Boy Scout Troop 318 Celebrates 75th Anniversary on April 1, 2013 at the Civic Center

Orland Boy Scout Troop 318 has been around for 75 years.  To celebrate please join us at the Village Board Meeting at 7:00 on April 1, 2013.  Cost is $10 and you can sign-up on our website www.orlandtroop318.org or e-mail Jim Harmening (jim@computer-bits.com).

Mayor Dan McLaughlin will make a proclamation at the board meeting and Troop 318 will present the colors.

After the proclamation we will walk next door to the Orland Civic Center and have great food from Berkot's and Big Band Music from Peter's Project.  A group of mostly student musicians from the Troop and Sandburg High School. 

A bit of history about the troop:

At the end of 2012, we had 108 registered Scouts and 76 registered adult leaders.  1938 – April 1  - Orland State Bank is the Original Charter Organization for Boy Scout Troop 318.  In 1996 – Marquette Bank purchases Orland State Bank and remains Charter Organization for Orland Boy Scout Troop 318.

3 Eagle Scout from 1938 to 1963 (25th Anniversary), 18 Eagle scouts  1963 to 1988(50th Anniversary),  111 Eagle Scouts 1988 to 2013 (75th Anniversary) Total of 132 Eagle Scouts.  First Eagle Scout - Virgil Butler 1941, most recent Eagle Scout - Jack Harmening. Our fourth Eagle scout was Dan Wentz who drove all the way in from St. Louis for our 70th Anniversary party and then drove back to care for his patients (he is a Veterinarian). We have a troop 318 Eagle Scout at the U.S. Air Force Academy (Junior) Adam Kenes, he also has an older brother Michael who is a Troop 318 Eagle Scout.  A younger brother Kevin enrolled in the Kelly School of Business at Indiana Universtity and another very young brother Eric  who is currently in the troop.  They could break the record and have 4 Eagles from troop 318 - No Pressure Eric!

Our current Scoutmaster is Tim Murray and the committee Chairman is Bill Karabel.  The troop is in excellent hands!

Orland Park Eagle Scout Projects:

The most recent Orland Project is Alex Sandoval, building and installing large informational signs on the bike and walking paths at 7 locations throughout Orland Park.  Cost savings of $7,000 to village residents.

Jack Harmening 2012 – Survey bike paths and create pictures and GPS coordinates for Roads department to assess and fix.

Brian McMahon 2010 – Blue Bird Revival at Centennial Park -  Building and installing bird houses to encourage Blue Birds.

Patrick McMahon 2010 – Garden and sign by the Old Caboose off 153rd and the train tracks west of West Avenue.

Our current neckerchief patch design is by scout Michael Kohler.  It includes images of the Flag, the Boy Scout Fleur-de-lis, and our Scoutmasters favorite advice – Stay Focused, Stay Hydrated, and Stay Cool.

For the past 5 years, adult Assistant Scoutmaster Frank Perino of Orland Park, has run the Adopt-A-Highway for Boy Scout Troop 318.  We take care of LaGrange Road on the west side from 131st to the tracks at 142nd.

Orland Troop 318 and Orland VFW Post 2604 teamed up 8 years ago to have an annual Pancake Breakfast.  7 years ago a blood drive was added by Orland Park Resident, Assistant Scoutmaster Marty Nachel. The past 2 years Troop 318 teamed up with new Orland Boy Scout Troop 383 and the VFW for an even bigger event.  The breakfast has raised several thousand dollars and over 250 pints of blood.  In October 2012, 38 pints of blood were donated including 2 from Eagle Scouts Dan Magee and Ryan McGuire.

Our community service has earned us the phrase "The Power of 318".  We have helped Peace Memorial Church Habitat for Humanity Day 2012.

Orland Park Special Olympics Bowling - Our troop has helped at Orland Bowl the past few years with scouts and leaders volunteering to help with the event.  The scouts were friendly, and helped out the athletes when necessary. Lot’s of “high Fives” were given along with congratulations on great shots.

Orland Troop 318 Boy Scouts provided the World Famous Monkey Bridge for over 500 boys from the Calumet Council Nishnabec - Cub Scout Yukon Days. 

Orland Park Troop 318 has been a part of Orland Community days at the Mall and Century Junior High school.  Scouts have encouraged participation in scouting and helped get the word out about the great things Boy Scouts are doing in our community.

Our Boy Scout Troop has 6 leaders who have earned the Wood Badge Award – The BSA’s highest training award for adult leaders.  Dr. Jim Magee, Mr. Tim Murray, Mrs. Cindy Murray, Mr. Roger Sandoval, Mr. Jerry Stechmiller, Mr. Frank Perino and Mr. Rich Lisak.

We attend summer camp at beautiful Camp Ransburg in southern Indiana. This summer; 73 boy scouts attended summer camp at Ransburg, 29 were first-year Boy Scouts, that recently crossed over from Cub Scouts they worked on 238 merit badges, and completed 183 MBs including Aviation, Engineering, and Wilderness Survival to name a few. In addition 22 scouts advanced in rank

Orland Park Troop 318 has earned the highest National Recognition the Gold Journey to Excellence Award from Boy Scouts of America since the inception of the award in 2011.  In addition, the troop for the previous 10 years earned the Quality Unit Award and the Centennial Quality Unit Award - The highest troop recognician.

We are most proud of the accomplishments of past scouts in the troop who have gone on to lead exemplary lives.  No matter what rank they attained, the values learned from scouting help a person their entire life.