Post Tagged with: "Boy Scout Troop 389"

Boy Scout Troop 389 Does 3-Day, 23-Mile Hike on Appalachian Trail

A group of eight Boy Scouts and six adult leaders from ACS Boy Scout Troop 389 went on a 3-day, 23-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail in early June, earning the scouts valuable credit toward a Hiking Merit Badge and creating awesome memories they will not soon forget, according to Scoutmaster and ACS parent Mike Jorgenson.

This was the second time the Troop had hiked a portion of the Appalachian Trail, but the first time was in New Jersey two years ago and this trip had them exploring the trail in Pennsylvania. The hiking trip, from June 2-4, started in Allentown, PA and ended about 10 miles from Hamburg, PA.

“The scouts thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and got to see and do things they had never done before; it was an amazing trip,” Jorgenson said. He noted that along the trail they encountered rattlesnakes, watched big hawks flying below them, explored a cave, enjoyed beautiful mountaintop scenic overlooks, and learned how to be self sufficient and push themselves physically.

“Everything they had for the weekend was on their backs in their backpacks — food, water, shelter, everything,” Jorgenson said. At night, the scouts pitched tents and also did hammock camping.

Jorgenson said the impetus and planning for the trip came from Assistant Scoutmaster and ACS parent Mike Capito, who had previously hiked other portions of the Appalachian Trail, which extends for 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine. Other adult leaders on the trip were Jeff Campsmith, Todd Chamberlain, ACS parent Nathan Petrinec, and ACS parent Jere Engle.

The eight scouts who participated in the trip were: Liam Arburg, Mason Campsmith, Logan Campsmith, ACS 7th grader Gabe Capito, Alex Chamberlain, Peter Chamberlain, ACS 9th grader Noah Engle, and ACS 6th grader Sam Petrinec.

Boy Scout Troop 389 and Cub Pack 389 are chartered by Atlantic Christian School and meet during the school year at ACS on Monday nights. For more information about the Troop or Pack, please contact Troop Committee Chair Peter Karabashian at ppknj@comcast.net.

 

Student Spotlight — 12th Grader Hunter Jorgenson, 2022 Alumnus Joshua Guevara Earn Rank of Eagle Scout

Congratulations to ACS 12th grader Hunter Jorgenson and 2022 alumnus Joshua Guevara for recently earning the rank of Eagle Scout as members of Boy Scout Troop 389, which is chartered by Atlantic Christian School. Hunter and Joshua were recognized for their accomplishments at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on December 17 held in the ACS gym.

A number of dignitaries participated in the ceremony, including U.S. Congressman Jeff Van Drew, New Jersey Assemblyman Don Guardian, Atlantic County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair John Risley, Jr., and Egg Harbor Township Mayor Paul Hodson. Also participating in the ceremony were representatives of the Sons of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Jersey Shore Council Scout Executive James Gillick, Jr.

The dignitaries congratulated each Eagle Scout and presented them with special proclamations and certificates of achievement. Scoutmaster and ACS parent Mike Jorgenson served as the Master of Ceremonies and Assistant Scoutmaster Jeff Campsmith led the Eagle Scouts in the Eagle Scout Pledge. Pastor Robert Trice of One Hope Church opened the Court of Honor with prayer and Pastor George Quinn of Friendship Bible Church gave the closing prayer.

Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen, who attended the ceremony, said was impressed with the character and commitment of both Joshua and Hunter, and praised them for earning the rank of Eagle, which is only achieved by some 4 percent of scout members nationally.

Joshua joined the ACS Boy Scout Troop 389 in 2014 and over his eight years as a scout earned 30 merit badges and held four leadership positions, including Chaplain, Scribe, Treasurer, and Patrol Leader. He was awarded the Eagle Scout rank in May 2022, after completing the required Eagle Scout project.

For his project, Joshua created a 20′ x 16′ oval landscaping bed for the church sign of One Hope Church in Absecon, replacing a smaller bed that was overrun with weeds and ants. The project, which took 91 hours to complete and involved supervising 35 volunteers, included building a brick wall around the landscaping bed, filling the bed with annual and perennial plants, and installing an automatic irrigation system and lighting.

Hunter joined Boy Scout Troop 389 in 2015 and in seven years earned 26 merit badges.  He held five leadership positions in the Troop, including Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, and Chaplain’s Aide.

Hunter’s Eagle Scout project benefited the Longport Veterans Monument. Over two work days in May 2022, Hunter led a group of 14 scouts and 4 adults from Boy Scout Troop 389 in cleaning the stone monument, brickwork, and walking paths, power washing the gazebo, installing a park bench which had been donated and refurbished by the Scouts, and adding plants to the grounds.

ACS Honors, Thanks Area Veterans With Special Breakfast, Chapel on November 3

ACS honored and thanked some 40 area veterans for their service and sacrifice at a special breakfast and chapel on November 3. Student Council officers welcomed and joined the veterans for breakfast, spending time in conversation learning about their experiences serving in the military. Special hand-made thank-you cards made by students were also presented to the veterans during the breakfast.

After breakfast, several hundred students from the 1st-8th grades filled the gym for the Veterans Appreciation Chapel, which was also livestreamed to the kindergarten and high school classrooms. Upper School Principal Meg McHale opened the chapel with prayer. Members of the ACS Boy Scout Troop 389 then presented the colors and 12th grader and Eagle Scout Hunter Jorgenson led everyone in the salute to the American flag.

Students had the opportunity to demonstrate their patriotism by performing a variety of musical numbers.  The Middle School Band, directed by faculty member Tim Rosie, performed “God Bless America,” the PreK4 students sang “The Lord’s Army,” and the 1st grade students sang “America the Beautiful,” directed by faculty member Julie Zimmer.

8th grader Rowynn Shevlin was invited to the podium to share her essay that thanked veterans for the important sacrifices that they make to defend our freedoms. Her essay was chosen out of more than a dozen that were written by 7th and 8th grade students as an extra credit class assignment.  In her essay, Shevlin described veterans as “honorable people who too often have gone through mental and physical strain to make America what it is today.” Shevlin continued — “Your strength and courage are something to be celebrated at least one day a year, if not more.”

A favorite part of the program featured the playing of an “Armed Forces Medley” video. The students cheered and clapped as each service anthem was played and the veterans from each branch stood for their anthem.

Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen introduced the keynote speaker, Lieutenant Colonel Jessica Lewis, who has served for 22 years in the U.S. Air Force. She is also a school parent and her husband, Urick Lewis, is the high school Bible teacher. Lieutenant Colonel Lewis described some of the challenges she faced while serving at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan.  She noted that during times when the base was attacked she always felt “that God was by my side.” She noted that Proverbs 3:5-6 is her favorite Bible verse.

“We often don’t know what God’s plan is, but we have to trust that we all have a purpose,” Lewis said. She also encouraged everyone in the audience to never stop showing gratitude to those who have served and currently serve in the military.

“Our veterans deserve all our respect, and not necessarily for fighting in a war but for preventing them,” Lewis said. She then closed with the famous quote from World War II General Douglas MacArthur — “Remember that the soldier above all others prays for peace.”

The chapel program concluded with the Middle School Worship Team bringing everyone to their feet to join in singing the lively worship songs “My Jesus” and “My Father’s House.” Three 8th grade soloists were featured in the songs — Abigail Kelley, Isabella Santos, and Rowynn Shevlin.

After chapel, students from elementary to high school placed American flags outdoors along the sidewalk on Zion Road in honor of our veterans. The flags will remain in place through November 11, the national Veteran Day holiday.

 

ACS Cheerleaders, Scouts Participate in Longport Memorial Day Parade

The ACS Cheer Squad and members of the ACS Boy Scout Troop 389 and Cub Scout Pack 389, joined by ACS parents and staff, marched in the Memorial Day Parade in Longport, NJ on Monday, May 31 to honor the memory of those who have served in the U.S. military and given their lives for their service.

The cheerleaders and scouts were also joined by ACS parents and staff as they walked the half-mile long parade route along 35th Avenue and Ventnor Avenue in Longport. The parade, which was organized by American Legion Post 459, concluded at the Thomas B. Reed Park near the Longport Bridge, where a Memorial Day ceremony was held.

This is the second year that the ACS scouts have marched in the parade. ACS 5th grader Brandon Jorgenson carried the U.S. flag at the head of the procession, flanked by ACS 11th grader Joshua Guevara, who carried the Troop’s Boy Scout Jersey Shore Council flag.

“We were so glad to have the opportunity to participate in the parade and help honor the memory of so many fallen heroes,” said staff member Kelly Flynn. Flynn and staff member Kelly Gibson are co-coaches of the ACS Cheer Squad, which has 23 students in middle school and high school.

It was the first time that the ACS cheerleaders had participated in the event. The cheerleaders handed out candy and ACS pens, and waved at the children and families who lined the streets of the parade route and watched from balconies.

 

 

5th Graders Gabe Capito, Billy Winkel Earn Cub Scouting Arrow of Light Rank, Advance to ACS Boy Scout Troop 389

Congratulations to 5th graders Gabe Capito and Billy Winkel, who earned the Arrow of Light rank, the highest achievement in Cub Scouts, and advanced into the ACS Boy Scout Troop 389 during a crossover ceremony on February 22 in the ACS gym.

Cubmaster Carrie Jorgenson, an ACS parent and school nurse, was thrilled to be a part of the crossover ceremony to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of Billy and Gabe, who have been part of Cub Pack 389 for the past two and half years.

“Both Billy and Gabe worked very hard to achieve the Arrow of Light,” said Cubmaster Jorgenson. “They never missed a Cub Pack meeting or outing and they have gained a wide range of knowledge and skills with each of the badges they earned.” Jorgenson said some of the skills the boys have learned include: wood carving, foraging, how to build an outdoor shelter, how to build a campfire and cook over it, knife safety, water safety, first aid, and environmental science and conservation.

As proud family members and fellow scouts looked on, Scoutmaster and ACS parent Mike Jorgenson welcomed the boys into Boy Scout Troop 389, which has grown to 19 members. Several Boy Scouts also participated in the crossover ceremony, tying on a Boy Scout neckerchief onto Billy and Gabe.

The Boy Scout Troop 389 and Cub Pack 389, which are chartered by Atlantic Christian School, meet weekly on Mondays at ACS at 7 p.m.  For more information about the scouting program at ACS, contact Scoutmaster Mike Jorgenson for children ages 11 and older at 609-464-3957, and contact Cubmaster Carrie Jorgenson for children from K to the 5th grade at 609-289-1489.

 

ACS Scout Troop 389 Receives Bass Pro/Cabela’s Grant for New Camping Equipment

Boy Scout Troop 389, chartered by Atlantic Christian School in Egg Harbor Township, recently received a grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund for new camping equipment, just in time for the Troop’s August 21-22 outing to Treasure Island on the Delaware River.

“Our Troop has been steadily growing and our Scouts love to camp and go backpacking so this new equipment was exactly what we needed,” said Scoutmaster and ACS parent Mike Jorgenson. “It was in God’s perfect timing that we received this equipment right when we needed it.”

The grant provided $1,800 worth of camping equipment, including eight Ascend Orion 3 three-person tents, one Bass Pro 3 burner high output propane stove, two cast iron camp ovens, and two five-piece cast iron cookware sets. Several scouts and Troop leaders picked up the new equipment at the Bass Pro Shop in Atlantic City on July 31, where they met with Megan Werber, the store’s general manager.  Pictured from left are: Troop Committee Chair Peter Karabashian, Scoutmaster Mike Jorgenson, Scout Mason Campsmith, Scout and ACS 5th grader Brandon Jorgenson, Scout Logan Campsmith, Bass Pro General Manager Megan Werber, Scout and ACS 10th grader Hunter Jorgenson, and Scout Leader Jeffrey Campsmith.

Jorgenson said the Scouts had the opportunity to get trained on how to set up the tents and other equipment during Scout meetings prior to their August camping trip, where the tents, stove, and cookware were all put to good use.

“We’re very grateful to Bass Pro Corporate and the staff in the Atlantic City store for supporting our Troop and helping us reach our goal of training our Scouts to be skilled outdoorsmen,” said Troop Committee Chair Peter Karabashian, who worked on the grant application with Troop Treasurer Dr. James Wurzer. “Our Scouts have used the equipment and they especially love the tents because they’re easy to assemble, lightweight, and rainproof.”

New Scout Service Project Cleans Up Litter on ACS Campus, Zion Road

Scouts from the ACS Boy Scout Troop 389 and Cub Pack 389 were out in force on June 8 to help clean up our community by picking up trash and litter on the school grounds and along Zion Road from our school campus to Ocean Heights Avenue.

Scoutmaster Mike Jorgenson said the scouts will be doing this service project four times a year and will receive grant funding from the Atlantic County Utilities Authority for their efforts.

“We applaud the scouts for stepping forward to take on a service project that will benefit our school and the surrounding community,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “What a great way to learn about the importance of being good stewards of our environment.”

School Garden, Greenhouse Ready for Summer, Fall Growing and Learning

The ACS school garden and greenhouse are ready for new opportunities for children to develop their green thumbs this summer and fall thanks to grant funding from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program and revitalization efforts by our Garden Club advisors, school groundskeeper, and the ACS Boy Scout Troop Scoutmaster.

Activity for ACS students in the school garden and greenhouse usually goes into high gear in the spring, but due to the coronavirus outbreak, the school campus was closed from mid-March to the end of the school year. The roofing of the greenhouse was damaged by inclement weather and the raised garden beds were in need of weeding and new planting.

New, heavy-duty plastic sheeting for the greenhouse roof was purchased with the AtlantiCare grant funds and installed by Scoutmaster Mike Jorgenson. Jorgenson had led a team of scouts that built the greenhouse, which first opened in October 2018. Repairs and clean-up of the raised garden beds were carried out in June by Garden Club Advisors Bethany Kiefer and Eric Tardif and groundskeeper Brandon Stevens. Using grant funds, Kiefer and Tardif also purchased and planted a variety of vegetables and a few flowers in the garden, which they will maintain during the summer months.

Tardif, who is an ACS 4th grade teacher and the Cougar Camp Director, said campers will have the opportunity to water, weed, and learn about how to grow plants organically in pesticide-free soil as part of their camp experience. Some of the vegetables growing in the garden include tomatoes, squash, beans, eggplant, peppers, and watermelon. Tardif said produce harvested from the garden will be used in camp cooking classes and donated to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Southern Branch.

Kiefer, who is an ACS 5th grade teacher, said activity in the greenhouse will get underway in the fall, and maintaining and harvesting produce from the garden beds will also continue. Both teachers said they are looking forward to seeing students back in the garden again when the after-school Garden Club gets underway.

ACS Cub Scout and 4th Grader Brandon Jorgenson Achieves Arrow of Light Award

ACS 4th grader Brandon Jorgenson was recently recognized for achieving  the Arrow of Light, the highest honor in Cub Scouts, at a cross-over ceremony on February 24 in the ACS Multi-Purpose Room. The cross-over ceremony is akin to a graduation, where Cub Scout Webelos transition to become Boy Scouts.

The ACS ceremony included walking over a wood bridge with planks named after the 12 principles of the Scout Law.  Brandon, pictured above second from left, participated in the ceremony,  along with three other Cub Scouts who attend other schools in the community. The Cub Scouts crossed over the bridge as members of ACS Cub Pack 389 and into the ACS Boy Scout Troop 389.

Brandon was warmly welcomed into the Troop by his older brother, Hunter, an ACS 9th grader. The Jorgenson family is actively involved in the scouting program at ACS. Mike Jorgenson is the Scoutmaster and Carrie Jorgenson is the Cubmaster.

The ACS Scouts — Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts — meet at Atlantic Christian School on Monday nights. The goal of scouting is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, personal fitness, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities and educational programs. Cub Scouts is for boys from 1st -5th grades. Boy Scouts is for boys from 6th grade until 18 years old.

ACS Boy Scout Troop, Cub Scout Pack Win Regional Scout Show Awards

Boy Scout Troop 389 and Cub Scout Pack 389, which are chartered by Atlantic Christian School, won three significant awards at the Sea Pines District Jersey Shore Council Scout Show held on Saturday, February 2 at the Hamilton Mall.  Boy Scout Troop 389 captured first place among four area Boy Scout Troops and best overall in the show for its informational exhibit entitled “What’s In Your Pack?”  The Cub Scout Pack 389 took second place for its exhibit on animals that are native to southern New Jersey.  ACS students Calvin Costello, Matt Dietrich, Jackson Gayeski, Joshua Guevara, and Hunter Jorgenson worked alongside seven other Troop members to create an interesting, inter-active display that tested visitors and judges alike on their knowledge of how to pack a backpack for different purposes. 8th grader Hunter Jorgenson, who is a Star Scout, came up with the exhibit theme, a take-off on the Capital One slogan –“What’s In Your Wallet?” The “What’s In Your Pack” exhibit included four backpacks with different contents — for survival, camping, hiking, and traveling in a car — and the challenge was to identify each pack by examining its contents. Jorgenson, whose father Mike Jorgenson is the Scoutmaster, said the troop worked for about a month to prepare their exhibit.

Cubmaster Carrie Jorgenson said she was very proud of the 11 boys in her Cub Pack and the way they prepared for their exhibit on native area birds, bats, and butterflies, which included building a butterfly feeder, a bat house, and a purple marlin house. ACS 3rd grader and Webelo Brandon Jorgenson and fellow Webelo Mark Wurzer ably answered the judges questions at the show about the various animals, their habitats, diets, and much more. Other ACS students in the Pack who worked on the exhibit were 3rd graders Gabriel Capito and William Winkel and 4th grader Saywer Gayeski.  The ACS Boy Scout Troop and Pack meet on Mondays from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the ACS campus. For more information on scouting at ACS, contact Mrs. Jorgenson at cjorgenson@acseht.org.

Scout Troop, Cub Pack 389 Receive Year-End Awards

Congratulations to several ACS students who received awards on December 17 for their accomplishments as Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. ACS is the charter organization that sponsors both Cub Pack 389 and Boy Scout Troop 389, which meet Monday nights at ACS. Cubmaster and ACS parent Carrie Jorgenson recognized 3rd graders Gabriel Capito and Billy Winkel for completing their requirements to advance to the rank of Bear. Each boy also received a kit to build a Pinewood Derby racing car in preparation for an upcoming race in February.

Boy Scout leader and ACS parent Randy Guevara recognized three ACS students for completing various skills to advance in their Boy Scout ranking. 10th grader Matthew Dietrich has achieved the rank of 1st Class, 9th grader Joshua Guevara has advanced to Life Scout, one step away from Eagle Scout, and 6th grader Jayden Sanchez has advanced to the rank of Scout. Scoutmaster and ACS parent Mike Jorgenson said the troop is looking forward to participating in the Klondike Derby in January, an outdoor winter skills competition, and in the Scout Show and Pinewood Derby in February and March.