Portland Boy Scout Troop 129 Receives District Award

Portland Boy Scout Troop 129 has won Troop of the Year for the Chief Okemos District of the Boy Scouts of America.  The award was presented on June 12th. 

Three of the key adult leaders for the troop are Scoutmaster Bryan Gehrcke, Charter Organization Representative Chip Weygndt, and Committee Chair Sarah Bos.

Bos told the Beacon, “Mr. (Bryan) Gehrcke came on last fall as our Scoutmaster after a number of years as our Assistant Scoutmaster, and he has made a great difference as leader of our group.  Whereas most BSA troops are struggling, we have had an increase in the number of our scouts, trips, youth awards earned, and adult volunteers.  The boys are also planning and taking responsibility for more and more of their own adventures.  Food planning, cooking, and clean up are a big part of that, but they are also planning trips, activities, fundraising opportunities, running their own awards ceremonies, and working on public speaking.  Last year we took 12 scouts to summer camp, this year we are taking 20!  We are averaging more scouts per meeting this year than were even enrolled last year, and the boys are active and engaged.  We have a list of goals the boys set and we are knocking them off one by one.”

Bos added, “It is the goal of our adult team to create the next generation of leaders.  We have worked hard to give the boys a positive environment full of opportunities.  We have caring engaged leaders who work overtime to provide each scout with the mentoring needed to help them grow as individuals and as a group.  Mr. Gehrcke as Scoutmaster is in charge of everything having to do with the scouts; planning, skills, coaching, teaching.  My job as Committee Chair is to work closely with Mr. Gehrcke and find all the monetary, volunteer time, and materials to make the plans the boys come up with succeed.  Chip’s job is to oversee it all and make sure we are holding to the high ideals of both our sponsor the Grand River Conservation Club and the Boy Scouts of America.”

Gehrcke told the Beacon, “Our young men in Boy Scout Troop 129 have had a very busy and exciting year.  The Scouts have been learning skills and knowledge in many various disciplines and fields.  This last year they have completed a number of merit badges getting a level of experience in things from welding and swimming, to what it mean to be a citizen in the community/nation/world, to communications and public speaking.  The boys have put in many hours of community service from different activities.  They have repaired and repainted the "giving trees" for the community fund, worked the Portland Township recycle, helped out our local veterans working at some event at our VFW/Legion post.  They have performed two local Flag retirement ceremonies retiring American flags in their deserved and dignified manner.  These young men have participated in numerous campouts throughout the year in all kinds of weather learning how to be prepared and be able to be comfortable in whatever mother nature sends our way.  Additionally, the Boy Scout Troop has hosted events for our local Cub Scout Pack on several occasions and modeling the way for our younger boys to become an excellent young men.”

Gehrcke added, “I can't say enough to all these boys have accomplished over the past year.  It's certainly been busy rather they realize it or not.  This is in addition to all the other great things these young men do outside of scouting.  Our boys participate in all sorts of other activities, including band, robotics, Irish dance, soccer, trap shooting, E-sports, bowling....and the list goes on.”

Weygandt said, “I do have a different perspective of the troop from Sarah and Bryan. As they work directly with the young men more than what I do. I may not go to all the events they do, and they do a lot, I cannot be happier with the way this last year has been. Like I said they have done a lot of events yet I have not heard any of them complain about it being too busy rather they want to do more. The biggest difference I have seen in the troop is how the energy has changed. I hear genuine laughter during the meetings and events yet when one of the leaders or other adults need their attention they are very attentive and quiet. I am very grateful to have the leadership in the troop, everyone on our committee, and the participation of our parents to help make the troop what it is today. I feel the way we all work together and the open communication between everyone is the key to our success.”

Headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, Chief Okemos Scouting serves Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties and the communities of Portland and Laingsburg.

To learn more about scout opportunities in Portland, contact PortlandPack258@gmail.com or

PortlandTroop129@gmail.com.

Courtesy photo.