“Scout of the Year 2016” for Troop 270

The Thurmont Lions Club continues to recognize the hard and diligent work of the Boy Scouts. The Club has sponsored Boy Scout Troop 270 since 1932. On February 8, 2017, the Club hosted Boy Scout Troop 270 and their scout leaders for their outstanding volunteer service. The scout leaders honored were Sean Young, Brian Seiss, Walt Ellenberg, Leo Coolidge, Dave Place, Dwayne Snyder, Julie Bostian, and Norm Feldser. Three Eagle Scouts were also honored: Taylor Ellenberg, Phillip Norris, and Dominque Nield. Due to other commitments, the Eagle Scouts were not present to accept their awards. Scout Leader Julie Bostian presented the Ross Smith Sr. Scout Award to Scout Keegan Coolidge. Keegan has worked on many outstanding projects/events to be awarded this prestige honor. He has lead/tracked hours and taught how to do brick work on the new Thurmont Community Ambulance complex (146 hours); he has worked on the building, alone, for a total of 768 hours. Scout Keegan planned and built a shed for the CYA lacrosse program as his Eagle Scout project at Eyler Field, and he will be doing future fundraising for the project. He is scribe and assistant senior patrol leader for Troop 270, is secretary for Crew 270, and is planning and mapping the philemon trek that Troop  270, Troop 1011, and Crew 270 will be going on in the future. Scout Keegan has helped to plant trees at the Thurmont Community Ambulance complex for an Eagle Scout project by Devin Stafford; helped with the trolley trail cleanup; helped with an Eagle Scout project, building poster boards and hanging them at Camp Green Top by Dalton Wine; has volunteered for cub days at the airport for a week as a helper with sling shots; and is helping his fellow scouts with rank advancement and teaching first aid skills. In addition, Scout Keegan is assisting in planning the 2018 camporee with a theme of Mountain Man, which will be held at the Thurmont Hunting and Sportsman Club in Lewistown.  Scout Keegan plans to run for patrol leader and scribe again in the future.  He has joined the Thurmont Ambulance Company to further his knowledge in MS, to follow his dreams of becoming a flight medic. This outstanding scout has received the Volunteer of the Year for Crew 270, multiple merit badges, and two religious awards. Scouts in Troop 270 have taken several camping trips and have helped with various events: Klondike Derby camping; Freeze Out camping; Water Shed camping; Poplar Grove; Camp Palawan for summer camp for a week; camp for shooting; Aviation camporee; Lock in at scout hour; first-aid competition held every year in March; USS North Carolina and USS Yorktown trips, where they stayed on the Yorktown and slept where all the Navy personnel slept, and also toured the Yorktown submarine and destroyer. The troop has helped and supported so many events and activities in the community. They are totally committed in helping one another in leadership, first-aid, camping, and hiking skills. Such outstanding achievements show the diligence, leadership skills, and dedication of these scouts, encouraged by their parents and scout leaders. The Thurmont Lions Club wishes to welcome these youth leaders into our club someday.  Congratulations to Scout Troop 270.

Pictured from left are Troop 270 Scout Leader Julie Bostian, Scout Keegan Coolidge, and Lion Ross Smith, Jr.