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WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — The Boy Scout motto is “Be Prepared,” and the Westborough scouts have prepared an outstanding year of fun events as well as important service projects.
Westborough’s three Boy Scout troops all attended a week of camp this past summer at Camp Resolute in Bolton, and one troop traveled to Cimarron, N.M., and hiked for 11 days in the Rocky Mountains at the Philmont Scout Ranch.
There is a saying that “three-quarters of scouting is outing,” and monthly camping trips are one of the main attractions. Next summer, about 25 Westborough scouts and five adult leaders will attend the National Jamboree at the newest Boy Scout high adventure base in West Virginia.
Of course, food always tastes better outdoors, and this year one troop will have a pig roast, another a turkey roast and the third is rumored to be roasting their scoutmaster! And, there is the annual Pancake Breakfast the first Sunday in March which has hosted up to 1,000 attendees in the past.
While camping and outdoor activities are main features of boy scouts, scouts live out their part of the oath, which states "To help other people at all times” through a variety of community projects. Scouts regularly participate in conservation projects, provide services to their chartering organizations, help with microphone duties at Town Meetings and, of course, contribute to the community through many Eagle projects.
A major event is the annual Scouting for Food Drive held every November, one of the largest Good Turns the boy scouts and cub scouts perform. This food drive is done in conjunction with scout troops throughout the U.S. and is coordinated through the local council. Westborough is part of Knox Trail Council, which serves 21 towns in the metro-west area. The council’s goal this year is to collect over 100 tons of food for local food pantries. If that goal is reached, then the scouts in the council will have collected over 4 million pounds of food for local pantries in the 25-year history of this event.
Westborough has always been a “Scouting Town.” In addition to the Boy Scout troops, it hosts an award winning Explorer Post, a co-ed High Adventure Crew and two vibrant Cub Scout Packs.
Over the years the town has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to support Boy Scouting through the annual Good Scout Dinner. The dinner is an opportunity to recognize a member of the community who has demonstrated the values and character traits promoted by scouting. This year’s Good Scout Dinner on Nov. 7 is honoring Ryan Maloney, the owner of Julio’s Liquors, who has generously supported youth and family programs in our area.
If you would like to attend this dinner to honor Ryan or support scouting through a donation, please go to www.ktc-bsa.org/goodscout.htm for more information.
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