Thompsontown mother makes a plea for keeping a tradition alive
Submitted photo<br> In October 2025, Colton Leitzel, of Troop 169 in Thompsontown, far left, received his Eagle Scout badge along with a legislative citation from State Rep. Perry Stambaugh, far right. For his project, Colton, the son of Troop 169 Assistant Scoutmaster Jeff Leitzel, center, and Joy Leitzel of East Salem, restored and painted tables and benches at the Lions Pavilion in Haldeman Park in Thompstown.
Submitted photo<br> In January, Boy Scouts from across Central Pennsylvania recently traveled to the Seven Mountains Scout Camp in Spring Mills for the Klondike Derby, a Scouting tradition.
Submitted photo<br> Spending time at Seven Mountains Scout Camp during the summer is a ritual for many scouts.
Submitted photo<br> In October 2025, Colton Leitzel, of Troop 169 in Thompsontown, far left, received his Eagle Scout badge along with a legislative citation from State Rep. Perry Stambaugh, far right. For his project, Colton, the son of Troop 169 Assistant Scoutmaster Jeff Leitzel, center, and Joy Leitzel of East Salem, restored and painted tables and benches at the Lions Pavilion in Haldeman Park in Thompstown.
Submitted photo<br> In January, Boy Scouts from across Central Pennsylvania recently traveled to the Seven Mountains Scout Camp in Spring Mills for the Klondike Derby, a Scouting tradition.
Submitted photo<br> Spending time at Seven Mountains Scout Camp during the summer is a ritual for many scouts.
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THOMPSONTOWN -- Juniata County once had close to 10 active scout troops, including one of the earliest and largest, Licking Creek. Today, only two remain -- Thompsontown and McAlisterville.
The decline has been gradual but unmistakable, mirroring a national trend as families juggle increasingly crowded schedules. Sports, music, schoolwork and constant travel often leave little room for anything else.
But for Samantha Randolph, of Port Royal, a longtime scout mom, the idea of scouting fading away is more than a statistic -- it's a loss she feels deeply.
A program that fits into busy lives
Randolph understands how hectic family life has become, but she believes scouting offers something different from the activities that dominate most calendars. Troops meet once a week, and leaders adjust schedules around practices and games. No scout is penalized for missing a meeting. The goal isn't to overwhelm families -- it's to give kids a place to grow.
A mother's pride in what scouting builds
Randolph has watched her son rise through the ranks to become a Life Scout, the final step before Eagle. In her own words, "As the mother of a Life Scout -- the last rank awarded before an Eagle -- I have enjoyed watching my son and his troop grow into well-rounded and respectable young men. Every year, he and his fellow scouts can be seen out and about in the community collecting canned goods and non-perishable items for our local food pantry."
Those service projects are only part of the picture. Scouts also help stock trout for the Thompsontown AMVETS derby and complete Eagle projects that leave lasting marks on the community -- from building a handicapped-accessible walkway at the Veterans Memorial to repainting picnic tables at Haldeman Park.
Lessons that last a lifetime
Randolph has spoken with several Eagle Scouts over the years, and one message has stayed with her. "After speaking with several Eagle Scouts and asking them what scouting has done for them, there was one common theme -- scouting has taught them teamwork and leadership skills."
Those qualities, she believes, are more important now than ever.
A foundation built on values
At every meeting, scouts recite the Scout Oath -- "On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the scout law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight."
They also commit to the Scout Law, promising to be "trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent."
Randolph has seen those words become habits in her son's life -- shaping not just what he does, but who he is becoming.
Why the community can't let scouting disappear
Scouting America has served millions of families since 1910, fostering responsibility, self-reliance, environmental stewardship, and service to others. More than 30 merit badges directly prepare youth for future careers, and research shows scouts are more likely to graduate high school and earn higher incomes as adults.
But Randolph worries that once a troop disappears, it rarely returns. The traditions, the leadership, the opportunities -- they fade quietly unless families step in to keep them alive.
How to join
Families interested in becoming part of Scouting America can contact:
•Thompsontown Troop No. 169 Leader: Andy Kinzer at (717) 503-3340 or askinzer29@gmail.com;
•McAlisterville Troop Leader: Earl Davis at (717) 994-4640 or earlsfixit@hotmail.com.
Cub Scouts begin at kindergarten or age 5. Boy Scouts begin at fifth grade or age 11.
Randolph hopes more families will give scouting a chance -- not as another item on a crowded schedule, but as an investment in their child's character, confidence, and future. Her message is simple: scouting still matters, and the community can't afford to let it fade.