By Theodore Meyer
BSA Scout Troop 127
August was a busy time for Troop 127. Scouts exemplified the slogan “do a good turn daily” with service projects and advancement, and the end of the summer left the unit feeling proud of their numerous accomplishments.
August kicked off with a Court of Honor to award scouts for the impressive amount of merit badges and rank advancement they achieved over the summer, both at camp and at meetings.
The crew that went to the Sea Base High Adventure Base in the Virgin Islands were also recognized for their journey.
In the middle of the month, scouts erected a Purple Martin house in the North Unit of Cherokee Marsh to commemorate the loss of Russ Hefty, the conservation parks supervisor for Madison Parks, who had a lifelong passion for birds. A few scouts and leaders came to the North Unit the day before to mount the pole, and the following day was spent assembling and mounting the final product.
We closed August out with a camping trip at Mirror Lake State Park.
Earlier in the month, scouts had decided to spend August working on a railroading merit badge. The first few meetings were spent learning safety rules and the history of different trains and railways. We wrapped up the badge by using the opportunity of a camping trip to visit the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, where we learned about various trains and their histories. We even got to ride a train while drinking root-beer floats.
