Boy Scout Troop 83 Moving Forward

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By Dan King

Boy Scout Troop 83 in Whitehall is in a transition, but new scoutmaster Jason Ashline says he’s optimistic about the future.

Three Webelos – Timothy Lyons, Zach Parisi and Logan Pease – crossed over to Boy Scouts Wednesday at Whitehall Elementary School.

The seven candles of the Arrow of Light were lit, representing the rays of life: Wisdom, courage, self-control, justice, faith, hope and love.

Troop 83 will only get two of those three scouts, because one family is moving to Argyle, which currently doesn’t have a Boy Scout troop.

“These kids are some of the coolest guys I’ve ever met,” scout Garrett Stevens said of the three Webelos.

Additionally, three other boys signed up to join the scouts during the cross-over ceremony.

“There’s been a little lack of interest lately, but we had a good chunk of kids sign up today and hopefully they’ll tell their friends and we can get the numbers back up there,” Ashline said. “It might take us a month or two to get into the swing of things, but we’ve got some good activities planned.”

He said the troop will be going to Gettysburg this year, as well as doing an assortment of hikes and other outdoors activities. He also hopes to organize a trip to Washington, D.C., next year.

“Hopefully these activities will help and the kids will tell their friends how much fun they’re having,” Ashline said.

He added that he is hoping to get the troop more active in the community than it has been in the past few years, that way members of the community will recognize the troop and see some of the things it does.

Ashline referred to the cross-over ceremony as the first of many recruiting events for the scouts, as they hope to reenergize the youth.

He added that the only age requirement for Boy Scouts is that Eagle Scout projects must be completed by the time the scout turns 18; other than that age isn’t a factor.

Ashline pointed out, however, that the troop will be losing numbers because three of its more experienced scouts – Stevens, John Hollister and Jason Ashline – will be completing their Eagle Scout projects soon and there is currently only one Tiger Scout in the program.

“I remember when I was in school and the meetings were at the rescue squad building and there were kids running all over that place,” Ashline said. “Over the past few years it’s slowly dwindled off and I’d hate to see this great program stop.”

“In two years, if we don’t get more kids to crossover, the Boy Scout troop in Whitehall will stop, because the minimum requirement is five scouts,” Ashline added.

The troop operated last year with that minimum number of five scouts.

Ashline encouraged anyone interested in joining the scouts to stop by any of the troop’s meetings, which are held Sundays at 4 p.m. at the American Legion Post 83 on Main Street. He also said interested parties could contact him directly at 518-538-6823.