Area Boy Scouts of America members attended an informal hand-off of equipment to a Parma-area troop Sept. 17 at the Boy Scout Lodge in Middlefield Village.
Area Boy Scouts of America members attended an informal hand-off of equipment to a Parma-area troop Sept. 17 at the Boy Scout Lodge in Middlefield Village.
Boy Scout Troop 4076 is disbanding and decided to donate uniforms, tents, sleeping bags, utensils and cook stoves to Boy Scout Troop 470 from the Saint Columbkille Parish in Parma.
Many of the scouts were aging out of the program, said Troop 4076 Master Mark Pegritz, who has been a leader for about 20 years, first in Huntsburg Township, then Parkman Township (with meetings occurring in Middlefield).
A few of the younger Scouts plan to join other troops, he said, adding a committee discussed what to do with the piles of equipment, including a telescope in the closet, a pinewood derby set and a sled in the basement, and decided Troop 470 could use it.
Troop 470 Scout Master Mike Pataki spoke to the group gathered in the lodge’s front yard at Mineral Lake Park Sunday evening before items were loaded into a couple of enclosed trailers by scouts.
“I can’t express enough gratitude for 4076 giving us this equipment,” he said. “I promise we will put it to good use.”
Pataki said the unit was re-chartered in February after a 10-year hiatus because a large number of boys were interested in joining. The leaders have been funding purchase of essential equipment, but the donation from Troop 4076 means the troop members from Parma and Seven Hills will be able to earn more merit badges and rank advancement, he said.
“Ultimately, the boys want to continue from the lower ranks, from Scout all the way to Eagle Scout,” Pataki said, adding he has at least another eight boys interested in joining soon.
Currently, he has 10 Scouts signed up and a Cub Scout Pack of about 30, he said.
An equipment trailer was also donated so Troop 470 could move the items stored in an attic into a more mobile space, Pataki said.
Troop 4076 has graduated seven members to Eagle Scout status, Pegritz said.
The most recent Eagle Scout, Raymond Kozelka, 18, watched the activity, his numerous merit badges spread across his shoulder. He recalled starting as a Tiger Scout and moving up the ranks to finally become an Eagle Scout.
As a student at the iSTEM Geauga Early College High School in Painesville, Kozelka said his goal is to work in digital security in a few years.
Considering the projected growth of Troop 470, Pataki said his group is happy to repurpose the equipment “in the spirit of brotherhood and Scouting.”
