AROUND TOWN
Prepared For Life
“Be prepared” is the Boy Scout motto, but no one could anticipate being prepared for the ongoing pandemic. However, Boy Scout Troop 783 of Rolling Hills Estates has managed to both survive and thrive. To adapt, Troop 783 restructured the format of their meetings and outings to comply with ever-changing local county and State guidelines. Their meetings went online, but scouts remained engaged and resilient by helping the community via a trash pick-up at Cabrillo Beach, removing invasive vegetation at Lunada Canyon, planting native plants at White Point Nature Preserve, landscaping for Southern California Live Steamers at Wilson Park, restoring trail
markers at George F. Canyon, and building cat trees for spcaLA Animal Shelter in Long Beach, dog beds for Harbor Animal Care Center, nursery tables for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, bow stands for South Bay Archery Club, and benches for Ascension Lutheran Church. Socially distanced hikes took place and troop overnight campouts were modified to family campouts with each scout camping with family instead of the entire troop. Camping in small cohorts was eventually allowed as state mandates were relaxed. In August of 2020, a small group of older scouts spent a week backpacking 58 miles and ascended Mount Whitney. More recently, a small group of older scouts spent 12 days backpacking Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and enjoyed activities such as tomahawk-throwing, cowboy action shooting, and learning the true meaning of teamwork.
Despite all of the challenges and restrictions, eleven scouts earned the rank of Eagle during the past year and were honored at the Troop’s recent Court of Honor. Forevermore, Benjamin Choi, Meiers Dixon, Aidan Forsey-Smerek, Nicky Hama, Rhys Hendershot, Chase Houske, Harrison Lennertz, Toby Park, Landon Rheuark, Tyler Thymes, and Wyatt Wang will be recognized as Eagle Scouts. Troop 783 honored Assistant Scoutmaster and outgoing Troop Committee Chair, Dr. Chip Houske, for his commitment and contributions to Scouting over the past seven years.
Troop 783 has been meeting at Rolling Hills United Methodist Church since 1965 and is focused on helping youth become “Prepared for Life.” For more information on Troop 783 and Scouting, please visit their website.
Spotlight on an Eagle Scout
Harrison Tyler Lennertz has been a scout since he was 6 years old. He returned to Palos Verdes to receive his rank as Eagle Scout at Rolling Hills United Methodist Church after the ceremony had been changed due to COVID. A 2020 graduate of Chadwick School, Harrison was inducted into the Cum Laude Society, founded the Jewish Affinity Group, served as student musical director of Jubilee Choir for two years, was a member of CHIMPS (Chadwick Improvisers), lead the trumpet section of the school orchestra and played bass in the Jazz band and was on the Varsity Volleyball team. In addition, he is an AP Scholar, plays guitar, piano and was a member of AASA’s Pacific Vision Youth Symphony, where he played both trumpet and bass. Harrison is a sophomore at Haverford College in Pennsylvania where he is majoring in Biology and minoring in Music. He is pursuing a career in Veterinary Medicine and intends to specialize in Animal Shelter Medicine.
