Marine, Navy sons learn life skills at camp

Seventeen Boy Scouts and six adult leaders from the Camp Pendleton-based Troop 789 attended a week-long summer camp July 19-27 at Emerald Bay on Catalina Island along with along with Troop 223 from Pacific Palisades.

The scouts of Troop 789, whose ages vary from 11 to 15, experienced a wide variety of activities on the ocean, including snorkeling, rowing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, wake boarding and tubing. They also participated in several activities ashore, such as rifle, shotgun and archery shooting, mountain biking, leather crafts and hiking.

The scouts also spent time learning oceanography, astronomy and leadership skills. Adult leaders with the troop, who are all active or retired Marines, oversaw many of these activities and participated in leadership training of their own.

“One of the main missions of the troop is to find and grow young men to be the leaders of our country,” said Col. Clarke Lethin, chief of staff for the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, who volunteers his time as an assistant scoutmaster.

“This is a scout lead troop; the adult leaders facilitate and guide the troop but the scouts make the ultimate decisions on what gets done,” said Scoutmaster Kirk Wille, a retired lieutenant colonel who has headed up the troop for more than a year.

Troop 789 has been active on Camp Pendleton for more than 14 years and is sponsored by the Marine Memorial Chapel.

“The good thing about the troop being on base is that when a scout’s dad deploys there are surrogate fathers around to be role models and help out the moms,” said Col. Lethin.

Troop 789 meets at the Scout Hut, building 13112, every Tuesday at 7 p.m. To find out more, visit their Web site at http://www.bsatroop789.org.