Boy Scouts mark 70 years of flipping pancakes

EMILY GOJMERAC

REPORTER

November 11, 1952 marked the first Boy Scouts Pancake Supper. Over the years the tradition has grown.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Pancake Supper, and the scouts are hoping to serve up their best pancakes yet.

The goal of Scouts BSA organization is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. The main Scouting divisions are Cub Scouts for ages 5 to 10 years old and Boy Scouts for ages 10 to 18. The main goal of both the Cub Scouts and Scouting programs are to help train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and selfreliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. Scouts helps other youth really prepare for successful careers by teaching leadership skills, meeting skills, working collaboratively event will be held on Sunday at the Medford Area Senior High cafeteria from 4 p.m. until 7p.m. There will be to-go orders available for anyone who would like to show their support along with call ahead orders, which can be made that day starting at 2:30 p.m. by calling 715-512-0858. Typically the Scouts serve between 200-250 people.

Along with the traditional pancake, they also serve blueberry pancakes, potato pancakes, and their award winning sweet potato pancakes, which have quickly become a favorite among visitors. Maple syrup, sausages, and desserts are also served to make the meal complete. The families of the Scouts make dozens of desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth.

To highlight the 70th anniversary, there are going to be special decorations hanging all around the cafeteria. There will also be trivia and memorabilia displays that can test your knowledge about the Scouts.

The proceeds from this event go towards maintaining the Scout cabin, buying equipment and various trips that the scouts take throughout the year. The larger trips they take only happen every few years. This summer the troop is planning on taking a trip to South Dakota to visit Mount Rushmore.

Pancake Chairperson, Anna Grube said “The trips are a great way for the scouts to use their leadership skills, doing community projects enhances those skills as well.”

To ensure they have enough help, family members of the Scouts help with the serving of the pancakes and anywhere else help is needed.

“The best part about this event has been the community involvement. Especially when you see former Scouts attending, or parents of former Scouts. It’s great to see their continued support even though they don’t have anyone directly involved with the Scouts,” said Joe Daniels, Assistant Scout Master.

Daniels has been involved with the Scouts since he was 12 years old and through the years he has seen plenty of changes.

Daniels also said “The qualifications are the same, as to how to get in, but what they can do has significantly changed within the years. We have 124 merit badges (which are badges that can be earned based on activities and requirements that must be completed based on what they are studying). Merit badges get eliminated with the change of the times, but new merit badges also get included as time goes on. Their requirements that fulfill their positions also change with the times. Years ago, you didn’t worry about them looking up things on their phones, now we have to incorporate that into our teachings so that the kids don’t rely on their phones to learn these skills.”

Along with all their other duties that the Scouts perform throughout the year, they also participate in flag ceremonies for both Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.

Grube said “Having the Scouts being a part of any event brings them out of their shell, which is something that is really neat to see.”

onal vels, part-izare-ers ls, bed h o as a group and helped establish achievable goals which translates well into careers.

Medford has 10 Scouts who are actively earning badges toward their rank advancements with the goal of achieving Eagle Scout. Over the years, the Pancake Supper has helped fund trips and purchase equipment for the Scouts as they learn and grow.

This year’s pancake supper -

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The Star News show decades of history for the annual Boy Scout Pancake Supper. This Sunday’s pancake supper marks the event’s 70th year.