Scouts great at getting out and about

Boy Scout Troop 1903 in Lakeside has big plans for 2017 that will make Boy Scouts of America shine in its 107th year since its founding in Feb. 8, 1910.

Troop member Jake Wilke emailed the Inter Lake recently to describe some of the highlights of the past year as his troop gears up for this year.

Scout Sunday was celebrated Feb. 5 to mark the Scouts’ anniversary by participating in the Scouts’ 12th point of the Scout Law, “A Scout is Reverent.” The trooped joined in the Sunday worship service at Lakeside Chapel and provided a Dutch-oven treat to share with the congregation.

Wilke, a 13-year-old seventh-grader at Somers Middle School, noted several of the areas in which his troop served throughout the Flathead Valley last year: helping with a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House Room at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, painting benches and helping with fish management in Glacier National Park, and lending a hand at the Dragon Boat Races in Lakeside last September.

The outgoing Scout also served in the West Shore Community Library and the Lakeside Community Garden.

“We have a wonderful community in the Lakeside area!” Wilke said. “We are so grateful for all that Lakeside Chapel does to promote Scouting and encourage boys to have fun and enjoy this wonderful area we live in.”

Besides its community service, Boy Scout Troop 1903 also embarked on several adventures in 2016. The Scouts biked up Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier Park, skied at Blacktail Mountain, went to Camp Easton Scout Camp on Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho for a week, and spent another week in Glacier Park hiking, camping and doing service work. In July the troop kayaked 55 miles of the Marine Trail on Flathead Lake over five days and did service work all around the lake and on several islands. Putting in at Somers, they made their way to West Shore State Park, Wild Horse Island, Melita Island, Finley Point, Bird Island, Yellow Bay, and put out at Woods Bay.

“It was awesome!” Wilke exclaimed.

This year the troop is going to Island Park Scout Camp in July and also plans on doing some backpacking in the valley.

Wilke obviously loves the Scouting life. He’s been in the Scouts for seven years, four in Cub Scouts and is now in his third year of the Boy Scouts.

“We’d love for more boys to come join us in Troop 1903 and join us in these and our other outings!” he said. “Please contact Jeff Wilke at 871-4490 if you are interested in having some adventures!”