Photos: Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 340 Rank Advancement Ceremony

A special thanks to Jennifer Jones for providing this article, photographs and captions.

On Wednesday, May 16 members from Yorkville Cub Scout Pack 340 gathered at Beecher Center for their annual Cub Scout Rank Advancement Ceremony. This annual event celebrates all of the achievements the individual dens have been working towards during the year. Once all of the requirements for the specific level have been met, the scout earns a patch for his level and is allowed to continue on his scouting journey.

Instead of having a regular meeting to hand out awards Pack 340 pulled out all the stops and organized a full presentation and ceremony to help families celebrate their scouts achievement. Setting the stage with a formal Native American Indian theme Jennifer and Ron Jones brought in a teepee, campfire, slideshow presentation and music. Tommy Gentile provided real trees and bushes, and Jackie DeNardo dressed leaders in Indian costumes and headdresses.

During the formal ceremony scouts were brought up in front of the group while Indian tales were read and music played. Brandi Gentile helped leaders paint Scout faces with colors for each achieved rank, then Scouts were invited to sit around the campfire when their portion of the ceremony was complete. Picture opportunities, cupcakes and social time followed the fun and entertaining presentation.

In addition to the Cub Scouts from Pack 340 earning their rank advancements, many of the Pack 340 Leaders earned awards and acknowledgments as well.

Den Chiefs Alex Chism and Cora Byerley received their two year Den Chief certificates and cords.

Tom Lankton was given a knot for starting a new unit, and earned a Cubscouter knot for 2 years’ service as Committee Chair.

Jeff Spidle received a knot for being a Wolf Den Leader.

Suzette Herrada Contreras received a patch for completing Cub Scout training.

Kirt Byerley received his Pack Trainer knot.

Crystal Byerley received her Cubmaster knot.

Michelle Lankton received the Wolf Den Leader knot and the Cubscouter knot
for 2 years’ service as a Den Leader.

Pack 340 is always looking for new scouts to join their Pack. If you are interested in getting more information about joining Cub Scouts please contact Brandi at tbgentile@comcast.net.

Tigers-

Den Leader- Christina Miller

Jack Anderson

Seth Cherry

Cory Gentile

Nicholas Gossmeyer

Vincent Grote

Andrew Jones

Devyn Kingsbury

Christopher Lankton

Sam Moehring

Jeffery Park

Niccolo Porreta

Cole Scroggin

Ben Smart

Sam Tholen

Wolf-

Den Leader- Jodi Morgan

Elias Underwood

Danny Baumgartner

Carter Cross

Nicholas DeNardo

Joshua Doty

George Gilson

Calvin Guerrero

Mason Morgan

Bear-

Den Leader- Jeff Spidle

Jordan Contreras

Jackson Edwards

Ryan Navarro

Elijah Rodriguez

Connor Spidle

Marcus Brown

Logan Campbell

Luke Granholm

Austin Lane

Mark Smith

Webelo-

Den Leader- Michelle Lankton

Nicholas Gerakaris

Matthew Lankton

Jacob Phillips

Ryan Sedgwick

Joshua Smart

Mason Tyszka

Leaders-

Crystal Byerley

Kirt Byerley

Tom Lankton

Jennifer Jones

Brandi Gentile

Suzette Herrada Contreras

Jackie DeNardo

Alex Chism

Cora Byerley

Charlie Byerley

Christina Miller

Jeff Spidle

Jodi Morgan

Michelle Lankton

Geneva Pederson