History of BSA Troop 325
1981 - 1991
Troop 325 is sponsored by the People of Praise ecumenical Christian community based in South Bend, Indiana. Part of the life of the community is ministry to its youth. When the community grew rapidly in the late 1970*s, the number of youth served in this ministry likewise increased, John Curran, director of Youth Ministry, saw the need for an expanded program that would more completely develop well-rounded Christian youth while utilizing the adult leaders more efficiently and without creating an entirely new system*
In the summer of 1980, John asked Phil Niswonger, who had recently joined the community, to organize the summer youth camp with scouting principles and methods* "Summer-tide Adventure," with a nautical theme, was a great success and so impressed John and others involved with overseeing youth ministry that steps were undertaken to begin a Boy Scout Troop. In the Scouting format, the Coordinators found the elements they were seeking: a Christian foundation, awards to encourage the youth to strive for excellences and. exciting activities geared to boys interacting with men. Troop 325 was chartered in April, 1981, Boy Scouting thus was designated as part of the People of Praise Youth Ministry,
Jeff Eck became the first scoutmaster, with 23 boys as charter members. Rick Thomas (1981-88) and Mike Haas were assistant scoutmasters. A hike to historic Bertrand Cemetery in Michigan was the troop*s first outing in June. Activities like backpacking in Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana and Porcupine State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula soon followed. Canoeing was another popular activity. Troop meetings were first held in the basement of the Roma building and then on the ninth floor of the LaSalle Building. Cub Scout Pack 325 began meeting in September of 1981 for 2nd to 5th grade boys, and was chartered in April,1982, Paul Aldape was the first Cubmaster.
Boy Scout camp in the summer of 1982 was the first Scout summer camp with 15 boys experiencing a terrific adventure. People of Praise summer camps began to gather at Wood Lake Scout Reservation in 1983, serving boys and girls in 3rd to 6th grades (Cubs, Brownies, Juniors, and 1st year Boy Scouts).
Phil, as scouting coordinator, and John as Youth Ministry coordinator, worked diligently to launch Boy and Girl Scouting. Jeff, Paul, and Rick were the "front line soldiers" in leading the boys in Scouting ideals. In 1981 Larry Grauvogel began heading POP summer camp and in 1984 Jim Shaw became scoutmaster. Jim, assisted by his wife, Jean, spent many hours outfitting the troop with Patrol boxes, tent bags, first aid kits, signal flags, pots and utensils, and fire grates-most of which are still in use today. Then the wheels were beginning to roll pretty well and more adult leaders were needed to help a growing boy membership,
Larry took the scoutmaster helm in the spring of 1988, after joining the Troop Committee as an Assistant Scoutmaster in the fall of 1986. With a concerted effort to put the "outing** in Scouting and some excellent organizational skills, the Troop began to flourish. By 1991 the Troop went from being one of the youngest to one of the oldest troops in White Beaver District. Membership had increased to 35 boys by this time. Boys stayed active in their high-school years, and added a wealth of experience for the younger boys. The 10th year of the troop was highlighted by a wonderful backpacking expedition to Philmont, New Mexico,*s High Adventure Scout Base in July, 1991. Also, the Thunderhawk patrol won first place at the Klondike Derby in the winter of 1991.
The Troop has fostered four Eagle Scouts to date. Jeremy Finke and Brian Shaw shared first honors in the troop in 1988. Following them were Nate Grauvogel in 1990 and David Shaw in 1991. Phil and Dave Niswonger, Barney Packard, Ken Herceg, Jeff Eck, Prank Held and Jim Shaw were Scouts as boys and have been active in serving the Scouting program as adults. Also, in 1991 5 boys were the first to receive Ad Altare Dei (Catholic) and 2 boys God & Country (Episcopalian) awards in the Troop . The first Pope Pius XII class will complete this award in 1992.
The Troop has a tradition of winning the highest campsite inspection rating at least once during Summer Camp week since 1988, This award carries with it the high honor of raising and lowering the 15*X 25* Camp flag. In 1988 the Troop 325 color guard received a spontaneous ovation from the assembled camp after an impressive performance.
One of the unique characteristics of Troop 325 is our own neckerchief- designed by Jeff, Phil, and Phil's mother, Esthyre - of a white beaver on a red scarf. These scarves were hand-sewn for many years by community member Hannah Carroll; Mary Ann Grauvogel has recently assumed this responsibility. The white beaver is symbolic of LaSalle*s faithful Indian guide by that name and the Scouting District in which we live. LaSalle was the famous French explorer of the Northwest Territory and one of the first white men to traverse the region. Our Scouts often receive compliments about our colorful and historic neckerchiefs.
Over the years the hundreds of boys who have experienced Scouting at its best through Pack and Troop 325 have grown into fine citizens and leaders in school, government and commerce. With God's continuing grace and guidance, and the prayers of parents and community members, Scout units 325 will continue to draw boys to God and to a fuller Christian life, and to build His kingdom on earth.
Mark Niswonger Troop Historian January 31, 1992
As the Scout year 1991-1992 began, Troop 325 had just 34 boys. Larry Grauvogel was the Scoutmaster and David Niswonger was Committee Chairman. In October of the year Troop 325 took the memorable Pine River Canoe Trip, when they tried to canoe a flooded river, tipped seven canoes, and lost two under logs. One of the lost canoes belonged to the family of a Scout and the other had been borrowed from Troop 453. Troop 325 eventually had to buy replacements for both.
Back then the People of Praise had a Cub Scout Pack and a Panthers program for pre-Cub Scouts, and the Troop participated in Brownsea and Scout Sunday. However, even then they were already doing current annual events such as the First Aid Campout, the Junk Food Hike, Boy Scout Camp at Tamarack, and community service events like Scouting for Food. There were 3 Eagle Scouts that year: Nathanael Grauvogel, David Shaw, and Mike Ori.
1992-1993 marked the first mention of a “Winter Camp” where Scouts could go to earn additional Merit Badges. Records show that Troop 325 also had a Junior Leadership Training camp out and a Scout-O-Rama. They also returned and conquered Pine River during this year. Eagle Scouts this year were Steve Held, Benjamin Rouse, Joshua Finke, and Jonathan Finke.
During 1993 to 1994 the Troop held its first caving trip. Its Eagle Scouts that year were Peter Timler and Jonathan Smith. In 1994 the Troop participated in the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s honor society, with 5 members elected. Then, it had one eagle, Joe Miller. Over the years such events as the “Do-Nothing” campout, YMCA’s Camp Eberhart program, Shotgun Shooting Campout, many, many canoe and hiking trips, and Rock Climbing were carried out; some were selected for repetition and some weren’t. In 1995-1996 Troop 325 boasted two eagles, Barney Packard and Aaron King, who were joined next year by Mark Niswonger, Thaddeus Finke, Sean Connolly, Tim Kaiser, Paul Miller, Joshua Stowe, and Paul Drake. 1997-1998 saw one Eagle, David Uebbing.
1998-1999 was significant in the fact that during the year Troop 325 held an important High Adventure to the Smoky Mountains under the leadership of Phil Niswonger. It was during this trip that 325 latched onto several older Scouts and developed an incentive towards keeping older boys in the Troup: exciting High Adventures. That year the Eagle was David Timler.
Older boys were not lacking now, and in mid-1999 a Venture Crew was founded with 12 members. The Troop now had 40 boys, with David Miller, Peter Miller, Peter Gaffney, and Steven Smith joining its ranks of Eagles. With its new-found ability to keep high-school aged youth interested in Scouts, Troop 325 grew unprecedentedly. In 2001 it had 51 boys and Eagle Scouts Joe Stanish and James Zwerneman, and by February 2002 Troop 325 was the 2nd largest Troup in LaSalle Council, with about 70 members. The Eagle Scouts then were Rich Preuss and Noah Niswonger, joined in 2003 by Eddie Preuss, Paul Engles, Steven Zakas, Benjamin Rowland, Stephan Cerbin, and James Miller. That year also marked the 5th annual Boundary Waters high adventure trip for the Troop. In early 2004 it added two more eagles to its “Nest,” Tim Murphy and Peter Zwerneman.
During the Scout year 2004-2005 Dennis Staffelbach, a former Committee Member, replaced Larry Grauvogel as Scoutmaster of Troop 325, and Thomas Seasly became Assistant Scoutmaster. At this time 325’s Cub Scout pack was replaced by a People of Praise Boy’s Group. The Troop also submitted a suggestion for a Caving Merit Badge to the BSA. That year it had Eagle Scouts James Barrett, William Grauvogel, and John Niswonger.
2005-2006 marked the 25th anniversary of Troop 325. It had 5 Eagles: Paul Zakas, Tom Staffelbach, James McShane, Nicholas Lebbin, and Evan Lent. In 2006-2007 the Troop held its first organizational meeting. Its eagles that year included John Preuss, Lukasz Cerbin, and Peter Staffelbach. 2007-2008 Eagle Scouts were Joseph Timler, Kevin McShane, Joseph Torma, Michael Couch, and Daniel Thomas. For 2009, Troop 325 boasted 52 boys and Eagle Scouts Mark Wheeler, Patrick Wheeler, Kyle Kubiak, and Sean Couch, bringing the total for the Troop to 59.
Although the Troop varies its schedule year by year, it always keeps a few annual events chosen by their popularity down the years. These events are the Scouting for Food, First Aid Campout, Caving trips, the Junk Food Hike, the Klondike Derby, Rock Climbing, and Boy Scout Camp at Tamarack.
The First Aid Campout is a Merit Badge campout where Boy Scouts can earn the Eagle-required badges First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, and Communications. It was first held around 1991, and has continued to this day. During the ‘90s, the campout offered First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, and Safety; the latter was eventually changed to Eagle-required Communications merit-badge. For added adventure this campout also featured the Cooking Merit Badge with the renowned “Mystery Meal”. Each group of Scout cooks received their unknown ingredients in containers with the labels removed.
The Troop has held Caving trips since 1994, spelunking in various caverns throughout Indiana. Over the years, its Scouts have crawled through passageways and waded underground rivers in such renowned caves as Buckner’s, Sullivan’s, “Small and Dull”, “Trap Door” and Marengo. 2010 marks their 15th annual caving trip.
The Junk Food Hike began as an opportunity for younger Scouts to complete their First Class hiking and plant identification requirements and for older Scouts to fulfill requirements for Hiking Merit Badge. It thus was a 20-mile hike through South Bend planned to stop at several fast-food places along the way. Over the years the hike decreased in length as the First Class requirements shortened the required hiking distance; it decreased to 10 miles in 1998 and to 5 miles in 2004. The hike is an excellent opportunity to fulfill a difficult rank requirement and have fun along the way.
Troop 325 also participates in the Klondike Derby, a January event where the Scouts race hand-built sleds and practice winter camping skills. For many years 325 partook in the District-wide Klondike at Camp Tamarack, but held their own first at Scoutmaster Dennis Staffelbach’s woods in 2005 and then at the Sergio Compound in Niles during 2006. In more recent years the Troop has begun to substitute its own winter sports event involving skiing and luging.
1997 marked the Troop’s first Rock Climbing event at Climb Kalamazoo, a huge indoor facility with over 10,500 square feet of climbing surface, a 2500 square foot cave, and 30 foot high climbing walls. The event is also an opportunity for Scouts to earn the Rock Climbing merit badge.
The Troop has gone to Summer Camp at Camp Tamarack since the very beginnings of its history. The camp, located near Jones, Michigan, offers 47 merit badges and basic Scouting rank advancements, as well as a blast of a fun time. This Camp, along with the annual High Adventure, is the highlight of the Troop’s summer events.
Scouting for Food is the Boy Scouts’ massive food drive, where tons of cans are collected and donated to the needy. Troop 325’s Scouts collect cans, dry food, and mixes from local neighborhoods—their contributions to this community-serving event have always been magnanimous.
Troop 325 also offers its Scouts several prestigious religious awards: the Ad Altarae Dei for young Roman Catholics, the Pope Pius XII award for high-school Roman Catholics, and the God and Country award for various Protestant denominations. These awards are part of the Troop’s mission to bring boys closer to God as part of the Scout Law: “a Scout is Reverent.”
Nearly every summer, Troop 325 has a High Adventure. These exciting trips are the high point of the year, and provide an opportunity for older Scouts to experience Scouting at its fullest. Over time the Troop has backpacked in Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains and three different stretches of the famous Appalachian Trail – in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in North Carolina and Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. They have canoed the Canadian Boundary Waters Wilderness and rafted the Menominee River in Wisconsin. Crews from the Troop have attended the BSA’s Florida Sea Base twice and the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico three times to date,
At the beginning of the 2010-11 Scout year the Troop had nurtured 64 Eagle Scouts. Their Eagle service projects have benefited a broad cross section of the local community. Trinity School at Greenlawn and the People of Praise Community Center have received the majority of the recent work. Below is a list of the fine young men who are in 325’s “Eagles’ Nest:”
2011 will mark 30 years of Troop 325’s service to the South Bend community and the People of Praise. Over those years it has done an excellent job of not only teaching the essentials of Boy Scouting, but of bringing boys closer to the Lord and more attuned to His Will. Let us hope and work that it will continue to do so.
Written by:
Star Scout Nolan Liu, November 2010 for fulfillment of his Life Rank Leadership requirement
"Eagle's Nest"
Troop 325 is sponsored by the People of Praise ecumenical Christian community based in South Bend, Indiana. Part of the life of the community is ministry to its youth. When the community grew rapidly in the late 1970*s, the number of youth served in this ministry likewise increased, John Curran, director of Youth Ministry, saw the need for an expanded program that would more completely develop well-rounded Christian youth while utilizing the adult leaders more efficiently and without creating an entirely new system*
In the summer of 1980, John asked Phil Niswonger, who had recently joined the community, to organize the summer youth camp with scouting principles and methods* "Summer-tide Adventure," with a nautical theme, was a great success and so impressed John and others involved with overseeing youth ministry that steps were undertaken to begin a Boy Scout Troop. In the Scouting format, the Coordinators found the elements they were seeking: a Christian foundation, awards to encourage the youth to strive for excellences and. exciting activities geared to boys interacting with men. Troop 325 was chartered in April, 1981, Boy Scouting thus was designated as part of the People of Praise Youth Ministry,
Jeff Eck became the first scoutmaster, with 23 boys as charter members. Rick Thomas (1981-88) and Mike Haas were assistant scoutmasters. A hike to historic Bertrand Cemetery in Michigan was the troop*s first outing in June. Activities like backpacking in Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana and Porcupine State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula soon followed. Canoeing was another popular activity. Troop meetings were first held in the basement of the Roma building and then on the ninth floor of the LaSalle Building. Cub Scout Pack 325 began meeting in September of 1981 for 2nd to 5th grade boys, and was chartered in April,1982, Paul Aldape was the first Cubmaster.
Boy Scout camp in the summer of 1982 was the first Scout summer camp with 15 boys experiencing a terrific adventure. People of Praise summer camps began to gather at Wood Lake Scout Reservation in 1983, serving boys and girls in 3rd to 6th grades (Cubs, Brownies, Juniors, and 1st year Boy Scouts).
Phil, as scouting coordinator, and John as Youth Ministry coordinator, worked diligently to launch Boy and Girl Scouting. Jeff, Paul, and Rick were the "front line soldiers" in leading the boys in Scouting ideals. In 1981 Larry Grauvogel began heading POP summer camp and in 1984 Jim Shaw became scoutmaster. Jim, assisted by his wife, Jean, spent many hours outfitting the troop with Patrol boxes, tent bags, first aid kits, signal flags, pots and utensils, and fire grates-most of which are still in use today. Then the wheels were beginning to roll pretty well and more adult leaders were needed to help a growing boy membership,
Larry took the scoutmaster helm in the spring of 1988, after joining the Troop Committee as an Assistant Scoutmaster in the fall of 1986. With a concerted effort to put the "outing** in Scouting and some excellent organizational skills, the Troop began to flourish. By 1991 the Troop went from being one of the youngest to one of the oldest troops in White Beaver District. Membership had increased to 35 boys by this time. Boys stayed active in their high-school years, and added a wealth of experience for the younger boys. The 10th year of the troop was highlighted by a wonderful backpacking expedition to Philmont, New Mexico,*s High Adventure Scout Base in July, 1991. Also, the Thunderhawk patrol won first place at the Klondike Derby in the winter of 1991.
The Troop has fostered four Eagle Scouts to date. Jeremy Finke and Brian Shaw shared first honors in the troop in 1988. Following them were Nate Grauvogel in 1990 and David Shaw in 1991. Phil and Dave Niswonger, Barney Packard, Ken Herceg, Jeff Eck, Prank Held and Jim Shaw were Scouts as boys and have been active in serving the Scouting program as adults. Also, in 1991 5 boys were the first to receive Ad Altare Dei (Catholic) and 2 boys God & Country (Episcopalian) awards in the Troop . The first Pope Pius XII class will complete this award in 1992.
The Troop has a tradition of winning the highest campsite inspection rating at least once during Summer Camp week since 1988, This award carries with it the high honor of raising and lowering the 15*X 25* Camp flag. In 1988 the Troop 325 color guard received a spontaneous ovation from the assembled camp after an impressive performance.
One of the unique characteristics of Troop 325 is our own neckerchief- designed by Jeff, Phil, and Phil's mother, Esthyre - of a white beaver on a red scarf. These scarves were hand-sewn for many years by community member Hannah Carroll; Mary Ann Grauvogel has recently assumed this responsibility. The white beaver is symbolic of LaSalle*s faithful Indian guide by that name and the Scouting District in which we live. LaSalle was the famous French explorer of the Northwest Territory and one of the first white men to traverse the region. Our Scouts often receive compliments about our colorful and historic neckerchiefs.
Over the years the hundreds of boys who have experienced Scouting at its best through Pack and Troop 325 have grown into fine citizens and leaders in school, government and commerce. With God's continuing grace and guidance, and the prayers of parents and community members, Scout units 325 will continue to draw boys to God and to a fuller Christian life, and to build His kingdom on earth.
Mark Niswonger Troop Historian January 31, 1992
As the Scout year 1991-1992 began, Troop 325 had just 34 boys. Larry Grauvogel was the Scoutmaster and David Niswonger was Committee Chairman. In October of the year Troop 325 took the memorable Pine River Canoe Trip, when they tried to canoe a flooded river, tipped seven canoes, and lost two under logs. One of the lost canoes belonged to the family of a Scout and the other had been borrowed from Troop 453. Troop 325 eventually had to buy replacements for both.
Back then the People of Praise had a Cub Scout Pack and a Panthers program for pre-Cub Scouts, and the Troop participated in Brownsea and Scout Sunday. However, even then they were already doing current annual events such as the First Aid Campout, the Junk Food Hike, Boy Scout Camp at Tamarack, and community service events like Scouting for Food. There were 3 Eagle Scouts that year: Nathanael Grauvogel, David Shaw, and Mike Ori.
1992-1993 marked the first mention of a “Winter Camp” where Scouts could go to earn additional Merit Badges. Records show that Troop 325 also had a Junior Leadership Training camp out and a Scout-O-Rama. They also returned and conquered Pine River during this year. Eagle Scouts this year were Steve Held, Benjamin Rouse, Joshua Finke, and Jonathan Finke.
During 1993 to 1994 the Troop held its first caving trip. Its Eagle Scouts that year were Peter Timler and Jonathan Smith. In 1994 the Troop participated in the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s honor society, with 5 members elected. Then, it had one eagle, Joe Miller. Over the years such events as the “Do-Nothing” campout, YMCA’s Camp Eberhart program, Shotgun Shooting Campout, many, many canoe and hiking trips, and Rock Climbing were carried out; some were selected for repetition and some weren’t. In 1995-1996 Troop 325 boasted two eagles, Barney Packard and Aaron King, who were joined next year by Mark Niswonger, Thaddeus Finke, Sean Connolly, Tim Kaiser, Paul Miller, Joshua Stowe, and Paul Drake. 1997-1998 saw one Eagle, David Uebbing.
1998-1999 was significant in the fact that during the year Troop 325 held an important High Adventure to the Smoky Mountains under the leadership of Phil Niswonger. It was during this trip that 325 latched onto several older Scouts and developed an incentive towards keeping older boys in the Troup: exciting High Adventures. That year the Eagle was David Timler.
Older boys were not lacking now, and in mid-1999 a Venture Crew was founded with 12 members. The Troop now had 40 boys, with David Miller, Peter Miller, Peter Gaffney, and Steven Smith joining its ranks of Eagles. With its new-found ability to keep high-school aged youth interested in Scouts, Troop 325 grew unprecedentedly. In 2001 it had 51 boys and Eagle Scouts Joe Stanish and James Zwerneman, and by February 2002 Troop 325 was the 2nd largest Troup in LaSalle Council, with about 70 members. The Eagle Scouts then were Rich Preuss and Noah Niswonger, joined in 2003 by Eddie Preuss, Paul Engles, Steven Zakas, Benjamin Rowland, Stephan Cerbin, and James Miller. That year also marked the 5th annual Boundary Waters high adventure trip for the Troop. In early 2004 it added two more eagles to its “Nest,” Tim Murphy and Peter Zwerneman.
During the Scout year 2004-2005 Dennis Staffelbach, a former Committee Member, replaced Larry Grauvogel as Scoutmaster of Troop 325, and Thomas Seasly became Assistant Scoutmaster. At this time 325’s Cub Scout pack was replaced by a People of Praise Boy’s Group. The Troop also submitted a suggestion for a Caving Merit Badge to the BSA. That year it had Eagle Scouts James Barrett, William Grauvogel, and John Niswonger.
2005-2006 marked the 25th anniversary of Troop 325. It had 5 Eagles: Paul Zakas, Tom Staffelbach, James McShane, Nicholas Lebbin, and Evan Lent. In 2006-2007 the Troop held its first organizational meeting. Its eagles that year included John Preuss, Lukasz Cerbin, and Peter Staffelbach. 2007-2008 Eagle Scouts were Joseph Timler, Kevin McShane, Joseph Torma, Michael Couch, and Daniel Thomas. For 2009, Troop 325 boasted 52 boys and Eagle Scouts Mark Wheeler, Patrick Wheeler, Kyle Kubiak, and Sean Couch, bringing the total for the Troop to 59.
Although the Troop varies its schedule year by year, it always keeps a few annual events chosen by their popularity down the years. These events are the Scouting for Food, First Aid Campout, Caving trips, the Junk Food Hike, the Klondike Derby, Rock Climbing, and Boy Scout Camp at Tamarack.
The First Aid Campout is a Merit Badge campout where Boy Scouts can earn the Eagle-required badges First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, and Communications. It was first held around 1991, and has continued to this day. During the ‘90s, the campout offered First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, and Safety; the latter was eventually changed to Eagle-required Communications merit-badge. For added adventure this campout also featured the Cooking Merit Badge with the renowned “Mystery Meal”. Each group of Scout cooks received their unknown ingredients in containers with the labels removed.
The Troop has held Caving trips since 1994, spelunking in various caverns throughout Indiana. Over the years, its Scouts have crawled through passageways and waded underground rivers in such renowned caves as Buckner’s, Sullivan’s, “Small and Dull”, “Trap Door” and Marengo. 2010 marks their 15th annual caving trip.
The Junk Food Hike began as an opportunity for younger Scouts to complete their First Class hiking and plant identification requirements and for older Scouts to fulfill requirements for Hiking Merit Badge. It thus was a 20-mile hike through South Bend planned to stop at several fast-food places along the way. Over the years the hike decreased in length as the First Class requirements shortened the required hiking distance; it decreased to 10 miles in 1998 and to 5 miles in 2004. The hike is an excellent opportunity to fulfill a difficult rank requirement and have fun along the way.
Troop 325 also participates in the Klondike Derby, a January event where the Scouts race hand-built sleds and practice winter camping skills. For many years 325 partook in the District-wide Klondike at Camp Tamarack, but held their own first at Scoutmaster Dennis Staffelbach’s woods in 2005 and then at the Sergio Compound in Niles during 2006. In more recent years the Troop has begun to substitute its own winter sports event involving skiing and luging.
1997 marked the Troop’s first Rock Climbing event at Climb Kalamazoo, a huge indoor facility with over 10,500 square feet of climbing surface, a 2500 square foot cave, and 30 foot high climbing walls. The event is also an opportunity for Scouts to earn the Rock Climbing merit badge.
The Troop has gone to Summer Camp at Camp Tamarack since the very beginnings of its history. The camp, located near Jones, Michigan, offers 47 merit badges and basic Scouting rank advancements, as well as a blast of a fun time. This Camp, along with the annual High Adventure, is the highlight of the Troop’s summer events.
Scouting for Food is the Boy Scouts’ massive food drive, where tons of cans are collected and donated to the needy. Troop 325’s Scouts collect cans, dry food, and mixes from local neighborhoods—their contributions to this community-serving event have always been magnanimous.
Troop 325 also offers its Scouts several prestigious religious awards: the Ad Altarae Dei for young Roman Catholics, the Pope Pius XII award for high-school Roman Catholics, and the God and Country award for various Protestant denominations. These awards are part of the Troop’s mission to bring boys closer to God as part of the Scout Law: “a Scout is Reverent.”
Nearly every summer, Troop 325 has a High Adventure. These exciting trips are the high point of the year, and provide an opportunity for older Scouts to experience Scouting at its fullest. Over time the Troop has backpacked in Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains and three different stretches of the famous Appalachian Trail – in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in North Carolina and Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. They have canoed the Canadian Boundary Waters Wilderness and rafted the Menominee River in Wisconsin. Crews from the Troop have attended the BSA’s Florida Sea Base twice and the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico three times to date,
At the beginning of the 2010-11 Scout year the Troop had nurtured 64 Eagle Scouts. Their Eagle service projects have benefited a broad cross section of the local community. Trinity School at Greenlawn and the People of Praise Community Center have received the majority of the recent work. Below is a list of the fine young men who are in 325’s “Eagles’ Nest:”
2011 will mark 30 years of Troop 325’s service to the South Bend community and the People of Praise. Over those years it has done an excellent job of not only teaching the essentials of Boy Scouting, but of bringing boys closer to the Lord and more attuned to His Will. Let us hope and work that it will continue to do so.
Written by:
Star Scout Nolan Liu, November 2010 for fulfillment of his Life Rank Leadership requirement
"Eagle's Nest"
Scout's name, date of rank, and project.
Brian Shaw6/24/88 Renovation of Safetyville-Rum Village Park Nathanael Grauvogel2/28/91 Greenlawn Marian Garden Renovation David Shaw7/11/91 Holy Trinity Scout Room Renovation Mike Ori5/28/92 Book Drive/Shelving - St. Margaret’s House Steve Held2/17/93 Book Shelves - St. Anthony’s Benjamin Rouse4/28/93 Toy Box/Books - Chapin Street Clinic Joshua Finke7/8/93 Greenlawn Marian Garden Renovation Jonathan Finke7/8/93 Greenlawn Marian Garden Renovation Peter Timler9/14/93 Wildlife Observation Tower - The Res Jonathan Smith1/11/94 Bridge Stairs/Lighting - The Res Joe Miller10/25/95 Plantings - “St. Patrick’s Park” Evergreens Barney Packard11/29/95 New Bridge - The Res Aaron King5/22/96 Planting/Trail - Rum Village Park Mark Niswonger8/14/96 Horticultural Landscaping - The Res Thaddeus Finke8/14/96 Landscaping - Trinity School Entrance Sean Connolly10/9/96 Elderly Visitation - St. Joseph Care Center Tim Kaiser12/4/96 Landscaping - Women’s Care Center Paul Miller2/5/97 Renovations - Home Management Services Joshua Stowe3/5/97 Landscaping - Trinity School East Gate Paul Drake4/30/97 Landscaping - Trinity School South Gate David Uebbing10/8/97 Nature Trail - Michiana Walleye Association David Timler2/25/99 Observation Deck - The Hermitage David Miller10/27/99 Painting St. Vincent de Paul Collection Boxes Peter Miller10/27/99 Landscape - Trinity School Pedestrian Gate Peter Gaffney11/18/99 Picnic Tables/Dumpster Screen - The Res Stephen Smith8/23/00 Painting the Lower Level at Trinity AC Joe Stanish6/26/01 St. Margaret’s House Director’s Office James Zwerneman8/1/01 Restoration of POP Center Picnic Area F. Richard Preuss III3/7/02 Exterior Painting-Camp Ray Bird Main Lodge Noah Niswonger11/15/01 Main Educational Display - Potowatomi Zoo Edward F. Preuss10/9/02 Repaint Snow Leopard Cage-Potowatomi Zoo Paul Engles10/23/02 Reading Library for Camp Tannadoonah |
continuedStephen Zakas12/17/02
Painting “Reins of Life” Horse Shelters Benjamin Rowland12/17/02 Office Rehab-Home Management Resources Stefan Cerbin1/17/03 Lemur Habitat – Potowatomi Zoo James Miller1/17/03 Squirrel-Tailed Monkey Habitat – Pot. Zoo Tim Murphy5/26/04 Renovate Women’s Care Center - Mishawaka Peter Zwerneman6/3/04 Volleyball Court at POP Center James Barrett9/7/04 Erosion Control at POP Center William Grauvogel11/3/04 Pavilion Stairs and Planter at POP Center John Niswonger2/8/05 Fire Ring and Picnic Area at POP Center Paul Zakas10/27/05 Installation of New Fencing at Trinity School Tom Staffelbach12/6/05 Installation of New Fencing at Trinity School James McShane5/30/06 Youth Tent Area – POP Center Nicholas Lebbin6/27/06 Trinity Soccer Field Viewing Stands Evan Lent6/27/06 Youth Ministry Storage Area – POP Center T. John Preuss12/20/06 Women’s Care Center Improvements Lukasz Cerbin3/6/07 Trinity Varsity Soccer Spectator Area Peter Staffelbach7/10/07 painted St. John of Damascus Melkite Church Joseph Timler10/9/07 Trinity Varsity Soccer Field Improvements Kevin McShane10/9/07 Trinity Center Parking Lot Drainage Area Joseph Torma10/9/07 Habitat For Humanity Storage Shed Michael Couch3/12/08 Healthwin Specialized Care Landscaping Daniel Thomas, Jr.8/27/08 Trinity Varsity Soccer Field Improvements Mark Wheeler10/16/08 Pieta Statue Landscaping-St. John Evangelist Patrick Wheeler12/16/08 St. John Evangelist Way of the Cross/Rosary Kyle Kubiak2/10/09 Repairs and Painting at St. Jude School Sean Couch1/13/09 Trinity Center Drainage Drywell Gabriel Griggs10/15/09 Trinity School Wiki Site Edward Linczer12/2/09 BOSCO Website Development Nickolas Massa12/23/09 POP Center Entrance Improvements – Phase 1 Joshua Thomas1/5/10 POP Center Entrance Improvements – Phase 2 Andrew Staffelbach1/5/10 Gilbert House Pond Reclamation Lucas Lebbin9/7/10 Edward Pingel9/7/10Trinity Senior Courtyard Part 1 |