Scouting isn’t something Greg Hartwig does. It’s part of who he is.
“My whole family is in Scouting,” said Hartwig, 16, the senior patrol leader for Boy Scout Troop 81 in Naperville. “It has been the biggest part of my life so far, and has pushed me to do so many things.”
And he’s not alone.
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More than 100 former and active members of Troop 81, along with their families and friends, gathered at Von Oven Scout Reservation Sunday to commemorate the troop’s 81st anniversary. The festivities included a picnic and flag ceremony, and plenty of reminiscing.
“It does my heart good to see how well this troop has done,” said Rich Yndestad, who was the scoutmaster of Troop 81 in 1984. “I remember when my son joined the troop there were only about five to seven guys.”
Originally sponsored in 1934 by First Congregational Church and followed by the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 1290, Troop 81 is currently sponsored by River Glen Presbyterian Church in Naperville. The troop has 79 active members, representing many schools and faith communities.
“I don’t go to school with any of these guys, and some of my best friends are in this troop,” said Andrew Mayton, 16, a junior at Aurora Central Catholic High School. “I would never have met a lot of these people if I wasn’t in Scouts.”
For more than eight decades, Troop 81 has instilled in young men the values and knowledge to help them become leaders in their communities. It is a “Scout led” troop, which means the meetings and outings are planned and executed by the young men.
“Most people think we are about knots and camping,” Greg Pronger, current scoutmaster of Troop 81. “But it’s about being able to cope with adversity, come up with a plan and then follow through. We provide the opportunity to really step into a leadership position, and that’s different from other programs.”
Hartwig shared the sentiment.
“I have definitely learned a lot of leadership skills,” said Hartwig, who is responsible for the troop’s overall operation.
Troop 81 has a rich history of service to the community and for producing leaders. More than 150 young men from the Naperville troop have become Eagle Scouts, the highest rank attainable for a Boy Scout.
“Scouting is so wonderful,” said Alicia Maurer, whose two sons, now 22 and 26, are both Eagle Scouts. “The boys have so much fun, it teaches them responsibility and really helps them grow up.”
And the fun isn’t just for the boys.
“As a mom, I have built so many friendships because of Scouting,” Maurer said. “The amazing friends I have made in the past 20 years are because of our boys, and a lot of mothers are thankful for that.”
Maurer said when the boys graduate out of the program at age 18, the friendships continue.
“Even when they move on to college, we still get together and we stay in touch,” Maurer said. “I have gained so much because of Scouting.”
Jane Donahue is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.