Scouts do some amazing things, and we want everyone to read about those great things. Below are the latest news stories that highlight Scouts in the Michigan Crossroads Council.
Aired April 12, 2025 on TV6 Marquette
Marquette Boy Scouts donate to St. Vincent DePaul
MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – A group of Boy Scouts hand-delivered a donation Saturday afternoon.
Boy Scout Troop 372 swung by St. Vincent De Paul to drop off some food during the fifth annual food and can drive. The troop spent the morning gathering bags of food from doorsteps around Marquette.
Starting last week, the troop took 900 donated grocery bags from Tadych’s Marketplace Foods and placed them at doors around the greater Marquette area. This week, they came back with the bags filled.
Rich Matthews, Troop 372 Assistant Scout Master, says the Boy Scouts work to make the scouts better individuals.
Published March 17, 2025 in Manistee News
Manistee Boy Scout installs lending library
MANISTEE — Boy Scout Blake Wandrych of Troop 167 is putting the finishing touches on his path to Eagle Scout by installing a free “take a book, leave a book” lending library at Morton Park. […]
Wandrych grew up moving frequently and struggled with reading until ninth grade, an experience that inspired him to create this community resource.
“When I was younger … I didn’t have access to books,” he explained. “I just call it a ‘take a book, leave a book,’ because I don’t know if there’s an actual name for it.”
Story published February 20, 2025
Local Cub Scout Pack helps the Humane Society of Huron Valley
The members of Cub Scout Pack 249 are very kind! They love animals and wanted to support HSHV’s mission. Members collected donations and raised funds to purchase pet food from local pet stores. While attending a Scout Program at HSHV, members brought donations of towels, blankets, and pet food. Thank you so much, Cub Scout Pack 249! We greatly appreciate your kindness and generosity. Thank you!
Project was completed in November 2024
Local Boy Scout builds Telephone of the Wind as Eagle Project
Lucas Ebmeyer, a local scout with Troop 216 – Marysville, chose VNA & Blue Water Hospice (VNA & BWH) and the Telephone of the Wind as his Eagle Project. Lucas wanted his project to be meaningful, something that would benefit the community.
In 2023, Lucas and his mom were volunteering at the VNA & BWH annual River Run fundraiser providing traffic assistance when they started talking about hospice. Lucas knew his grandmother had been in hospice care in her final days. Michele was young when her mom became ill, with her sister living out of state, the responsibilities of daily care were on her. She found a facility in Ann Arbor that was a blessing to her. She shared with Lucas that at the time, the Blue Water Hospice Home hadn’t been built and no other facility in the area offered care specifically for Hospice patients.
Published January 29, 2025
Trio of local Scouts earn Eagle rank
A trio of local Boy Scouts received their Eagle Scout rank during a pinning ceremony at the American Legion on Monday night. All three are part of the Charter Organization for Troop 165.
The Scouts recognized were Ethan H, Owen K and Keegan D.
Each Scout received a Certificate of Recognition from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), a Good Citizenship Citation from the American Legion, and a Good Citizenship Award from the Marine Corps League.
Story published October 22, 2024
Luca Giardello of Chelsea BSA Troop 476 completes significant project on his journey to Eagle Scout rank
On Sunday, October 20, 2024, the congregation of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church gathered to celebrate the dedication of their newly upgraded play area. The project was completed by Luca Giardello, a member of Chelsea BSA Troop 476, as part of his Eagle Scout project, marking a significant milestone on his path to earning the Eagle Scout rank.
The church’s Bishop Committee is thrilled at the work done by Luca and his team of scouts and volunteers,” says Scott Moffett of St. Barnabas. “The play area is dedicated to ‘Our Chelsea Neighbors’ and open to the public.”
The play area, which had not seen updates in several years, was enhanced with features designed to provide safer and more engaging activities for younger children.
Story appeared September 21, 2024
Students go ‘gaga’ over new game that Eagle Scout built
ROSEVILLE — There’s a new game in town, and the students at Kaiser Elementary in Roseville Community Schools have gone “gaga” over it.
The popular activity of playing gaga was made possible at the school when Roseville High School junior Lucas Sides made a wooden pit specifically for the students to play the game.
Sides, a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop No. 1407 out of St. Margaret of Scotland in St. Clair Shores, built the gaga pit as his project to become an Eagle Scout.
Story published October 22, 2024
Aiden Rabideau, an Eagle Scout from Grand Blanc, Michigan, is bringing more comfort to dogs at the Humane Society of Genesee County with his project.
Inspired by a visit to the shelter, Aiden created 12 dog beds using recycled tires. He’s had help from fellow Scouts and a local auto care business. Aiden hopes the beds will comfort the dogs and make them more appealing for adoption.
The Humane Society, which relies solely on donations, praised Aiden’s efforts, noting how such community projects significantly help improve the animals’ living conditions.
Read more about this story from the Fox 66 website.
Story Appeared August 18, 2024
Eagle Scout project brings new sandbox to Manistee’s Sands Park
One goal of Scouts BSA is to teach leadership skills. That’s why when Manistee teen Marcus Chick noticed a need at Sands Park, he decided to do something about it.
Chick is a member of Manistee Troop 167 and is working toward his Eagle Scout designation. He’s been a part of scouts since he joined the Cub Scouts.
Eagle is the highest rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program by the Boy Scouts of America.
The teen decided to build a sandbox for Sands Park which also features a ball field, basketball courts, skate park and ice skating rink in the winter. It’s also where the Rec at Sands Park is located.
The nonprofit youth center, overseen by the Alternatives for Area Youth board, is “for the whole family,” Chick said. He’s been going there since he was younger.
National Blog appeared 9/2/24
Some Exceptional Kids
“I started choking,” said Jennifer Yakubesan.
It was a typical evening, some years ago. The family was eating supper before church, somewhere in the wilds of Michigan. It was spaghetti. The flagship food of happy families.
“I looked at my husband and my son, and I started to make this kind of patting on my chest.”
Enter her son, Andrew. He was 13. A Scout.
Jennifer was about to lose consciousness when she felt her son’s arms wrap around her. He wedged his fist below her sternum. He squeezed.
The Heimlich maneuver is not simple. It requires strength. The Heimlich didn’t work. So Andrew slapped his mother’s back. Someone taught him to do that.
Andrew was given the National Merit Award by the Scouts.
Latest stories on Scouting
Story published August 21, 2024
CHS student completes Eagle Scout project
Drew Weaver finished his Eagle Scout project helping out Clarkston Family Farm with repairing chicken coops and making nesting boxes for the chickens.
Weaver, a sophomore at Clarkston High School and Eagle Scout in Troop 1629 of Royal Oak, attended Independence Elementary and grew up going to Clarkston Family Farm and helping out the farm’s founder and Executive Director Chelsea O’Brien.
“Mrs. O’Brien has always been so nice so I did my scout volunteer hours with her,” said Weaver. “When she said she needed the chicken coop repaired and nesting boxes for the chickens I knew it was the job for my Eagle project. I am glad to give back to the farm. It’s given me so much.”
“I was very impressed with Drew’s commitment to the project and his compassion and love for all the farm animals, especially the chickens,” O’Brien said.
Story Appeared August 18, 2024
Eagle Scout’s project bring chess table to Reed City library
Recent Reed City graduate and Eagle Scout Ayden Eccles completed his Eagle Scout project at the end of July, creating an outdoor chess table for the community to use at the Reed City Area District Library.
“I created the chess table here in hopes of bringing more of a chess presence to our community,” Eccles said. “In recent years, chess has been growing in popularity and introducing connections and opportunities to other small communities around the world. I want to ensure it also brings those opportunities here for the young kids and students.”
The table was part of Eccles’ Eagle Scout service project. An Eagle Scout project entails planning, developing and providing leadership to others in a service project that benefits a community organization other than the Boy Scouts of America.
Story appeared August 22, 2024
Scout’s Eagle project provides comfort to shelter animals
Some animals at the Humane Society of Genesee County will be able to rest more comfortably thanks to a Grand Blanc teen.
For his Eagle Scout project, Aiden Rabideau and a team of nine fellow scouts created 12 dog beds by repurposing used tires from US 23 Auto Care.
Rabideau, a member of Troop 106 in Grand Blanc, was inspired to create the beds after seeing a similar project online.
“I thought it was a great idea,” he said. “I thought it would be cool to give to the Humane Society. I like animals. I think they’re great companions.”
Rabideau and his crew painted the tires, sewed fabric cushions and added plywood bases.
Story Aired August 12, 2024
Michigan Scout Appears on Kelly Clarkson Show
16-year-old Julian, a Michigan Scout is leading the construction of life-saving gear dryers for his Eagle Scout service project. These custom-built gear dryers help keep harmful carcinogens off of firefighter uniforms.
Story appeared June 19, 2024
Reed City BSA Troop 74 retires worn flags at Flag Ceremony
Reed City BSA Troop 74 conducted their annual flag retirement ceremony on Monday, June 10, at the Reed City Depot. Twelve scouts retired 51 worn American flags, saluting as each flag was retired. This ceremony was conducted under the guidelines of both the Boy Scouts of America and the United States Flag Code.
Story appeared August 14, 2024
Scouts BSA Troop 511 Celebrates a Century of Scouting
Scouts BSA Troop 511 in Dundee officially turned 100 years old in June 2024. The scouts celebrated the anniversary in Wolverine Park, Dundee, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 10. According to the troop’s Scoutmaster, James Reppert, the anniversary is worth celebrating because of the troop’s contributions to the community. “I think the Scouts is a place in the community where we learn about ourselves, but also those around us, and that’s what we need in our community,” he said.
Story appeared July 17, 2024
Three Sets of Siblings Make Eagle Scout Rank
Since 2021, six members of Troop No. 1402 have completed projects in Detroit, Center Line, Fraser and other parts of Macomb County to earn Eagle Scout status. Troop No. 1402 is chartered by Lt. Wood-Cpl. Reid Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6691 in Fraser and meets at St Pio of Pietrelcina Catholic Church in Roseville.
The Eagle Scouts are three sets of brother and sister siblings: Roman and Uma Ludwig; Waincey and Wynnis Chan; and Nicho and Alli Sparks. The siblings earned Eagle Scout rank between 2021 and 2023.
Story appeared August 12, 2024
Pair of Eagle Scout Projects Benefit Ionia County
Two Eagle Scout candidates worked on projects to benefit the Ionia County village of Lyons.
Trevor Nobis and Hunter Olney are Eagle Scout candidates as part of Boy Scout Troop 87. The troop encompasses Ionia, Lyons, Muir, Pewamo and Westphalia.
Nobis and Olney each worked on Eagle Scout projects to improve areas of Lyons. The projects were unveiled Aug. 3 at the Lyons-Muir Island Fest, which is the largest festival in the community.
Trevor Nobis, a Life Scout, refurbished playground equipment at Hazel Devor Park in Lyons and Huner Onley refurbished the historic “Comfort Station” at 200 E. Bridge St. In Lyons. It is thought to be the first rest area in Michigan.
Story appeared July 17, 2024
Eagle Scout builds a sensory wall at the Orion Twp. Public Library
Eagle Scout Elijah McDonough created and installed a sensory wall for volunteers with special needs at the Orion Township Public Library on June 29.
Sensory walls provide tactile and other forms of stimulation to its user – something that can benefit people with special needs by making them more comfortable in their environment.
McDonough, 14, said volunteers with special needs will be able to use the wall to calm themselves.
Sensory toys can also help children with autism, for example, with staying calm and providing the sensory experience they want, according to Autism Speaks.
McDonough created the wall as his Eagle Project.
“I’ve always had a special place in my heart for people with special needs,” McDonough said. “Mainly because of how many people I know, and how many friends and stuff I have with special needs. So that was always a main goal for my eagle project.”
McDonough is part of Troop 185.
The Orion Township Public Library is at 825 Joslyn Rd., Orion Twp.
