Nearly 30 boys register for Cub Scouts

Cub Scout Pack No. 177 registered almost 30 new Scouts Tuesday at Snyder Primary School.
Zackary Mullins, Boys Scouts of America district executive with the Buffalo Trail Council, said the numbers are strong because of the support the Scouts get from the school administration.
“We used to get five or six (new Scouts) before,” Mullins said. “We are very thankful.”
Mullins said the Buffalo Trail Council usually has about 3,000 Scouts and they are regularly one of the top councils when measured by membership growth.
Betsy Martinez signed up her eight-year-old son, Andres Martinez, as a first time Scout.
“They told him about it at school,” she said. “He was excited.”
Andres Martinez said he is looking forward to learning how to shoot a bow and arrow, tell ghost stories and make S’mores.
“I tried the bow with my uncle one time and I did it wrong,” he said.
Mullins said that all activities are age appropriate and the program grows with the Scouts.
“Now is the perfect time to get involved,” Mullins said.
He said that the Buffalo Trail Council has the biggest camping program in Texas. It includes mountain climbing and Dutch-oven cooking.
During the meeting, Cubmaster Monica Bond showed videos to the incoming Scouts and told them about community projects.
Valerie Yeschke signed up her son, Caleb Yeschke, who is in his fourth year as a Scout.
“He was in the Alamo Council in the San Antonio area,” she said.
Caleb Yeschke said he wants to participate in pinewood derby car races. He said he has been in three races and finished second in his first race and first in his third race.
“I’m looking forward to the Arrow of Light and I’m excited about the program,” he said.
According to the Cub Scout Pack No. 177 handbook, the Arrow of Light is the highest award a Cub Scout can earn and one of the few Cub Scout emblems that may be worn on the Boy Scout uniform.
Eagle Scouts Perry Heupel, the council’s assistant commissioner, and Travis Heupel, unit commissioner, both attended the meeting and signed up a third generation family member, Joshua Heupel.
“Joshua is hopefully going to be our next Eagle Scout,” Perry Heupel said. “I hope I can stick around for that.”
Mullins said that nationally only 7 percent of Boy Scouts achieve Eagle Scout status.
James Bond, Scoutmaster for Troop No. 27 said when Eagle Scouts enter the military, they enter two ranks higher than non-Eagle Scouts. He also mentioned that there are three firefighters in Scurry County who are Eagle Scouts.
Others like Eduardo Neria and Luke Lawson said they were excited about joining for the first time. Lawson said it looked like fun and Neria is looking forward to fishing.
Boys may join the Scouts at any time. Bond said the council is in need of a leader for the first grade group, Tigers, and are looking for another leader to take over the fourth and fifth grade group, known as Webelos.
The second graders, Wolves, meet at 6 p.m. on Thursdays at the old bus barn, located at 30th Street and Ave. M. The Bears, third graders, meet at the same location at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesdays. Webelos and Boys Scouts meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays at Grace Lutheran Church.
Pack meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday of the month at the American Legion building.
To register call Bond at 436-7728. Boys must be in first grade or seven years old to register.