Cub Scout Packs and Boy Scout Troops from the Tyrone area overran Camp Anderson for the Tyrone Camp-o-ree recently.
Former Scoutmaster of Troop 20, Glenn Weyer, organized this event with the help of the four Scoutmasters from Troop 103 (Bald Eagle UMC), Troop-20 (Church of the Good Shepherd), Troop 104 (Warriors Mark UMC), and Troop 300 (St. Matthew Catholic Church). Each troop was responsible for one activity, where they taught the younger Scouts, and the Cub Scouts the necessary Scout skills for rank advancement.
Topics of Nature, Orienteering, Flag etiquette, On-shore water rescue, Wilderness First Aid, along with kayaking and canoeing on the lake provided the new Scouts with knowledge of Scout skills, while affording the older Scouts the opportunity to teach.
Throughout the day nearly 100 Scouts, family members, and supporters of Scouting checked in at Camp Anderson to witness the swarms of activity.
Father Joseph Orr, chaplain of the Altoona-Johnstown Diocesan Scouting Committee checked out these most ambitious youth, as well as their leaders. Fr. Orr frequently refers to the Scouting program, as “youth ministry with a plan, and a proven track record.”
Fr. Orr encourages all churches of all denominations to sponsor a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Girl Scout or Venture crew as its way of promoting youth ministry. Using the training materials and the structure of the Scouts will provide longevity to any church sponsored youth programs. Fr. Orr encourages all youths of all denominations to earn their religious awards, so as to grow closer in knowledge and understanding of their particular faith.
The day ended at the Jake Cranage Memorial Chapel, where the Scoutmasters presented the rank advancements to their well-deserving youth. The Scouts and their families were given insights to the many exciting projects being developed at Camp Anderson, by properties chairman Mike Yeaton. The new shower house, a state of the art bath and shower facility is now open.
Additions and upgrades to the dining hall are in the works, and after proper permits, construction should be well under way in a few months.
Glenn Weyer thanked all of the Scouts, Leaders and families for coming out to show the strength of this youth program.
As Scoutmaster Pete Kreckel dismissed the Scouts and families to the parade field for the final flag ceremony, he instructed the Scouts do walk quietly and think of the great opportunities afforded them by this wonderful facility. With a little imagination one could feel the presence of Uncle John Porter, Bucky Baldridge, Bill Ellenberger, Bill Cox, Elwood Snyder, Harry Dillon, Morris Levine, Jack Hiller, Jim Waite, members of Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, and an infinitely long list of men that today’s Scout program owes an enormous debt of gratitude.
The District Executive of Penn’s Woods council once commented, “Tyrone is the bright shining star in the Penn’s Woods Council.”
Due to the hard work of men like Cummins McNitt, Ron Osborne, Harry Mogle, Jeff Friday, Mike Yeaton, Mark Raffetto, Pete Kreckel, Craig Stover, Don Grimm and Glenn Weyer, as well as all the churches that charter their groups, Tyrone’s Scout program will continue in the rich tradition set forth by the many dedicated men over the past 80 plus years.
