[MD] Boy Scouts of all ages exceed 'expectations'

[Dedicated Dad]

Boy Scouts of all ages exceed 'expectations'

Pledge: A troop in Severna Park was formed 24 years ago to help people succeed despite their disabilities.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Jackie Powder

Sun Staff

Originally published February 12, 2002

 

 

 

The members of Boy Scout Troop 216 don't tell stories around the campfire or go on 50-mile weekend hikes. It may take two years of work to earn a citizenship merit badge, and it's unlikely that anyone in this troop will make Eagle Scout before the age of 40.

 

But few Scouts wear their uniforms more proudly.

 

Created 24 years ago to offer Scouting to the disabled, Troop 216 gathers twice a month in the Knights of Columbus hall on Ritchie Highway. There, volunteers pass on Scouting's practical skills and timeless values to the 19 Boy Scouts who range in age from 16 to 65.

 

Many have Down syndrome. One boy has a neurological disorder that requires him to wear a helmet during any physical activity. Another member is a former college history professor who lost his short-term memory in a car accident more than 20 years ago.

 

When not in this meeting hall in Severna Park, they're frequently perceived and treated as outsiders. But here, wearing their Boy Scout uniforms- some decorated with more than 20 merit badges - they belong.

 

"We do all the Boy Scout things, we just do it slower," said James Dunne, 67, the troop's Scoutmaster for the past seven years. "You give them a little time, a little space and they'll get there. They're all loving people, and every one of them is trying hard the best they can in life. They're happy and proud to wear the uniform."

 

What they learn makes a difference in their lives.

 

Robert Szuba's Scouting skills made it possible for the 34-year-old senior troop patrol leader to take part in a moving ceremony at his father's funeral last year.

 

At one of the troop's summer camping excursions, 38-year-old Kevin Sweany made a leather key chain imprinted with the Scout insignia for his father.

 

Matthew McClain, 35, loves Scouting so much that sometimes he wears his full dress uniform to church and to his job at a Rite Aid in Edgewater.

 

"It has become a family for him, an extension of his family," said Ruth McClain, his mother. "It's a safe environment for him to grow in his relationships with his peers, to have goals and to have success stories."

 

Troop 216 is one of a few in the Baltimore area for members with special needs. Other troops for disabled Scouts exist, but they're generally affiliated with special education schools.

 

The Holy Trinity Knights of Columbus has sponsored the troop since 1978, when Eagle Scout Dan Pazdersky and Charlie Smith, Jim George and John Pazdersky - three members of the Catholic service organization - started it.

 

Most of the troop's members can't read, write or count. They come from different parts of Anne Arundel County and live in group homes or with family members.

 

Despite their limitations, they camp several times a year at Broad Creek in Harford County, attend the Boy Scout National Jamboree and work to earn merit badges. One member is an Eagle Scout - the highest rank in Scouting - and three are Life Scouts, the second-highest rank.

 

"Nothing is given; they earn it, which offers them a real sense of pride," said Gene Fox, director of special needs Scouting with the Baltimore Area Council of Boy Scouts.

 

At a recent meeting of Troop 216, Dunne stands before the uniformed Scouts, who are neatly outfitted in olive-green pants, tan shirts and blue kerchiefs knotted at the neck.

 

While Dunne takes attendance, some of the Scouts murmur to themselves and nod to no one in particular. One rubs his eyes vigorously; another stares across the room with his fingers in his mouth.

 

"OK, we're working on our citizenship series of badges," Dunne says. "This is an election year. Does anyone know what elections will take place in the state?"

 

"Who is the current governor?" "Who's the county executive? Anybody remember? It's a woman."

 

After prolonged silences to each question, the volunteers provide the answers.

 

"What happened to President Bush over the weekend?" Dunne continues.

 

"He got hurt," answers Sweany. "How?" Dunne asks.

 

"Somebody shot him," Sweany says loudly.

 

"Noooooo," Dunne and other volunteers groan. "He choked on a pretzel."

 

"Pretzel," Sweany shouts.

 

Dunne knows he'll be asking the same questions at future meetings until he gets some correct answers.

 

"We go over them, we go over them, and we go over them," he says.

 

Experience has taught Dunne that repetition is the key to getting a point across to his troop members. And he understood quickly that he had to adapt to their pace.

 

"The way I learned I couldn't rush them was I tried to rush them," he said. "One of them got up and went home. He wasn't going to be rushed."

 

Dunne also discovered early on that these Boy Scouts love to hug at any opportunity.

 

"We meet here to go camping, and they all have to hug each other," he said. "Then we go to the bus, and they have to hug before they get in the bus. They're huggers."

 

It takes a devoted cadre of volunteers who put in long hours to keep the troop going, and like the Scouts, most have been affiliated with the group for a number of years and with Scouting for decades.

 

Assistant Scoutmaster Alice Gearhart, 73, has driven the troop members to camp and other outings for 16 years. Gearhart, a school bus driver, also prepares an annual Thanksgiving dinner for the troop at Broad Creek and gives the Scouts their medications on camping trips.

 

Other volunteers help Dunne, a retired civil engineer, run the troop, whether organizing field trips or keeping track of badge awards.

 

Dunne's connection to his troop members extends beyond working on merit badges. He knows when they change jobs, when they're sick, when to offer help.

 

He didn't hesitate to get involved last February when he heard that Robert Szuba's father had died at home while the son was at his job at a woodworking program for the disabled.

 

"I didn't want them to remove the body until Robert came home," Dunne said. "That provided excellent closure for Robert because he knew his father was gone."

 

At the funeral, Szuba honored his father by folding an American flag and presenting it to his mother - a skill he learned in Boy Scouts.

 

"He was quite proud, and his family was quite proud that he stepped forward and did it," Dunne said.

 

The volunteers who work with Troop 216 say they're constantly surprised by the Scouts' accomplishments.

 

At camp, they cook their own meals over a fire. They've mastered the two-man saw. And at a Baltimore County rifle range, they impressed the range master with their abilities to shoot safely.

 

"When I told the parents what we did, they about died," Dunne said of the trip to the range.

 

"Sometimes the expectations of parents may be limited," he said. "We try our best to challenge them to do things that maybe they weren't expected to do."

 

http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.scout12feb12.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dheadlines

[sctmom]

This has to be one of the best Scouting stories I have ever read. These are the stories that BSA needs shown on the evening news.

 

::::reaching for my tissue to wipe away the tears::::

 

[Chief Decorah]

DD,

Your soft underbelly is showing. As one who has a son with cerebral palsy and has never been able to be a Scout like his brother, I smiled through the entire story. Thanks for sharing it with the group.

 

CD

[Rooster7]

I live less than 20 miles from Severna Park! I hope to visit this troop someday soon...Although, I'm afraid that these guys just might make me shed a tear or two...It could be embarassing. DD, thanks for the story.

[TomBeeb]

DD,

I had goosebumps.

If ever there was a story about "DO YOUR BEST", this is it!

[Dedicated Dad]

I was looking for a donation link for the K of C Holy Trinity Council 3413 and they dont have one on their web site. So heres the home page link, if you cant make a donation, a phone call of encouragement Im sure would be appreciated. http://www.mdkofc.org/holytrinity/default.htm R7, I thought you were near by. BTW, did Terry forward my email to you?

 

 

 

[Glenn]

Dedicated Dad,

 

Thank you so much for posting this story. As my brother has Down Syndrome, I realize the time and effort the volunteers have to put in. I really admire them for this. And for the scouts to show the tenacity to master the skills is also commendable.

 

Thank you again.

[buffalo2]

One more time...

Offer a prayer of thanks for how good we've got it

[Stan Riddle]

This is best thing I've read on the board in some time, and hopefully brings us back to what Scouting is all about. Not the gay issue, or who's backpacking ideas are best, or how to deal with the challenging boy of the week, but doing a good turn daily.

 

 

[Dedicated Dad]

 

 

Bump to StanIt is about doing a Good Turn Daily. Thanks for the wake-up call>

 

 

 

[Rooster7]

DD, I'll have to check my email at home. I don't think we have received anything, but I could be wrong. It's possible that he has the wrong email address. I had some wierd stuff happen when I first try to establish an account on this site.

[Dedicated Dad]

R7, Maybe you can ask him to send me yours, I know he has mine.