Scouting is Alive in Portland!

Scoutmaster Bryan Gehrcke says that Portland’s Scouts are having a fantastic year, making friends, serving their community, and learning new skills.

Gehrcke is Scoutmaster of Scouting America Troop 129B that regularly meets at the Grand River Conservation Club in Portland.

Troop 129B has produced three Eagle Scouts in the past twelve months. These young men include Matthew Simon and Sawyer Dakin of Portland High School, and Cooper Gehrcke of St. Patrick School.

In addition to this impressive record of Eagle Scouts, Gehrcke says the Scouts have been heavily involved in community service while also enjoying all that Scouting has to offer.

Scouting America Troop 129B accomplishments this year include:

• Participating in the 9/11 memorial ceremony alongside area fire departments.

• Partnering with the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Lansing to earn boater safety certificates.

• Volunteering at Portland Community Day to assist vendors.

• Helping with local recycling efforts.

• Attending a week-long summer camp in Clare, where the Scouts collectively earned 70 merit badges.

• Assisting with the Memorial Day flag ceremony and flag retirement.

• Visiting the Veterans’ Museum in Muskegon.

Not to be outdone by their older friends, Cub Scout Pack 258 has also been very active. Gehrcke says the Cubs have compiled an impressive list of accomplishments of their own. These include:

• Enjoying a family camping weekend in Portland.

• Cleaning up the River Walk Trail.

• Hosting a gathering at the Splash Pad, offering hot dogs and refreshments to the community.

• Participating in the Fourth of July parade.

• Visiting a World War II landing ship in Muskegon.

Cub Scout Pack 258 meets regularly at the VFW in Portland.

Scouting America Troop 129B and Cub Scout Pack 258 welcome new members.

Parents and individuals interested in learning more may contact Bryan Gehrcke at portlandtroop129@gmail.com for the Scouting America Troop 129B or portlandpack258@gmail.com for the Cub Scout Pack 258.

Sarah Bos is the Committee Chair for Troop 129.  She told the Beacon, “Any girls looking to join Portland Boy Scouts could start a troop 129G.  We would love to hear from some leaders and they can start a troop.  If they do not want to start their own troop, Grand Ledge has an existing troop that girls can join.”

Courtesy photo.  Pictured is Eagle Scout Cooper Gehrcke and Scoutmaster Bryan Gehrcke

Editors Note: This piece was originally posted on 10/13/26.  An updated version was posted in 10/15/26.