On Saturday, April 22, Scouts BSA Troop 33 will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser at East Petersburg Church, 6279 Main St., East Petersburg. Breakfast will be served for a set cost per person from 6 to 11 a.m., and children under the age of 2 may dine for free. Tickets will be available to purchase at the door, and presale tickets will be available to purchase at a discounted price from members of the Scout troop until Friday, April 21.

Adult volunteers will prepare the food for the event, which will include pancakes, sausage, orange juice, coffee and tea. The Scouts' primary duty will be to act as hosts and to serve the patrons, and many of the boys in the troop have sold tickets from door to door in preparation for the fundraiser.

This year's fundraiser will be the first pancake breakfast that Troop 33 has organized since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, the Scouts held an annual pancake breakfast, a tradition that began over 30 years ago. "We got by without it, but it will be nice to have it again," said Jim Dreyer, Scoutmaster for Troop 33. "It's one of the largest fundraisers for our troop, and both the boys and borough residents are excited to bring it back."

The funds raised by the pancake breakfast support the troop in a variety of ways, such as covering operating costs, equipment maintenance and trip expenses. Once a month, the members of Troop 33 take a camping trip together, and every summer, the Scouts attend a camp at Horseshoe Scout Reservation in Rising Sun, Md.

Troop 33 has been an active BSA troop for 93 years and currently has 21 active members who are between 11 and 17 years old. In addition to taking camping trips as a group, the members of the troop often complete service projects within the community. The troop's regular service projects include raking leaves, spreading mulch, planting trees and painting houses. Even while on camping excursions, the Scouts often assist park rangers with cleaning up trails and campsites. "The kids will join Scouts at around 10 years old. At first, many of them struggle socially, with group settings or sometimes just rolling up a sleeping bag," Dreyer said. "Fast-forward four years and these young men are leaders, teaching the new Scouts what they've learned. It's incredible to watch the growth."

As Scoutmaster, Dreyer said that he tries to foster qualities of responsible citizens in his Scouts by teaching them skills that can also be applied outside of the program. He often encourages the members of Troop 33 to attend youth training courses, many of which are offered by BSA's Pennsylvania Dutch Council and the Chester County Council. "We need responsible, young leaders in the world," Dreyer said. "They're the next generation, and we need to encourage leadership and a volunteering spirit in our young kids."

Troop 33 is always accepting new members. For more information, visit http://padutchbsa.org.