PARIS, KY — This summer, four dedicated scouts from Boy Scout Troop 63 packed their gear, rolled up their sleeping bags, and headed north to the beautiful Ransburg Scout Reservation in Bloomington, Indiana. Located on the shores of Lake Monroe, Ransburg is known as one of the premier scout camps in the Midwest, offering hundreds of acres of lush forests, aquatic adventures, and top-notch facilities. For one week, the scouts of Troop 63 immersed themselves in this incredible outdoor environment, working tirelessly to build new skills, earn merit badges, and advance in their scouting ranks.
Summer camp is a cornerstone of the Scouting experience, offering young men the opportunity to disconnect from screens and connect with nature. For Troop 63, it was a week of intense learning and personal growth across a wide variety of subjects.
Ethan Scott had a fantastic week, mastering a diverse set of skills. He brought home the Pulp and Paper and Horsemanship merit badges. For the Horsemanship badge, Ethan learned how to safely care for, groom, saddle, and ride horses. In the Pulp and Paper program, he discovered the science and history of papermaking, learning how to turn plant fibers into usable materials and even creating his own paper by hand.
Luke Johnson shared in the equestrian successes of the week, saddling up to earn his Horsemanship merit badge alongside Ethan. Luke also demonstrated his dedication to learning the industrial arts by earning his Pulp and Paper merit badge, showing a great balance of craftsmanship and outdoor adventure.
Sam Miller took full advantage of the great outdoors, focusing on high-energy and survival-based activities. Sam successfully earned his Photography, Climbing, Camping, and Swimming merit badges. To earn these, Sam had to master water safety and different strokes in Lake Monroe for Swimming, learn how to safely tie knots and belay up Ransburg’s impressive climbing tower, and practice important “Leave No Trace” outdoor survival skills for Camping. He also learned about lighting, focus, and composition to capture his camp memories on camera for his Photography badge.
Rounding out the impressive roster was Brantley Earlywine, who had an exceptionally busy and productive week. Brantley earned an outstanding six merit badges: Farm Mechanics, Fingerprinting, Sculpture, Model Design and Building, Leatherwork, and the critical Eagle-required First Aid badge. To achieve these, Brantley learned how to safely maintain and repair machinery, explored the science of identifying unique prints for law enforcement, and showed his creative side by molding 3D art and crafting scale models. He also learned traditional skills by stamping and lacing leather. Most importantly, his First Aid badge required him to master crucial life-saving skills, CPR, and emergency response. Beyond his merit badges, Brantley’s hard work paid off as he completed numerous rank requirements, putting him well on his way to achieving his First and Second Class Scout ranks.
Of course, these adventures would not be possible without the dedication of adult volunteers. Jason McDonald, the Scoutmaster for Troop 63, and Jeff Miller, the committee chair for the troop, attended as the scout leaders for the week, providing invaluable guidance and support to the boys. While at camp, Jeff Miller also took the time to further his own scouting education by successfully completing his Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) training to become a Scoutmaster!
The leadership and community of Paris, Kentucky, can be incredibly proud of Troop 63. These four scouts demonstrated the core values of the Scout Oath and Law—showing dedication, eagerness to learn, and a willingness to challenge themselves at one of the best scout camps in the country.
Congratulations to Ethan, Luke, Sam, Brantley, and their leaders on a highly successful summer camp at Ransburg Scout Reservation!
