Boy Scout Troop 431 Welcomes 5 New Eagle Scouts

Asbury United Methodist Church, Allentown, was the site of an Eagle Court of Honor on April 28 for five members of Boy Scout Troop 431 of East Texas.  Lower Macungie Township residents Andrew Kaiser, Seth Workman, Joshua Light, Justin McTish and Michael Smerker each received the Boy Scouts of America’s highest award at the ceremony—that of Eagle.

Kaiser, a junior at West Chester University, hiked 221 miles and camped 97 nights with the troop. He has served as assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, and senior patrol leader.   During his scouting career, he attended three high adventure trips: Philmont in 2009, Florida Seabase in 2011, and the Adirondacks in 2012. In 2011, he earned the troop’s “Scout of the Year” award. 

For his Eagle project, Kaiser constructed a woodshed at Camp Serranova in Macungie.  The shed allows the camp to store lumber while in the curing process, which further allows for the camp to be more eco-friendly in using their own downed trees for heat in the cabins.

Workman, a senior at Emmaus High School, has hiked 142 miles and camped 72 nights with the troop. He has held multiple leadership positions, including scribe, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, and assistant senior patrol leader.  He was a part of three high adventure trips—Claytor Lake in 2010, Florida Sea Base in 2011, and the Adirondacks in 2012, where he held the position of crew leader. 

For his Eagle project, Workman constructed 18 games of Ladder Golf and Corn Hole, which were sent to troops overseas. The Corn Hole games were painted with a camouflage design, and the Ladder Golf games were made of PVC pipe in order to be easily disassembled and moved.  

Light, a senior at Emmaus High School, hiked 185 miles and camped 76 nights with the troop. He has held the positions of troop librarian, patrol leader, and senior patrol leader.   He attended three high adventure troops while in scouting, including Claytor Lake Aquatics Base in 2010, Florida Sea Base in 2011, and the Adirondack Canoe Trip in 2012.  He also plans to trek with the Troop this summer to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.  

For his Eagle Project, Light worked with the Allentown Parks Department and Pennsylvania Wildlands Conservancy to restore the habitat of Trout Creek Park in Allentown.  He planned, organized, and led the construction of 33 birdhouses placed throughout the park, as well as the construction of 3 large bat boxes. 

McTish, a senior at Emmaus High School, hiked 147 miles and camped 75 nights with Troop 431. Since joining the troop, McTish has served as scribe, chaplain aide, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader and senior patrol leader. He attended 3 high adventure trips, including Claytor Lake in 2010, Florida Sea Base in 2011, and the Adirondacks in 2012, serving as crew leader in both 2011 and 2012.   

For his Eagle project, McTish managed a Miracle League baseball team. This league serves children with a cognitive or physical disability keeping them from playing in a mainstream league. His 230+ hours consisted of attending specific training and managing his Miracle League team.   He was required to recruit “angels” to assist his 12 team members, provide line up rosters, parent/player meetings, “angel” trainings, and most importantly, making sure the players on his team were having fun. 

His older brother, Patrick, is also an Eagle Scout. 

Smerker, a senior at Emmaus High School hiked 176 miles and camped 76 nights with the troop. He has held several positions in Troop 431, including scribe, assistant patrol leader, and instructor. During his years in Scouting, Smerker attended three high adventure trips, including Claytor Lake Aquatics Base in 2010, Florida Sea Base in 2011, and the Adirondack Canoe Trip in 2012.

For his Eagle Scout project, Smerker landscaped and added new additions to the pre-school playground at Concordia Lutheran Church in Macungie. With help, he trimmed and landscaped the area behind the playground, re-mulched, and built two benches for the playground.  He also added a new rope ladder and swing-around for the playground.