ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Fall recruitment has begun for U.P. scout troops.
Gladstone Cub Scouts have been at events like the U.P. Ice Fishing and Hunting Expo, educating young people and their families about scouting programs.
According to Gary Howell, Gladstone Pack 471 Cub Scout Master and Hiawathaland Recruiting Chair, fall is a great time to join.
“There’s never a wrong time to join,” Howell said. “It just makes it easier on the packs to get the kids all staying up to date on all the fun activities coming up.”
Some of those fun events include the Pinewood Derby, Ice Fishing Derby, and the Klondike Derby. Packs also welcome special speakers to some of their meetings, like the U.P. Trappers Association, the Delta Force K-9 Unit, and local law enforcement.
Most importantly, Howell says joining a troop helps kids get involved in their community.
“The kids are always looking for a way to give back, from going to rake the yard of a disabled veteran to just helping people cross the street when they need it,” he said. “Recently, the Cub Scouts have attended church services where they’ve held the doors and handed out flyers for members of churches. They’ve gone to nursing homes. Pack 471 and the parents came to the Pocket Park here in Escanaba to do a park cleanup. The local pack gathered 1,000.9 pounds of food for the local shelters. We’ve done dinners for those currently without a home. The U.P. is growing every day and we’re looking forward to getting many more kids involved, both boys and girls.”
If a child in your life is interested in joining a local scout troop, you can find a pack in your area at beascout.org. Click here to visit the Pack 471 Facebook page.
