Latest news with #Scouts
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Big Rock teen's love of chess on display at Community Park
When Nathan Schlachter of Big Rock was looking for inspiration to complete his service project for Eagle Scout, he turned to one of his own skill sets and started thinking in a much bigger way. The 17-year-old, described by people as an ace chess player, wanted others to enjoy the game on a much bigger scale, which led to the member of Scout Troop 71 based in Plano developing a huge chess board with pieces folks could use in Big Rock Community Park. 'I got interested in chess back in middle school and joined the chess team and from there, I was only a little bit involved in it,' Nathan said. 'Then COVID hit, and I skipped my eighth-grade year and was advanced a year. When I got back into high school (Hinckley-Big Rock High School), I dove back into chess with one of the stronger players on the middle school team. We formed a chess team in high school my sophomore year, which really got me back into playing.' The project, he said, was influenced by seeing a lot of giant chess boards while attending Scout summer camps. 'I thought it would be a great addition to the Big Rock park because a lot of stuff to do there is often physical,' he said. 'There are people who are more academically inclined than physical sports, and I figured it's a way for them to get just as much enjoyment out of the park as someone who might be playing baseball or soccer.' The project, from initial discussion to final construction, took nearly two years. The chess board itself was installed on Aug. 17 last year with the help of about a half dozen Scouts and included assistance from local Schollmeyer Landscaping, which donated materials and labor. Nathan's mother Jennifer Smith said her son began showing an interest in Scouting 'as early as first grade.' 'I was their Cub Scout den leader and he wanted to try new things you don't learn in school,' she said about her son. 'He stayed with it and Nathan tried a lot of troops and found that Plano had the most activities – not just book work and boring learning and he just kept going. He made a commitment and he was going to see it through. He wanted to finish this before he graduated.' She is not surprised Nathan stayed with Scouts through the rank of Eagle but that both of them 'were surprised at what a process becoming an Eagle is.' 'People think it's just a project but they don't know the hours of paperwork and meetings and fundraising. There is so much more that goes into that project. People think when you do that you've got your Eagle finished,' she said. 'Nathan probably started this at least a year and a half ago and there are like three phases before you can even start your project.' Nathan agrees that 'the toughest part was just pushing myself to do it.' 'A lot of it is paperwork and navigating bureaucracy and waiting on people. Having the will to get it done and really wanting to get it to fruition I think is the most challenging part,' he said. Smith reflected on her son having created a sort of public entertainment option that will likely impact hundreds of people moving forward and said she feels a great sense of pride. 'I'm very proud of him and I'm glad that he finished it up as it was something he really wanted to do,' she said. 'I was excited for him because chess for him is one of his biggest passions and something he could relate to. It was something he really wanted to do.' Ron Wentzell of Oswego, scout executive and CEO for Three Fires Council, said there is an impressive number of Eagle Scout projects completed each year. 'I feel a sense of pride every time we have an Eagle Scout finish a project in the community. In the Three Fires Council, we'll have between 250 and 300 Eagle Scouts each year and they'll complete over 40,000 hours of community service each year with just the Eagle projects,' Wentzell said. 'There is definite pride in our kids and they do some amazing things and some amazing projects that really connect us to the community and build awareness about Scouting.' Nathan says being in Scouts has 'helped me become a leader and meet new people.' 'My school is really small so I know everyone by grade and going to Scout camp every summer is about meeting new people I have to introduce myself to and get to know,' he said. 'As far as this project and its future, for me, it's a great feeling knowing I've given back to the community where I grew up the past 17 years.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
ABQ Boy, Girl Scouts place American flags on veteran headstones for Memorial Day
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It's an annual tradition during Memorial Day weekend for some scout troops in Albuquerque, as a way to honor those who lost their lives fighting for our country. 'I like to pay tribute to the people we've lost in battle,' said one of the Girl Scouts. 'We owe them a great debt of gratitude,' said Peter Stine, an Assistant Boy Scout Master. Sunday, Boy and Girl Scouts took to Sunset Memorial Park to continue that tradition by placing flags on veteran gravesites. 'I think this is a really nice thing that we do every year,' said Catherine Wertz, a Girl Scout. 'It lets us give back to the veterans and honor them.' Boy Scouts of America rebrands to 'Scouting America' For Stine, and Girl Scout leader, Danielle Roesch, the holiday hits close to home. Stine served in the Navy and has been participating in the event for nearly 40 years. 'Memorial Day has always been special to me, because it memorializes the people that were killed in action,' Stine explained. Roesch, on the other hand, is a 20-year veteran. She retired in 2022. 'I have friends I've lost, and so this is a way…I can't get to where they are, so I give back by being here,' Roesch added. Hundreds of flags were placed, as scouts moved from row to row identifying veterans by their headstones. Participants of the event say it illustrates the connection between generations and the ongoing commitment to honoring service and sacrifice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Flags placed for Memorial Day ceremony in Henderson
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Veterans and families gathered at a Palm Mortuary in Henderson to honor fallen military personnel for Memorial Day weekend. Langston Higbee, the mortuary and cemetery general manager, is participating for the eighth consecutive year. 'We always take the extra steps to make sure they are honored,' Higbee said. 'We mark all the graves of the veterans in our cemetery. We have over 500 veterans who have been laid to rest here.' Marking their graves, the boys and girls of the Scouts. Their families say that planting a flag is a simple act that shows the scouts the deeper meaning of honoring those who dedicated their lives to serving their country. 'It's all community service and giving back and remembering our veterans and celebrating Memorial Day, doing a little bit of service instead of a barbecue,' Troop 360 scoutmaster Richard Prisbrey said. 'We enjoy coming out and supporting our community this way.' This Henderson ceremony is more than two decades into its running, this is the third year the scouts have joined in, and the memories continue to be special every time. 'Putting flags on your relatives, it's pretty special,' Prisbrey said. 'But seeing the veterans come out, seeing them get to enjoy the day. It's all good. I wouldn't miss this if I could, I would always be here.' After the ceremony, organizations gathered for a resource fair to inform veterans of the opportunities available to them. Additional ceremonies are planned for Memorial Day at Palm's eastern and downtown locations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Otago Daily Times
24-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Community backs appeal to tune of $10K
Salvation Army Captains Paul and Jocelyn Smith with Cameron McIntosh, 19, of Oamaru, who spent eight hours collecting for the Red Shield Appeal. PHOTO: JULES CHIN The Salvation Army Red Shield appeal in the Waitaki District made over $10,000 this year thanks to volunteers and generous public support. The funds raised will go directly into the community through welfare support, food banks and social services. Salvation Army Captain Jocelyn Smith was "really, really happy" with the results. "We had Scouts and the Lions clubs, the three high schools and volunteers from all over the place. "We cracked just over $10,000. It's great. We needed that." Last year, the Salvation Army produced over 700 food parcels for people in need. The high cost of living had since increased demand. Capt Smith said the appeal was also a great way for Salvation Army volunteers to be face-to-face with the public. "People say beautiful things, such as I want to give to the Sallies, my son's in rehab at the moment and you guys are helping him to get sober. Or you guys helped me when we had no food and got us through a really tough time and we really appreciate it." Those stories were "golden". Capt Smith said the amount of money, resources and personnel required to keep up the community support was "big", with only one staff member working 20 hours a week and three part-time volunteers helping with the food bank.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Kirkcudbright Scout undergoing brain tumour treatment receives Unsung Hero Award
Hazel Dempster was one of just 20 young Scots from across the UK chosen to receive the accolade from Chief Scout Dwayne Fields. A Kirkcudbright Scout who is being treated for a brain tumour has received one of the movement's top awards. Hazel Dempster was chosen to receive an Unsung Hero Award from Chief Scout Dwayne Fields at the organisation's home in London's Gilwell Park. She was one of just 20 young Scouts chosen out of 475,000 Scouts from across the UK to receive the award, which recognises acts of outstanding bravery and selflessness. She said: 'I'm surprised and proud at receiving Dwayne's heroes award. It was great to meet him and talk with him.' The citation for Hazel's nomination read: 'Hazel is an amazing young person, a fantastic young leader who takes time to engage the quieter Scouts and includes everybody helping them to do their best. 'Hazel has been receiving treatment in recent years for a brain tumour, going through chemotherapy and now a newer form of treatment, but through this, she continues to carry on with Scouts and making a difference to other young people. She doesn't let her treatment stop her. 'She enjoys helping out, comes up with creative ways to help make Scouting as enjoyable as possible for the Scouts whilst also gaining leadership and teamwork skills. 'She also regularly takes it upon herself to fundraise for the Kirkcudbright Scout group, baking to raise donations, taking part in larger bake sales as well as helping at fundraising stalls.' The Unsung Heroes Award is a coveted personal achievement which recognises the amazing skills and endeavours of young people across the Scouts community – from Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and people in the Scout Network. The winners were nominated by Scout volunteers for their outstanding bravery and leadership in the community, showing skills and qualities which are learned by being part of the Scouts and subsequently taken through life. Winners were chosen by an experienced panel of Scout Ambassadors led by the Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields. He said: 'A huge congratulations to the winners of this remarkable award for acts of courage and selflessness in the community. Being part of the Scouts provides young people with skills they take with them through life, and the stories of these young people represent the highest form of Scouting values. 'I want to thank you for your dedication and celebrate what is a truly outstanding achievement.'
