The Susquehanna District of Scouts BSA's Pennsylvania Dutch Council held its annual awards dinner on June 12 at Ascension Lutheran Church in Willow Street. The event recognizes leaders who have exemplified the Scouting ideals and program in their Scout units or leadership within the district. The Susquehanna District covers Columbia, Conestoga Valley, Eastern Lancaster County, Hempfield, Lampeter-Strasburg, Manheim Township, Penn Manor, Pequea Valley, and Solanco school districts and School District of Lancaster.

During the dinner event, Duane Gregg received the District Award of Merit, the top volunteer award the district can present. He has been the Scoutmaster of Troop 28 since 2003 and Cubmaster of Pack 28 since 1994, and he has earned the Cubmaster Award. As a youth, he was a staff member at J. Edward Mack Scout Reservation from 1984 to 1988. He received the Eagle Scout Award in 1985.

Outside of Scouting, Gregg is a life member of the Paradise Fire Company, having served for 37 years; a member of the Paradise Sportsman's Association; a certified Pennsylvania Game Commission hunter/trapper instructor; a member of the Paradise Parks and Recreation Board; and a confirmed member of St. John's United Methodist Church.

Other volunteer leaders received awards, as well. These were the Spark Plug Awards, presented to Justin Bond from Pack 82, Chad Cauler from Troop 56, Bob Martin from Troop 146, Amanda Rippley with Pack 37, and Chris Specht with Troop 83, as well as Lauren Bowen, Christine Ginnett, Joelene Martin, and Dawn Williams with the Susquehanna District.

Leader of the Year awards were presented. The recipients in Scouts BSA, the youth program for boys and girls ages 11 to 17, were Dave Martin of Troop 84 and Drian Shimp of Troop 56. The recipients in Cub Scouts, the program for those in kindergarten through fifth grade, were Matt Vazquez, Pack 37; Edward R. Carvell Jr., receiving the Commissioner of the Year award; Troop 84's Chet Bowen, who was named Committee Member of the Year; and Troop 48's Greg Martin, recognized as the Scouter of the Year.

The Susquehanna District also presented the Commissioner Key to Greg Martin and the Commissioner Arrowhead Award to Martin, Mike Williams, and Chris Yost. Veteran Awards were presented to Williams and Yost in recognition of their 30 years.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) provides a youth program of character development and values-based leadership training designed to help young people be "Prepared. For Life." The Pennsylvania Dutch Council provides support and Scouting opportunities for more than 2,600 youths in Lancaster and Lebanon counties. The council partners with 130 community organizations and has more than 2,800 active adult volunteers.

BSA programs are divided by age and activity. In addition to Cub Scouting and Scouts BSA, the programs are coed Venturing and Sea Scouting for young men and young women ages 14 to 20 as well as career-oriented, coed Exploring programs for youths ages 10 to 20. For more information, contact the local Scout office at 717-394-4063.