2025 Crossover brings five new scouts to Troop 513

On March 1, Troop 513 gathered at Camp Carpenter in Manchester, NH for our annual Crossover ceremony to celebrate five Scouts in Cub Scout Pack 540 in achieving the highest award in Cub Scouting, the Arrow of Light and giving them the opportunity to move into Troop 513. This year, we welcomed five new Scouts into our troop: Dean B., Bobby C., Ben K., Sam K., and Lexie Z. Lexie is the first young woman to join Troop 513!

With over 20 Scouts attending the trip, the youth leaders in the Troop were challenged to plan a weekend full of games, scout skills, and cooking. "Watching our youth leaders plan a weekend like this is always special. They have to craft something that's engaging and fun while also focusing on building up the skills of all of their peers," said Chris Gardner, Assistant Scoutmaster.

The Scouts split into into two patrols for the weekend to cook for themselves. The highlights were the fried rice and meatball subs that the Scouts planned, shopped for, and cooked on their own. Not to be outdone, Scoutmaster Jim McLaughlin showcased a delicious meatloaf and pineapple upside-down cake made in a dutch oven over the open fire. "This is a great set up for next month's Iron Chef Cook Off camping trip," said Jim. The Scouts will be challenged to grow their culinary skills even further over the next month in preparation to wow the judges with new and interesting dishes. We've heard rumors that salmon may be on the menu!

Although the weather had been getting warmer in Stoneham, up in the "wilds" of New Hampshire, there was still almost of a foot of snow resulting in an hours long snow ball fight. The culmination of the event is the actual Crossover Ceremony. The Scouts worked all morning to build the monkey bridge, made entirely out of staves and lashings, for the new Scouts to literally "cross over" from their Cub Pack into their new Scout Troop.

Said Lexie: "Scouting is the best. Crossing the monkey bridge and running around in the snow and playing with my friends was all so fun. I loved cooking new camp foods with my patrol." As the first young woman in Troop 513, Lexie's pioneering (pun very much intended) has opened the door to young women grades 5-12 to join Troop 513.

If you are interested in join Scouting in Stoneham, go to StonehamScouting.org to find out more information or reach out to recruiting@stonehamscouting.org for more information. We welcome young people from K-12 to join either Cub Pack 540 or Scout Troop 513.