Boy Scouts Troop 316 in Apex Accomplishes Merit Badges, High Adventure Camping Trips and Service Projects During the Last 6 Months

Boy Scouts Troop 316 of Apex, N.C. spent the summer and fall earning more than 100 merit badges, braving activity-packed, high adventure camping trips, and participating in numerous community service projects.

Camping Trips
June 28 through July 4, 30 scouts and 5 adult leaders attended summer camp at Camp Durant in Carthage. During the week the scouts took 108 merit badge courses and completed 88 badges at camp. Twelve first-year scouts accomplished the Trailblazers program and all 35 scouts participated in and earned the Duty to God award. Troop 316 also earned the Honor Troop Award for the week. Scout Anthony Fiorentino was chosen as the “Top Trailblazer” and Matthew Wassel earned the “Best Shotgun Shooter” awards for the week out of the entire group of scouts at camp.

That same week 16 members of Troop 316 (two crews consisting of six scouts and two adults per crew) went on a Coral Reef Sailing Adventure Sea Base trip. Each crew sailed—and lived aboard—a 42-foot sailboat for nearly a week along the Florida Keys, learning the elements for sailing, snorkeling and fishing. Scout Austin Jones even caught a prize-winning fish during the trip (see attached photo).

“Austin not only caught more fish than anyone on the two boats, but he also caught the largest edible and non-edible fish for all crews during the week—catching both a large barracuda and a large mackerel,” said Troop 316 Scoutmaster Brandon Smith.

Troop 316 spent one day back in port mid-way through the trip learning small boat sailing and kayaking. They also performed a service project and played volleyball during this stop. On the way home, the scouts visited Kennedy Space Center and the Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville, Fla.

Additional Troop 316 camping trips since last spring include excursions to Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills, to Concord for a historical Civil War reenactment, to Jordan Lake for a wilderness survival merit badge experience, to Pilot Mountain for a rock climbing adventure and to Camp Durant in Carthage for a shotgun shooting experience.

Court of Honor
In August, Troop 316 held its annual Summer Court of Honor and awarded 108 merit badges and 20 rank advancements—including the highest rank of all, Eagle Scout. Ryan Carlsen completed his Eagle Scout requirements prior to the August Court of Honor and joins 21 other Troop 316 scouts who have achieved this great honor. Two of the troop’s adult leaders were also recognized. Scoutmaster Brandon Smith and Assistant Scoutmaster Damon Pizzurro each earned their Wood Badge beads, which symbolize significant achievement in leadership and direct service to our scouting youth.

Service Projects
During the last six months the scouts also participated in several service projects. Scouting for Food required the scouts to collect food for local families who are unable to afford basic meals. Each boy was given a half dozen plastic bags, flyers and instructions, then asked to deliver the bags and flyers to six of their neighbors for a donation of non-perishable foods. Troop 316 collected 823 pounds of non-perishable food.

Assistant Scoutmaster Ray Horton and several Troop 316 scouts attended a flag retirement ceremony with the Apex, N.C. Post 124 American Legion. Brian Watson, Brandon Summers, Jake Murray, Jody Miller, Daniel Haberern, Neal Patel and another adult leader, Ed Walsh, attended the ceremony. (See attached photos.)

Seven scouts and two adult leaders also recently participated in the “Scout for Seniors” project, which provided help to senior citizens in the Cary/Apex area who wish to continue living in their own home, but are unable to perform minor repairs and/or maintenance work on their own. The work crew consisted of the following scouts: Ryan Carlsen, Roy Carlsen, Alex Parra, Ben Dallas, Chris Pedersen, Hunter Smith and Nick Pizurro. Scout Master Brandon Smith and Assistant Scoutmaster Damon Pizurro also helped out.

“Scouts who help perform these tasks gain hands-on experience coupled with experienced supervision from adult scouters,” Pizurro said.


Troop 316 is sponsored by the St. Andrew Mens’ Society (SAMS) and meets at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church at 7 p.m. every Tuesday. Anyone interested in joining Troop 316 should contact Brandon Smith, Scoutmaster, at (919) 387-1487 or Kurt Carlsen, Committee Chairman, at (919) 741-0074. Visit the Troop's website for additional information at http://home.earthlink.net/~troop316/id22.html.