By Kathy Brown, Scoutmaster, Troop #44G.
(January 6, 2023) — Haddam BSA Troops #44 (for boys ages 11-17) and #44G (for girls ages 11-17) held its fall Court of Honor on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. Scouts Liam Emigh and Soren Tassmer (photo below) led the ceremony held at the First Congregational Church of Haddam.
There were 13 rank advancements:
- Liam Sikora earned Tenderfoot rank
- Liam Brown, Joe Rizzo, Liam Sikora, Caiden Taylor, Devin Weems, and Mason Weems earned Second Class rank
- Nick Boynton, Cooper Meehl, and Harrison Reed earned First Class rank
- Jaden Frank earned Star rank
- Colin Mitchell and Jackson Pray earned Life rank
There were 78 merit badges awarded to 21 Scouts. Eight Scouts earned five or more merit badges since the last Court of Honor held in June 2022. The Scouts earned merit badges (photo below) at summer camp, at Scout meetings, or during other troop activities.
The following merit badges were awarded (number of Scouts who earned the merit badge in parentheses):
- Animation (2)
- Archery (1)
- Art (1)
- Camping (2)
- Canoeing (5)
- Chess (4)
- Citizenship in the Society (7)
- Citizenship in the Community (1)
- Citizenship in the Nation (2)
- Citizenship in the World (4)
- Climbing (1)
- Communication (1)
- Cooking (2)
- Electronics (1)
- Emergency Preparedness (3)
- Environmental Science (1)
- Family Life (1)
- First Aid (5)
- Fish and Wildlife Management (2)
- Fishing (1)
- Golf (1)
- Lifesaving (2)
- Mammal Study (2)
- Metalwork (1)
- Music (1)
- Nature (1)
- Orienteering (2)
- Personal Fitness (3)
- Reptile and Amphibian Study (1)
- Robotics (1)
- Small Boat Sailing (2)
- Swimming (3)
- Weather (4)
- Wilderness Survival (6)
- Wood Carving (1)
The Scouts brought non-perishable food to the event, which was donated to the Haddam Food Bank.
After the Court of Honor, the Scout Committee, Haddam Citizens for Scouting, treated the Scouts and their families to a pasta dinner.
The troops are very active: camping once a month while school is in session, going on a 3- to 4- day camping trip each May in various locations around New England, attending a week of summer camp at Camp Mattatuck in Plymouth, Connecticut, holding three can & bottle drives a year at the Higganum Community Center (the Saturday following each Memorial Day, Labor Day, and New Year’s Day), and doing varied community service in our town.
If anyone ages 11-17 is interested in learning more about or joining either troop, please come to any regular meeting, which is held when school is in session at the First Congregational Church of Haddam, Tuesday nights 6:30-8:00 p.m. or send an email to Kathy Brown at kjbrown92@aol.com, Scoutmaster Troop #44G or Mark Pach at markcp571@gmail.com, Scoutmaster Troop #44.
Group photo by Kathy Brown
Merit Badge and Candle Lighting photos by Kirt Tassmer
