By Ian M. Kimball
BSA Troop 127

How does Scout BSA Troop 127 help the Northside community? That is a great question because there are many different ways scouts support the community through service. 

Community service is a regular and big part of scouting’s mission. The way scouts contribute to this mission is by doing service as they advance through the ranks to Eagle Scout. For example, between the second and first-class ranks, a scout must complete at least two service hours, and they often do many more. But scouts don’t serve only because it is required; they also do it because it is an important part of helping the community and having fun working as a team. 

Examples of community service include Scouting for Food, which is organizing and collecting food donations to give to homeless shelters; pulling invasive garlic mustard in Warner Park; and raking leaves at United Methodist Church in the fall.

Community service is an important part of getting to Eagle Scout, the highest rank in scouting. All Eagle Scouts complete a major service project. For his Eagle project, Miller Kimball planned, organized volunteers, and put in a community garden at the Sherman Avenue United Methodist Church. Ross Wiedenbeck helped build and restore several display cases for the Very Special Arts (VSA) organization. Garrett Smyth constructed a fire pit at VFW Post 8483 for use in retiring worn-out U.S. flags.

If you are a boy or girl who is 11 years of age or older and would like to join the scouts and help serve the Northside while having fun, contact Justin Sargent at justinsargent@gmail.com or 220-2342.