Boy Scout Cabin Being Built In Turkey Creek Township
Boy Scout Cabin Being Built In Turkey Creek Township
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Boy Scout Cabin Being Built In Turkey Creek TownshipSYRACUSE - Boy Scouts of America's motto is to "Be Prepared."
Boy Scouts from Troop 728, Syracuse, will be able to carry out that motto by helping build a cabin where their activities will take place. Their camping and canoeing equipment also will be stored at the cabin.
An annual camporee will take place in the cabin where Boy Scouts from Kosciusko and Whitley counties will attend.Boy Scout Troop 728, Syracuse, currently holds its meetings and activities in the basement of the Church of God, Syracuse, but needs more room.
The troop currently has 10 Scouts, but Cub Scouts will become Boy Scouts in February and there will be 20 Scouts in the troop.
A ground-breaking ceremony for the cabin was Wednesday night, with plans to have the Scouts use the cabin this winter.
The cabin is being built north of CR 1000N on CR 500E in Turkey Creek Township, south of Syracuse, at the Gus Grissom Scout Woods.
Bill Dixon, Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club president, said the Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Charitable Foundation has raised $90,000 for the cabin. They also have $60,000 of promised in-kind labor and materials from contractors. The goal is to still raise $10,000.
"Boy Scouts is the one place where boys don't have to be the fastest, biggest, brawniest or brainiest to stand out," said Dixon, who also serves as Cub master of Pack 3828, Syracuse, and is assistant Scout master of Boy Scout Troop 728, Syracuse.
He said Boy Scouts excel on their own effort, merit and motivation by learning leadership and life skills.
The 40-foot by 96-foot cabin is being built by Yoder Custom Built Homes, Syracuse, and Don's Excavating, Syracuse, is doing the dirt work.
Boy Scout Troop 728 will assist with hanging drywall, blowing installation and doing electrical work on the cabin.
As the charter organization for the Syracuse Boy Scouts, the club is responsible for providing the Scouts with a safe meeting place where they can meet and learn skills and values.
The original cabin was used for 62 years and build in Crossom Mill Park, but the cabin was torn down eight years ago and a replacement cabin will be built.
There was a structural issue with the first cabin, and it could not be rebuilt at Crossom Mill Park due to insurance laws, Dixon said.
To help meet Scouting and charitable commitments, in 1997, the Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club created the Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Charitable Foundation Inc.
The Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club was founded in 1947.
The foundation owns more than 20 acres, known as the Scout Woods, where Boy Scouts have used the woods for camping for decades. That is where the cabin is being built.
There are approximately 60 boys in the Syracuse Scouting program that need a cabin, according to Bob Smith, Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Charitable Foundation Inc. president.
Jeff Dunithan, Boy Scout Troop 728 Scout master, said the cabin will help the troop grow.
"The cabin will be great for multiple uses where Scouts will be able to do book work inside the cabin and then will be able to do outside activities," Dunithan said.
A spaghetti supper fund-raiser for the cabin will be Nov. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Wawasee High School cafeteria. The cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children ages 2-12.
The supper is being organized by Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club, Syracuse Lions Club, Syracuse Knights of Columbus, and United Methodist Women of St. Andrews.
