, hiking, biking, fishing, camping, ball games, rank advancement and merit badges.
• Each year the Troop adds 10 to 15 new Scouts.
• The Troop sells popcorn each year as well as wreaths.
• In the past, they have made reindeer out of logs, snowmen out of fence posts, and have had garage sales during the summer.
• Most boys earn enough money through fund-raisers to cover their costs during the year.
• One of the 2001 objectives will be a new scout trailer, as the Troop has outgrown its old one.
• Some of the members of Troop 53 receive Religious Awards.