Boy Scouts honor state representative with award

A few decades ago as a Boy Scout, Doyle Heffley worked toward his Eagle Scout by earning his Citizenship in the Community merit badge from his history teacher at the old high school in Lehighton.

Today, State Rep. Doyle Heffley’s district office is located in that same school.

“Now, my office is right down the hall from where his classroom was,” Heffley said. “I always think of that when I walk past his classroom.”

Scouting was a big part of Heffley’s life growing up. His father was a scoutmaster, and he completed his Eagle Scout award at age 14 by cleaning up Bunker Hill Cemetery in Franklin Township.

“Whatever your path in life takes, you remember the little things you learn in scouting,” Heffley said.

On Thursday, the North Valley District of Minsi Trails Council recognized Heffley’s contribution to the community and scouting by giving him the district’s Distinguished Citizen Award for 2018. Presenting the award was a member of Heffley’s staff and a fellow Eagle Scout, Timm Berger.

“As a committee, we look at who has done a lot for our area, and him being an Eagle Scout was a plus for us. He lives by the Scout oath and Scout law in what he does every day,” said Diane Lariar, North Valley District director.

The North Valley District includes about a dozen troops, packs and explorer posts in area school districts including Palmerton, Lehighton, Northern Lehigh, Northwestern Lehigh, Northampton, Whitehall-Coplay, Catasaqua and Parkland.

The Distinguished Citizen Award was given as part of the district’s annual Friends of Scouting Dinner, hosted by Blue Mountain Resort.

Emcee Jaime Mendes said the campaign had already raised more than $22,000. The proceeds will go toward supporting the two scout camps located in the council — Trexler Scout Reservation in Polk Township and Camp Minsi near Mount Pocono.

Trexler has overnight camps for Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, and Minsi has overnight camps for Boy Scouts. Both have day camps.

“This dinner helps keep the three camps in Minsi Trails. The funds raised through the Friends of Scouting dinner go to offset the cost of improvements at the camps,” said Larry Arner, a leader with Scout Troop 41 in Palmerton.

Summer camp teaches boys responsibility and leadership skills. For many boys, it is the longest they have ever been away from home.

“The scouting program is to build leadership, make the youth leaders, and by going to camp, they get to do things that put them in a leadership role,” Arner said.

As scouting expands to allow girls in the coming year, the opportunities of camp will be open to a whole new group of youth. Lariar said that she believes the program will reach a new group of people.

Heffley was also recognized at the dinner by a couple of friends, Carbon County Commissioners Thomas Gerhard and Wayne Nothstein. Nothstein, who himself is an Eagle Scout and whose brother was a leader in Heffley’s troop, said when he is considering job candidates, he’ll always favor the one that has Eagle Scout listed under accomplishments.

“As an Eagle Scout myself, I know the path he has traveled, as well as all the Eagle Scouts in this room,” he said.

The dinner also recognized Jagger Bolton, a recent Eagle Scout from Troop 58 in Slatington. Bolton spoke proudly about his time in the Scouts, and the skills it has taught him. He said the merit badges required along the path to Eagle Scout give kids the skills they need to succeed in the real world.

“To me, imagine the reality that there are young kids with a great future in the world prepared with this kind of knowledge, sends chills down my spine, and I’m happy to be a part of it,” he said.