Gaining Experience and Giving Back

Patrol leaders from Troop 223 report on recent Good Turn and Career trips.

Alexander Vari | Seminoles Patrol Leader

The Seminoles Patrol went to Westside Food Bank to volunteer and sort food on Sunday, March 17, for a Good Turn Trip. It was a very enjoyable experience for everyone, and we were all very proud of our hard work.

After arriving, we were put to work making boxes and then filling them with various food items around the warehouse.

We quickly realized that our first strategy of having everyone fill individual boxes was not working efficiently. I got everyone together to make a pack line instead, where everyone was responsible for putting 2 or 3 items into a box, and then passing it to the next person.

This made the process a sort of assembly line, with every scout adding a bit to the final result. This proved to be a much faster method, and we were able to get all the boxes filled in a very short amount of time.

The items we sorted included Cheerios, a variety of canned items, pasta, and milk. We filled up a pallet with about 50 boxes.

After we were done making boxes, we cleaned the warehouse to leave it better than we found it.

We rode home, proud of our contribution to the community.

Henry Mauch | Bruins Patrol Leader

Members of the Bruins Patrol from Boy Scout Troop 223 had an informative experience exploring aspects of public health recently during a Career Trip, thanks to a special session led by local Palisadian UCLA surgeons, Dr. Jane Yanagawa and Dr. Peyman Benharash.

Dr. Yanagawa and Dr. Benharash, both highly regarded in the medical field, generously shared their expertise and shared tips how to live healthy lives, so we are not at the other end of the scalpel anytime soon.

Dr. Yanagawa was raised in Pacific Palisades and attended the local public schools (Marquez Elementary, Paul Revere Middle School and Palisades High School) and went on to become a thoracic surgeon.

Dr. Benharash, a cardiac surgeon, is also local to the Palisades and together, they led us through a Public Health Day at UCLA’s surgery simulation lab. For our patrol, it was an opportunity to not only expand our knowledge but also to witness firsthand the impact of healthcare on our community.

As a patrol we learned how public health affects not only the jobs of the surgeons but also the community. Getting to experience the surgical robots hands-on showed us just how much technology is shaping this field.

This trip gave us a better understanding about public health and community service. The Bruins Patrol is so grateful for the dedication and kindness that these local surgeons showed us, leaving a lasting impact. I want to thank our local heroes.

If there are any fifth- or sixth-graders who are interested in participating in Scouts,
contact Greg Frost (boys) at frostfamily@frostinvestigations.com and Larry Kirven (girls)  at troop223girls@gmail.com.