Troop 3 Derby Scouts and leaders with the 107th Derby, UK Scouts and leaders and Derby Mayor Robin Wood at the Derby, England Museum of Making, which exhibits 300 years of manufacturing.
DERBY — A whirl-wind tour of castles and capitals was enjoyed by fifteen local Boy Scouts and fifteen adult leaders from Housatonic Council’s Derby-based Boy Scout Troop 3, who recently returned from a sixteen day tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Departing from JFK airport on an overnight flight to Shannon Airport, the group was greeted by Irish Scout leader Michael Ryan and the scouting families of the 25th Limerick Scout Group, with whom Troop 3 has had an exchange scout program with for 35 years. The two troops enjoyed an Irish breakfast at the Limerick Scout hut and participated in scouting games, music, Irish dancing and even a Medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle, courtesy of a grant from the Valley Community Foundation.
Following their visit with the Limerick scouts the Troop 3 contingent embarked on a bus tour of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. While in Derbyshire, the scouts participated in an overnight encampment and visit to Alton Towers Amusement Park with the Derby, England 107th Scouts, under the direction of leaders Stuart & Jo Cooke and Craig Morris. The two Derby troops connected in 2012, and have hosted visits from each other. The two Derby troops were treated to a private after hours tour of the Derby Maker Museum with Derby Mayor Robin Wood, who spoke to the group about the virtues he gained from his days in Scouting.
Coordinating the trip was Troop 3 Scoutmaster Randy Ritter, along with leaders Rob Kluk, Andrew Kuk, Dominic Livoti, Sr, Steve and Margie Kish, Theresa Ng, Chuck & Sue Stankye, Bob & Nancy Stankye, Robert Stankye, Meagan Camara, Skylyn Hemstreet and Vincent Yanez. Youth participating were: Ayden Moran, Jeremiah Charles, Matthew Pinto, Brayden Kluk, Logan Bottone, Forrest Hemstreet, Keegan Goodwin, Luke Camara, Julianna Camara, Jacob Blacha, William Bradshaw, Anthony Stankye, Luca Tecci, Quintin Simjouw, and Emil J. Smith VI.
“We are so very fortunate to have tremendous support from the community, who participated in our many fundraising activities for the trip, including a macaroni dinner, Sub Sale, Giant Tag Sale, Scout Gang Show and a very successful Goods & Services Auction”, stated Troop 3 Committee Chairman and Eagle Scout Rob Kluk. Kluk participated in a similar scout trip with Ritter and the late Edmund D. Strang, as a youth in 1990, and was pleased he was able to enjoy this year’s trip with his own two sons.
For many of the scouts it was their first time leaving the country. “I really enjoyed visiting London’s West End to see the musical Wicked”, stated Scout Anthony Stankye, 16, from Orange, who served as the chorus director for the troop’s recent Scout Gang Show. “I really liked the Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle and seeing the armaments at the Tower of London” added Scout Brayden Kluk, 11, from Shelton, who has an interest in military history. The scouts also visited the Dundonald Highland Games in Scotland, where leader Andrew Kluk competed in an open event to toss a sack of hay.
Other sites visited on the trip included Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, Cardiff Castle, the Titantic Museum, Westminster Abbey, Jorvik Viking Museum and Trinity College. A highlight in Belfast, Ireland was a special local guided tour where the group learned about the Troubles conflict that took place in Northern Ireland for 30 years. After viewing the many memorials to those lost during the conflict the scouts were able to sign the Peace Wall that separate catholic and protestant communities.
“There was a wide variety of activities for everyone on the trip to enjoy, and we were quite exhausted upon our return” remarked Scoutmaster Randy Ritter. “We met up with more than 20 former Irish and English Exchange Scouts, some we hosted more than 40 years ago. Enjoying the scouting fellowship with the current Limerick and Derby troops as well as experiencing the history and culture outside of the USA helps to make our scouts into better world citizens” added Ritter.
Troop 3 has been sponsored by the Derby 2nd Congregational Church since 1914 and will resume meetings on September 7. Boys at least 11 years of age are invited to join the adventures of Scouting. Call 203 – 732-0343 for more information.