BSA Troop 451, Lewisville, TX

Never let it be said that the members of Troop 451 are fair weather campers. In January, braving temperatures that dipped into the low 20s, we headed off to Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, TX about an hour and a half southwest of the DFW Metroplex. The park is set in a spectacular panorama of mountains, forests, rivers and rocks and features riverbeds with real fossilized dinosaur tracks. Few things can make you feel smaller quicker than looking at tracks that were made 65 million years before you got there. All in all, we had a great weekend and lots of fun - especially the 20 or so scouts who earned their Wilderness Survival Merit Badge! Right inside the front gate, we were met with two life size dinosaur models that stand guard over the park. We had a number of fun conversations down in the riverbed imagining what it might be like to look up and see a real T-Rex thundering down the river in your direction. Don't ask. Miles and Hayden enjoy a few minutes just chillin...

This December brought another excellent chance to earn the coveted Polar Bear patch for sleeping outside when the temperature is below freezing and as expected, Troop 451 didn't back down from the challenge. On Friday night, a large contingent from 451 made their way to Worth Ranch for a weekend of shotgun and rifle shooting, and of course, great food and fun fellowship. Needless to say, the mornings were a little chilly, but ever prepared, the Scouts found excellent ways to keep warm. Mr. Kay fed us way too well and really spoiled us with a fantastic gumbo on Saturday night. One more weekend like this and he may have to elect him permanent grubmaster! After a little Saturday breakfast, it was off the shotgun range where Mr. Whitten and Mr. Arnett did an awesome job teaching the boys about gun safety, gun etiquette and the proper way to handle a shotgun. Each of the boys got to shoot at the bright orange pidgeons flying everywhere (thanks to our very popular hand launcher) 8 of t...

Congratulations to Ameya B. Troop 451's newest Eagle Scout Saturday afternoon, in the sanctuary at Grace Baptist Church, the weekly meeting place for Boy Scout Troop 451, friends and familiy gathered for Ameya B's Eagle Court of Honor to celebrate his achieving Scouting's highest rank. The ceremony was both cheerful and reverent, two of the tenets of the Scout Law, and featured a wonderful video compiled by Ameya's parents of his scouting career from Cub Scout to Eagle Scout. Only 2% of those who enter Scouting ever attain the rank of Eagle, but Troop 451 is proud to count Ameya as our 7th Eagle Scout this year. Ameya, your friends, family and fellow Troop 451 members are both proud of, and happy for you. Many congratulations to you and your family on this outstanding honor.

I listen to Dr. Charles Stanley on the way to work most days. I have heard in his sermons this phrase – look your best, do your best, be your best. His messages relate this phrase to the Christian life. I was thinking how that same message is what we are striving toward in out scouting troop. Look Your Best – We expect each scout to be in full scout uniform, to wear their uniform proudly and to take proper care of how they present themselves. The uniform has many aspects. The word uniform is defined as distinctive clothing worn by members of a particular group; not varying; having the same form or manner. We are all part of one team. The symbolism in various parts of the uniform shows the desires of scouting – learning about truth, acquiring knowledge, being lead in the right path to name just a few. Check out the first few pages of the scout manual to see the importance of the uniform. Do Your Best – This is one of the foundations of scouting. Each time a scout or scouter says the S...

Congratulations to Trent P. Troop 451's newest Eagle Scout Saturday evening, in a serene Chapel setting in the woods overlooking Lake Lewisville, nearly 100 friends and familiy gathered for Trent P's Eagle Court of Honor to celebrate his achieving Scouting's highest rank. As with many of Trent's Scouting accomplishments, the ceremony was unique, impressive and in the true spirit of what it means to be an Eagle Scout. Only 2% of those who enter Scouting ever attain the rank of Eagle, but Troop 451 is proud to count Trent as our 6th Eagle Scout this year. Trent, your friends, family and fellow Troop 451 members are both proud of, and happy for you. Many congratulations to you and your family on this outstanding honor.

Even though this weekend was cold and rainy, there was plenty of warmth and fun to be had at our annual Fall Family Campout - this year at Camp T'Sungani on Lake Lewisville. It was great to have "whole families" camping together and the facilities at the Town North Y were great for camping. Everyone met up Friday night about 7 p.m. and started setting up camp. The Evans were some of the first to arrive and proved to be lifesavers loaning their extra tent to another family who found themselves in need of one. The camping area at Camp T'sungani is a mixture of the kind of woods boys can get lost playing in for days. There are also a bunch of open spaces overlooking Lake Lewisville including this stunning point, as well as an inviting dock for swimming and canoeing in the warmer months. One of the neatest features of the campsite is the little chapel built into the side of the hill up in the woods. It's quite a reverent, serene place during the day, but on Saturday n...