Showing posts with label scouts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scouts. Show all posts

Girl Scout Troop hosts STEM event featuring Hall-of-Fame Astronaut Dr. Bonnie Dunbar

Monday, May 6, 2013


Dr. Bonnie Dunbar will speak at
Girl Scout event in Shoreline
Retired astronaut Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, who was recently inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®, is returning to Seattle to be the featured speaker at a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) event hosted by Girl Scout Junior Troop 41002.

The event will include two presentations by Dr. Dunbar, who will share the pictures she took from space, and a presentation by two video game designers, Bronwen Grimes and Kristine Ishii. It will also include an egg drop competition, and about 40 hands-on activities and exhibits. The Troop expects more than 400 girls to attend the May 11th event at Einstein Middle School in Shoreline.

The troop invited Dr. Dunbar to speak after one of the troop’s members heard Dr. Dunbar speak at a Seattle Rotary luncheon. Dr. Dunbar mentioned that most kids have decided by about third grade whether or not they will pursue a career in science, technology, engineering or math. After some discussion at a troop meeting, the Scouts decided that they could make a difference by hosting a STEM event to get girls excited about these fields.

“We didn’t understand why all the STEM classes are in middle school and high school and not in elementary school,” says Emily Goergen, the event marketing chair. “By the time you reach middle and high school, it’s too late.” Ms. Goergen is a fourth grader at Edmonds Elementary.

Dr. Dunbar was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame a few weeks ago, joining the ranks of legendary space pioneers such as Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, and Sally Ride. Dr. Dunbar served as a shuttle mission specialist and payload commander on five shuttle missions from 1985 to 1998. 

She logged more than 1,200 hours – more than 50 days – in space. She has received many awards, including NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Award in 1993. Dr. Dunbar was recently appointed to lead the University of Houston’s new science, technology, engineering and math center, and to teach in the College of Engineering.

The event will be held on Saturday, May 11th, from 9:30am until 12:30pm at Einstein Middle School in Shoreline. 19343 3rd Ave NW, Shoreline 98177. Dr. Dunbar will be speaking twice, at about 9:45am and again at 10:45am.

The Troop expects about 400 girls, primarily from King and Snohomish counties, about 200 troop leaders and 100 community volunteers to attend the event.

About Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts of Western Washington serves more than 26,000 girls in Kindergarten to 12th grade in western Washington with the help of nearly 13,000 volunteers.

Girl Scout Junior Troop 41002 is based in Edmonds, Washington, with troop members in Edmonds, Lynnwood and Shoreline. The girls are in fourth and fifth grades.


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Rummage Sale at St. Luke School Saturday

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Brownie Girl Scout Troop 43139 is holding a rummage sale at St. Luke School auditorium on:

Saturday April 13, 2013 from 9:30-2pm and 
Sunday April 14 from 10-1pm 
at 17533 St. Luke Place North, Shoreline, WA 98133.

There will be toys, clothes, shoes, games, books, household items, baby items, furniture, and a fashion boutique. Popcorn and drinks for sale as well as plants.


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Boy scouts don't melt in the rain - and we have pictures to prove it

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

At the Lyre River Campground north of Lake Crescent.


Boy scouts don't melt in the rain
By Kurt Herzog, Leader

Heck, we barely even notice it. And it sure didn't stop Troop 853 from a recent 15-mile mountain bike trip through Olympic National Park and along the north side of Lake Crescent.

On March 16-18 the Shoreline troop took 10 scouts and four adults across the Sound an to the Olympic Peninsula for a practice ride in preparation for their summer San Juan Island cycling expedition. 

On the Olympic Discovery Trail by Lake Crescent.
It rained a little on Saturday and Saturday night, but scouts have learned to be prepared for this by dressing appropriately and knowing how and where to set up tents and tarps.

Sunday, the troop rode the Spruce Railroad Trail that follows the grade of what was once the tracks of a logging railroad along the shores of the lake.

On the Devil's Punch Bowl bridge,
Spruce Railroad Trail, north side Lake Crescent.

Following this trail on the north side of the lake, one can find the entrance to an old railroad tunnel as well as "Devils Punch Bowl," a popular swimming and diving area. Lake Crescent is also famous for being the second-deepest lake in the state (624 feet) and for its brilliant blue waters and exceptional clarity.


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One Day 5K will provide malaria nets for Africa

Friday, March 29, 2013

An inexpensive mosquito net protects against malaria

Sophie Knudson is a junior at Shorecrest High School and a local girl scout. She is working for her Girl Scout Gold Award - the highest award you can earn as a girl scout - similar to an Eagle Scout Award.

For her project, she is directing and organizing the first annual One Day 5K, a 5K walk/run aiming to help raise money to combat malaria. 

It is a fun, family-friendly race taking place on April 13, 2013 at 9am at the Shoreline Stadium (18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline WA 98155)

21,000 children die DAILY due to preventable causes. One of the top four killers is malaria. My mission: One day we will eradicate malaria. Therefore, the proceeds from the race will go toward providing insecticide treated mosquito nets and malaria prevention education to families in rural Kenya.

Register on the project website - $25 pre-registration includes t-shirt - $30 day of race.
Ghost Runners can register, get a t-shirt, and not run!



The more people who register or donate to the race, the more nets we are able to provide for families and the more lives are saved across the world! You can make a direct impact in saving lives halfway across the globe!

For questions or more information, contact Sophie Knudson


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Shorewood collecting gently used baseball and softball equipment for youth organization

Thursday, March 28, 2013


Little League in Japan
Shorewood is helping to collect new and gently used baseball and softball equipment. They will also accept soccer balls that will be deflated and brought to El Salvador this summer. 

The equipment will be sent to Pitch In For Baseball in Harleyville, PA and will benefit national and international youth baseball and softball teams in depressed areas of the US, as well as countries such as Uganda, India, and Mexico. Most likely, the equipment being sent from SW will help the areas decimated by Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast.


"South Joplin Little League gets back on the field 
"The devastating tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri made a direct hit on South Joplin Little League and the families who play there. More than 250 children "lost everything". Pitch In For Baseball stepped up to help replace the missing equipment, with our donation arriving a mere two weeks after the tornado. 
"With the help from the donation, the league resumed play the same day the equipment arrived."


Bring any donations to the designated collection bin in the Shorewood Student Activity Center before Monday, April 8.

If you have any questions, or would like your donations picked up directly, contact Jonathan Gugger, who is coordinating this for his Eagle Scout project.


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Girl Scout babysitters on December 15, 1-5pm

Friday, December 14, 2012

Girl Scout Troop 42690 will be babysitting while you shop for the holidays.
This event is a fund-raiser for their troop.


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Eagle Scout's project honors foster brother

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Article and photos submitted by Adam and Austin Buchanen


Austin Buchanen, Shorewood Senior and now Eagle Scout, from Shoreline troop 325, decided that he wanted to do an Eagle scout project that would honor a young foster child who lived with his family for four years. Dwayne N. lived with the Buchanens and became part of their family before being adopted last year and moving to the east coast. 



DSHS in Everett has a number of rooms where parents have supervised visits with their children.  The walls were painted in some of the rooms, but the whole place needed an update.


So last summer, Austin measured the walls, did a scale-size mock up of the proposed murals, got approvals from the building owner, and started painting in August with other scouts from Troop 325.


He put the last stroke on the walls on November 5, 2012. The staff at DSHS were very appreciative for the mural and to the scouts who helped paint over a number of days to get the project completed.






More information about Troop 325.




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Photo: Cub Pack 325 presents the colors

Saturday, October 20, 2012



Local Cub Pack 325 presents the colors at Shorewood’s Homecoming game against Mountlake Terrace, Friday, October 19, 2012.

Photo by Wayne Pridemore


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Scout Troop 325 summer bicycling adventures in British Columbia

Monday, October 1, 2012

The adventure begins in Vancouver
Photo by Jonathan Gugger


Scouts cycling adventure covered 185 miles in Canada and Washington State

Troop 325 scouts and adults went on a memorable bicycle trip in August that covered several islands in the Canadian Gulf Islands and Washington State San Juan Islands.  

British Camp
Photo by Jonathan Gugger

They rode 185 miles in 5 days and made stops in Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula, British and American Camp on San Juan Island and Roche Harbor. The scenery was a highlight for most of the adults, but the scouts liked the ferry rides and camping. 

The adults enjoyed the scenery but the scouts liked the camping
Photo by Jonathan Gugger

The weather was perfect for riding and there were only minor scrapes and bruises along the way. 

Lots of twisting, hilly roads
Photo by Jonathan Gugger

To see more about the troop summer adventures, check out their website


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Troop 853: A week-long expedition on Lake Ozette

Monday, August 27, 2012

Swimming in Lake Ozette
Photo by Kurt Herzog
By Scoutmaster Kurt Herzog

Just like any group of boys today, these boys played their games of search, capture and defend all day long. The only difference is these boys weren't just moving their thumbs on a video game controller -- they spent sunrise to sundown running, hiding and crawling through the wilderness playing Capture the Flag, swimming, paddling and sailing.

Map of Lake Ozette
In July, Shoreline Boy Scout Troop 853 went on a week-long canoeing expedition on Lake Ozette in the northwest corner of Washington. Ozette is the largest natural lake in the state, eight miles long, three miles across and 330 feet deep.

Ready to ship out
Photo by Paul Stoebe
The scouts had trained for months for this trip, practicing getting back into swamped canoes, perfecting their paddling skills on several shorter trips and learning how to survive (and even have fun) on a week-long wilderness expedition -- something most people never get the chance to experience. The scouts even made their own dehydrated chili for camping food.

The first day alone, scouts saw 5 bald eagles and by the end of the trip had seen several more. They also heard a trio of owls meet up in the middle of the night and coyotes calling to each other.

Lashing canoes together to try sailing
Photo by Paul Stoebe
But the big event for the boys was an extended version of the age-old Capture the Flag. One day we awoke to strong winds that kept us in camp for the day. After a service project to rebuild fire pits, the scouts decided to explore the surrounding forested hills and found that it was the perfect area for hiding, running and searching for the opposing team's flag. Left alone from adult interference, the troop eventually created elaborate camouflage suits and strategies and practiced stalking and stealth.

Since the lake is close to the Pacific Ocean in the Olympic National Park, we spent one day hiking to the coast. Scouts were fascinated by the refuse from the Japanese tsunami that is already piling up here.

On Lake Ozeette
Photo by Kurt Herzog
The next day we paddled six miles to Tivoli Island, one of three islands on the lake, stopping on the way to explore an old graveyard that was part of several settlements that have since disappeared.

Always time to lie in the sun
Photo by Paul Stoebe
Tivoli turned out to be one of the most beautiful campsites most of us have ever been to… sandy beaches, relatively warm water, plenty of wood for campfires and huckleberries.

Though not as ideal for Capture the Flag, scouts always need to keep themselves busy so they soon came up with other schemes, including building sails on lashed-together canoes.

Joe cooking breakfast for the troop
Photo by Kurt Herzog
Apparently others had also found Tivoli to be the paradise we did. A local outdoorsman arrived and wanted to get set up on the island for his honeymoon which was to be in a couple days. Joe was one of the friendliest fellow explorers we have met.

He explained that he and his fiancé had fallen in love on the island and he planned to surprise her with a luxury campsite including an elaborate tent, wood stove and camp kitchen he would use to pamper her with. Fortunately, we had planned to be gone by then and the bride and groom didn't have to share their romantic paradise with a troop of loud boy scouts.

Joe even volunteered to return early the next morning and made the troop bacon and eggs… a welcome treat after a week of oatmeal and cold cereal for breakfast.

Cheeseburgers in paradise
Photo by Kurt Herzog
With the wind at our backs, we paddled the eight miles back to our vehicles and had a celebratory cheeseburger dinner that the scouts shopped for and cooked themselves. Nothing will probably ever taste so good to them again.

For more information, visit the Troop 853 website.


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Eagle Scout project completed at Richmond Beach First Lutheran church

Tuesday, August 21, 2012


Troop 325 muscle worked on the Eagle Scout project on August 6th ~ Aaron M,  Kelly M, Colin E, Jonathan G, Kyle G, Austin B, Adam B,  Daniel H and Don H. Helpers not pictured ~ Gary B, Bob P, Zach J, Steve J, and Finn S.


Aaron Miller, a senior at Shorewood High School and member of Boy Scout Troop 325, recently competed his Eagle Scout project. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men, who have earned at least 21 merit badges, learned a variety of skills, performed community service, and demonstrated leadership. 

This is the area that Aaron picked for his landscaping project

Aaron designed and coordinated the construction of a landscaping project at First Lutheran Church of Richmond Beach. It was his responsibility to create the design, solicit building materials, and then organize volunteers to complete the work. 

The project involved a lot of heavy labor

The project involved removing grass and bushes that were on a westward facing slope and then adding raised flower beds, large landscaping rocks and plants. 

The finished garden

Aaron thanks the companies that donated to his project: Sky Nursery, Aurora Rents, Home Depot (Bitter Lake), Cal Portland, MJD Distributors (south of Aurora Rents-Shoreline), and Mutual Materials (Mukilteo).


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Troop 325 Scout Master needed

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Opportunity to participate in annual week-long 50-mile trip
Photo courtesy Suzanne Gugger
Troop 325, located in west Shoreline, is looking for a new Scoutmaster who will help guide our young men to reach their individual goals in scouting while learning important life-long skills and enjoying outdoor adventures.

Founded in 1957 and charted by First Lutheran Church of Richmond Beach, Troop 325 meets on Monday evenings September through June. Most scouts attend BSA summer camp, participate on the weeklong outdoor 50 mile trip, and go on a few outings in the summer.

Opportunity to participate in summer outings
Photo courtesy Suzanne Gugger
Troop 325 is a non-denominational troop and has active and involved parent volunteers who provide support for all activities and outings, and are all dedicated to providing the best scouting program possible to the boys.

The new Scoutmaster will provide strong leadership and mentoring for our boy-lead troop. The Scoutmaster will build a strong program by using proven Scouting methods. 

A combination of enthusiasm, scout leadership training, communications skills, planning, vision and the spirit of collaboration are essential. The Scoutmaster will be supported by an active Parent Committee, with strong transitional support from the current Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters.

These are characteristics of a successful Scoutmaster:
  • Commitment to the ideals of Scouting, and high moral standards
  • High energy level and ability to relate to boys age 11 to 18.
  • Ability to keep a “cool head” under pressure
  • Good planning ability, organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Good communication skills and ability to relate and interact with adults
  • Flexibility and the ability to compromise

For a detailed job description and more information, please contact Andy Simonsen, Troop 325 Committee Chair, 206-302-9548.


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Girl Scout troop donates cookies to St. Vincent de Paul food pantry

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Troop 52283 in the St. Vincent de Paul pantry
Photo courtesy Troop 52283


Girl Scout Troop 52283 from St Luke in Shoreline, led by Maria Kearney, recently donated 90 boxes of cookies to the St. Vincent de Paul Society pantry. 

While they were conducting cookie sales to support the Girl Scout organization, they offered buyers the opportunity to donate cookies not only to St. Vincent de Paul, but to be sent to our military overseas.

"Nothing says home like Girl Scout cookies."

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It's cookie time

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Alea, Jurnee, and Talla, with moms behind the table and dads just out of frame
at the Ballinger Market Thriftway
Photo by Diane Hettrick

Yup. It's cookie time, and the families of Shoreline Girl Scout Troop 42037 have lots of cookies for you.

This photo was taken on a sunny afternoon at the Ballinger Market Thriftway in Ballinger Village. Troop members Alea and Jurnee, assisted by Talla (who will be a scout when she's old enough, she says) spent the evening selling cookies to raise money for the Girl Scout organization.

Both moms were behind the table working, and both dads were holding hand-made signs. Scouting is a family affair in this troop.

Talla says she'll be a scout when she's old enough
Photo by Diane Hettrick

The scouts have many sale dates scheduled, so you have not missed your opportunity to buy cookies. If you don't want them for yourself, they have a large box for cookies for the US Military overseas. What says 'home' more than Girl Scout cookies?

Here are your cookie-buying opportunities:

March 15 - North City Safeway on 15th NE - 4-8pm
March 16 - Walgreen's in North City - 4-6pm
March 16 - North City Safeway on 15th NE - 6-8pm
March 17 - Teriyaki Island 2-4pm
March 17 - Fred Meyer 6-8pm
March 17 - Top Food on N 175th - 6-8pm
March 18 - PCC at Westgate in Edmonds 12-2pm
March 18 - Fred Meyer 4-6pm
March 18 - North City Safeway on 15th NE - 4-6pm



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Shoreline Boy Scout Troop 853 snow camps at Paradise, Mt. Rainier

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Michael and Joachim in their snow cave
Photo by Kurt Herzog

By Scoutmaster Kurt Herzog

Ten scouts and adults from Troop 853 completed their annual snow camping experience last weekend, February 11-12, 2012. The troop built snow caves and camped overnight near Paradise on Mt. Rainier. The National Park Service says, "Paradise is the snowiest place on Earth where snowfall is measured regularly."

Morning at Paradise
Photo by Kurt Herzog

The snow depth at Paradise is currently a little more than 10 feet. Scouts learned to be safe in the snow and cold and how to build a safe, overnight shelter. Mostly, they focused on having fun. About four inches of snow fell during the overnight and the scouts saw two Cascade foxes.



Scouts were required to smash roof of snow caves for the safety of other hikers.
Photo by Kurt Herzog

Older scouts  Tom and Max packing up to go.
Photo by Kurt Herzog

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Scout troops 324 and 325 recycled 550 Christmas trees last month

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Steve and Kyle G with CleanScapes staff
Photo by Suzanne Gugger

Boy scout troops 324 and 325 volunteered to collect Christmas trees from Shoreline neighborhoods at the beginning of January, after the Christmas season.

Aaron and Kelly M. showing off the troop collection envelopes
Photo by Suzanne Gugger

Working together, they hand-delivered collection envelopes in December and then picked up more than 550 trees in early January.

The biggest tree of the day award went to Steve and Kyle G who collected an 18 foot tree by themselves. (see photo above)

John and Jack R, Mark and Craig Y, Russell M, Jonathan G,
Denny R and Bob P were just a few of the many hands
that helped collect the trees. Photo by Suzanne Gugger.

Each troop contributed over 250 volunteer hours from both boys and parents.

Eagle Scout Denny R. shows Craig and Mark Y. the route
Photo by Suzanne Gugger

"Thank you to all of the Shoreline area families that made a donation to the troops for picking up their tree."

Heath Landscaping loaned trucks.
Photo by Suzanne Gugger

Special thanks to Heath Landscaping for loaning the troop three trucks for the day.


CleanScapes and City of Shoreline tree recycling event.
All the trees were chipped.
Photo by Suzanne Gugger.

The scouts delivered all their trees to the Meridian Park tree recycling event sponsored by the City of Shoreline and CleanScapes. CleanScapes crew chipped hundreds of trees that day.



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Scout troop 317: trees, snow, hay, and smoke

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

By Scout Master J. Bruce Pyper

January has been a busy month for the Scouts of Troop 317.

Christmas Tree recycling project
The month started off with our 26th annual Christmas Tree Recycling Project. On January 7, the troop helped recycle 203 trees. We started at 8:30am and dropped off the last trees at 2pm. There were four teams of Scouts and adults that went through the various neighborhoods and gathered the trees into one location for that neighborhood. Then we had small dump truck that were donated for the day that picked up the piles of trees and; took them to Meridian Park Elementary where the City of Shoreline had recycling stations set up. 

One trip, we had 55 trees crammed into the dump truck. Thank you for those who were able to help out the Scouts. We saw several other troops dropping off trees so even if we did not pick up your tree, your donation went to a good cause!

This is where we camped. Some of the scouts put their tents under the dining shelter.
Photo by Bruce Pyper.


Overnight camp-out
The Scouts also managed to get in an overnight camp-out this month. For a while, the camp-out looked like it would be snowed out. Luckily the snow melted, the roads cleared, and the winds blew themselves out. 

We drove out on a Friday night to a campground near Lake Stevens. We managed to get the tents up and dinner eaten before everyone got too tired or cold to stay up. One scout had to re-think his dinner options when the foil dinner he had cooked on the fire opened and spilled his dinner on the ground. Luckily, there was enough extra food that he didn’t go hungry. 

In true Scout Master fashion, I was the last one to turn in. I was glad to head for bed as it was getting pretty cold ... cold enough that some of the tents were already developing frost. We all survived the night and emerged to…. a fairly warm morning. Yes, it was still cold, but all the frost was gone. 

Breakfast was cooked and eaten around the fire. Most everyone was eating oatmeal: it is fast, easy, and (very importantly) warm! If you ever want your son to eat oatmeal at home, just turn down the thermostat and tell him it will get him warm! 

Wet hay makes a LOT of smoke. Photo by Bruce Pyper.

Service Project (the BEST ever!)
The Scouts had the opportunity to do a Service Project while we were at the campground. The campground has a small archery range that uses bales of hay as backstops for the targets. Several of the bales were coming apart and getting moldy. Our job was to replace the old hay with new bales and dispose of the old bales. The Scouts were thinking this sounded a lot like “work” until they heard that they got to burn the old hay. Suddenly, “work” sounded more like “fun”!! 

We took the old hay and put it in a huge fire ring. The ring was about 6 feet in diameter with walls about 3 feet tall (it was a section of metal culvert liner). After we piled in the old hay, it was about 7 feet tall. As you can imagine, wet, moldy hay gives off lots of smoke. There was enough smoke that the Scouts were wondering if they could practice sending smoke signals. I heard several of the young men commenting, “This is the BEST service project EVER!!” 

Put the garbage away!
After making sure the hay fire was contained, we headed back to camp for lunch. That was when we discovered that, while we had cleaned up our gear, we had forgotten to put our bag of trash away. The Scouts were none to happy to clean up the trash a second time after the local crows had gone through it. I think they will remember to put the garbage away next time!

Stay tuned for the Klondike Derby
Stay tuned next month, as we will be heading to Cle Elum for a Klondike Derby. A Klondike Derby is where several troops of scouts get together for Gold Rush themed competitions like sled races, fire building, cross cut saw races, etc. It should be fun!



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