Boy Scout Troop 97 and Cub Scout Pack 97 recently took part in Refuse at the Reservoir. Participants donned boots and fluorescent yellow vests to hike the trails along the Middletown Reservoir and remove trash.
Scoutmaster Bill Lee had previously reviewed the seven principles of Leave No Trace (LNT) with Troop 97, and the event gave Scouts an opportunity to put a few of those points into practice. The Scout Motto is "Be Prepared," which mirrors the first LNT principle of Plan Ahead and Prepare.
The main purpose of the cleanup was to remove trash from the reservoir in accordance with the LNT principle of Dispose of Waste Properly. Cleanup participants found that most of the trash had already made it to the trash barrels along the trail. Scouts, leaders, and parents emptied these barrels, collected other garbage they could safely reach, and hauled out 18 large bags along with a few folding chairs.
Scouts took time to photograph the beauty of nature, and all were careful to observe wildlife from a distance. These activities aligned with the LNT principles of Leave What You Find and Respect Wildlife.
Scouts from Troop 97 and Pack 97 attend the Middletown and the Lower Dauphin school districts. The Scouts planned to distribute door hangers and then collect donations for the annual Scouting For Food drive in November.
Troop 97 is sponsored by the Londonderry Fire Company of Middletown. For more information, readers may contact Ted Pauley at tszm@hotmail.com.
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