Local scouts visit Gettysburg

SPARTA ­­‑ Scouts and scouters of Troop 150 recently took a trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where the boys experienced the history of the Civil War and one of its most important battles, the Battle of Gettysburg.

Camping at the edge of the battlefield, the boys saw many sights, including the battlefield, the positions of various regiments during the war and the President Eisenhower’s homestead next to the battlefield. It was a great learning experience for them.

On the Friday of that four day camping trip, the boys went on a 5-mile hike. They saw where President Lincoln spoke during the Gettysburg address. They saw special homes including ones that were turned into hospitals during the war.

They were able to understand how it felt to live the life back then. After that, the scouts toured the Eisenhower compound, where the boys got to observe the living quarters of the Eisenhower household as well as their favorite rooms, their land, and about the history of the household and Eisenhower himself, who retired to a farm adjacent to the Gettysburg battlefield and it is now a national historic site along with the battlefield.

The next day, the scouts hiked a 10-mile trail through the battlefield. While it was a tough trek, the boys were able to see what routes were taken during the battle and the specific parts of the battlefield. This hike gave the boys insight about the significance of the civil war itself and how it has impacted the United States as a whole.

After the hike was over, the boys enjoyed a huge dinner at General Pickett’s Buffett. Like the regiments in the Civil War, the boys learned dedication, determination and teamwork during the trip.

“I found Gettysburg to be a very enjoyable camping trip, with grand landscapes.” said First Class Scout Andreas Oleinyk. “We were able to overcome many challenges and have fun”

as part of his troop position of responsibility. As troop journalist, Buddy is responsible for publicizing the activities and efforts of Troop 150 and communicating with local newspapers and media outlets. Sparta Troop 150 serves Sparta and surrounding communities meeting 7 p.m. on Monday nights at the Sparta United Methodist Church. All interested boys between the ages of 11 and 18 are welcome.

For more information visit www.spartatroop150.org.

This story was written by 14-year-old First Class Scout Buddy Al-Aydi