Miami Lakes’ Boy Scout Troop 49 will celebrate its 50th anniversary in December, a milestone that commenced two years after the Graham family first developed the community in 1962.
But the group hasn’t had much to celebrate as of late after someone burglarized the troop’s trailer in Davie and stole tents, sleeping bags and other equipment all valued at $5,000.
The theft left most of the boys discouraged and they quit the group, leaving only five members.
Despite having no camping equipment, the scouts went on a camping trip where they slept on picnic tables.
The heart-wrenching story first came to light on Channel 7 News several weeks ago when Miami Lakes Councilmember Nelson Rodriguez learned of the boys’ hardship and help launched a fund-raiser to replace their camping equipment and other items.
“It was brought to my attention when I am watching the news and here pops up one of the scouts who goes to school with my son,” Rodriguez said during the September 9 regular Town Council meeting. “He said he had to sleep on a picnic table without a sleeping bag and without a tent. They are down to five boys.”
Councilmembers approved his recommendation to help the troop with the fund-raiser and find space somewhere in the town for the Boy Scouts to store their trailer.
“Find a location for them to park their trailer in the town and in a safe location,” Rodriguez said. “And help raise funds to replace their equipment so they can make it to the big Jamboree. These guys are doing something good. The Boy Scouts keep them off the streets.”
Mayor Wayne Slaton said he wrote a check in the amount of $100 for the troop and encouraged councilmembers to do the same.
“I didn’t realize they were down to five boys,” Slaton said. “It shouldn’t take that much to get them some tents and sleeping bags to get them started again.”
Slaton said Troop 49 goes way back, chartered by the Miami Lakes Civic Association and longtime Miami Lakes resident Carl Mosher was the group’s first Scout Master.
He said for years the troop met and stored its equipment in the building at Miami Lakes Picnic Park East until the park went under construction in 2012 to make way for a new youth center.
“I don’t understand why the troop was displaced,” Slaton said. “It’s always been a Miami Lakes troop.”
Councilmember Frank Mingo, who ran unopposed this year, said he also will write a check for $100 and donate funds left over from his campaign.
Councilmember Tim Daubert recalled his Boy Scout Troop 373 in North Miami entangled in a series of competitions with Troop 49.
“I can remember for years challenging them to a gateway competition,” Daubert said. “You can count on me for a check, and if you have a fund-raiser, you can count on me.”
Rodriguez said helping the Boy Scouts shows Miami Lakes cares about kids.
“It’s really about the kids and I hope they come back to us in a year and say we have a problem, we have so many kids,” Rodriguez said. “Because that would be a wonderful problem. Five kids are not enough.”
Anyone wishing to donate funds to help replace the stolen equipment can visit www.gofundme.com/djwv4k.