Patrick Amy, Jeffrey Burnett, Neil Zell and Michael Wolfe are members of Boy Scout Troop 451 in Severna Park. All four boys attend Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore. Photo by John Singleton.

By John Singleton

In the months leading up to its 50th anniversary celebration, Boy Scout Troop 450 in Severna Park has undertaken some of the most ambitious projects in its impressive history. Last year, David Hoch, now a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh, constructed a brick sidewalk at Kinder Park in Millersville to connect the Visitor’s Center with the parking lot; also, Tyler Culp, presently a senior at SPHS, installed benches that turn into picnic tables at Downs Park in Pasadena. Both young men are now Eagle Scouts.

“These projects can take anywhere from six to 18 months and require a significant commitment in labor as well as time,” said Michael Burnett, Scout Master for Troop 450. “Make no mistake; scout skills have real-world applications.”

In fact, one of Troop 450’s former Eagle Scouts was a first responder in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, after the devastating earthquake of the 2010. Although scouting is known to produce leadership opportunities on a global scale, most Eagle Scout projects have a local focus. Matt Belson, 17, has installed sign and trail markers at Down’s Park; Logan Gibb, 15, is in the process of completing a stone walkway around the Stations of the Cross at St. John the Evangelist Church; and Michael Wolfe, 17, has designed a food pantry in the Parish Center at St. John the Evangelist Church. All three young men aspire to be Eagle Scouts.

“To become an Eagle Scout, candidates must complete a major community service project and earn a minimum number of merit badges,” said Brad Zell, a member of the Troop 450 Scout Committee. There’s also a formal Board of Review, where prospective Eagle Scouts must defend their project’s efficacy. Final approval of promotion to Eagle Scout must be given by the Regional Boy Scout Council.

“One of the questions I ask Scouts at advancement Boards of Review is, ‘If a mother asked you to encourage her son to join scouts, what would you say?’” added Zell. “It gets the boys thinking about the value of Scouts, what they enjoy, and how to communicate that to other young boys.”

This upcoming year Garrett Fanshawe, 17, plans to build a fountain area and garden around the Stations of the Cross at St. John’s. Andrew Stemberger, 16, will be reforesting a hillside by the front entrance of St. Andrew by the Bay Church for their Eagle Scout projects.

“I’ve been in scouting since third grade. It’s a big commitment,” said Stemberger, a junior at SPHS. “I’ve had the chance to acquire skills I wouldn’t have otherwise, like camping, fire-building, and backpacking”

To celebrate its 50th year, Troop 450 will hold a barbecue picnic the afternoon of Saturday, June 9. The anniversary picnic will be at St. John the Evangelist School of Severna Park. Troop 450 is reaching out to all former 450 Scouts and families with the hopes they can attend.

Former scouts are encouraged to contact Troop 450 by calling 410-647-2713 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For ticket information or more details, check out the troop website at www.stjohnsp.org/troop450.