Boy Scouts build skills over the Summer

Two scouts from Boy Scout Troop 200 in Annandale kept busy this summer as a troop and individually. Aidan Berson and Owen Maslanka both spent a week camping with their troop at Resica Falls Scout Reservation in the Pocono Mountains and each worked to complete several merit badges on their own.

Over the summer, Aidan completed two of the requirements for the Cooking merit badge that he began at Resica Falls last summer. For one of the requirements, he had to plan, shop for, and repackage meals for a hike. After prepping the food, he and his family headed to Hacklebarney State Park. While there he got to try out his new backpacking stove and got in a great hike at the park.

Aidan has also been working on his Personal Fitness and Family Life merit badges. Both include keeping 12-week logs. As a result, he is learning the value of regular exercise and how he is an important contributor to his family.

Since last spring, Owen has been busy working on the requirements for the Gardening merit badge. He has grown many different vegetables and flowers from seed and is starting to reap the benefits of his hard work, harvesting berries, potatoes, zucchini, peppers and more. He’s also working on the Wilderness Survival merit badge, for the last requirement he will need to improvise a natural shelter, using techniques that have little negative impact on the environment and spend the night in the shelter.

Troop 200 is a high-adventure, boy-led troop. The scouts meet on Monday evenings during the school year at Immaculate Conception Church in Annandale, NJ. For more information about the troop, follow BSA Troop 200 on Facebook or reach out us at Troop200NJ@gmail.com.