On a hot late summer day, September 27, 2008, Boy Scouts from Amador and El Dorado counties gathered for the Fall Camporee in Ione, CA. The Amador District of the Golden Empire Council hosted the three day event at Howard Park. This years theme was Emergency Preparedness. It was especially noteworthy for the Troop from Jackson, Troop 78 of which six of the seven boys earned their Emergency Preparedness Merit Badges. Scoutmaster Patrick Scanlon says “This is a complex merit badge and only because of the GREAT local agency involvement; the Sheriffs Office, CAL FIRE, and OES, were the boys able to earn this badge.”
The small but advanced Troop learned the many aspects of preparing for an emergency as small as a minor cut or as large as a hurricane. “I really enjoyed seeing the public service agencies because there aren’t very many opportunities to see them.” says Star Scout Randy Mason. Troop 78 is credited with inviting a local air ambulance, CALSTAR to land at the site so all of the Boy Scout participants and the public could see the resource up close and hear how the crewmembers prepare for and respond to emergencies.
The Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge is a required badge for the prestigious Eagle Scout achievement. Troop 78 meets at the Bill Scanlon Scout Hut at Detert Park in Jackson every Wednesday at 6:00 pm. Please call Patrick @ 223-1335 for further information to join the Troop or ways to support Boy Scouts.
Photo by Patrick Scanlon
L-R: Life Scout Austin Thorne, Star Scout Randy Mason, Second Class Jaydin Scanlon, First Class Joey Guidi, Pilot Mark Seigel, Tenderfoot Austin Woodyard, Flight Nurse Julie Carrington, First Class Wyatt Walshaw, and Flight Nurse Rich Ikerd. |
