MONROE - For almost three-quarters of a century, Art Whipple has enjoyed the rush of tubing at Tyrol Basin, downhill skiing at Christmas Mountain and camping with the Boy Scouts.
Whipple, 79, of Monroe, has been involved with Scouts for 70 years - and he's not ready to trade in his Merit Badges and handbook just yet.
Whipple is receiving the Scout's Veterans Award Sunday at the Monroe United Methodist Church for his seven decades with the Boy Scouts. The awards ceremony coincides with Boy Scouts of America Week, which celebrated the 102nd year of the organization this week.
"It's quite an honor," Whipple said. "There are not many people who have 70 years of community service in Scouting."
Whipple still serves as the Scout coordinator for Troop 180, which he started 35 years ago and is sponsored by the church. He also is the Eagle Advancement chairman for the Arrowhead District.
Whipple won't be the only Scout leader honored Sunday: His son-in-law, Jim Connors, will also receive the Cross and Flame award for his service of more than 49 years to Scouts.
Connors has served as an assistant Scout master since he was 18. Connors, who is in the city band, does some maintenance for the church, serves on church committees and helps out with Sunday School classes, said he was surprised by the award.
"I wasn't expecting it," Connors said. "It's one way our church can give to the leaders."
Rev. Randy Booth of Monroe United Methodist Church said the church is amazed by the service of both Whipple and Connors.
"The church and Scouts want to do the same thing to help young people grow and raise up and become young leaders," Booth said. "Because I'm an Eagle Scout, I know what it means to have adult leaders. It (Scouts) has made me who I am. I love to see Art and Jim doing it for the next generation."
Whipple and Connors have seen many changes in Scouting over the last 50 years.
Whipple, for example, was never able to become an Eagle Scout because he wasn't able to swim well enough to meet the life saving requirement. But now, Connors said, there are several options for Scouts now instead of swimming: They can complete hiking and bicycling instead of swimming to meet the Eagle Scout requirements.
"There are a lot of good kids out there, but some of them swim like rocks," Connors said.
The Merit Badge system has also been modernized for today's era of Scouts. "There are more Merit Badges and chances for career opportunities than when I started Scouts," Whipple said.
One thing that hasn't changed in Scouting is a commitment to community service. Troop 180 has been instrumental in tearing down an old playground and building a new one for Noah's Ark, the church's day care center and preschool. The Scouts have also replaced wood chips on the play area several times, and planted bushes and flowers around the church. The troop, along with other Cub Scouts and leaders, have also put in 12 years of community service to clean up stretches of Honey Creek Park.
Both Whipple and Connors have received many Scouting honors, including the Silver Beaver award, the highest national award for volunteers awarded by their council.
But the Veteran Award is one Whipple will especially cherish.
"I would say it's a higher honor because not many of us get it," he said.
"It's nice for Art," Connors said. "Being in anything for 70 years is an accomplishment."
For Whipple, those years have been about helping youth grow and mature through Scouting.
"I like seeing young boys turn into men," he said.
Whipple, 79, of Monroe, has been involved with Scouts for 70 years - and he's not ready to trade in his Merit Badges and handbook just yet.
Whipple is receiving the Scout's Veterans Award Sunday at the Monroe United Methodist Church for his seven decades with the Boy Scouts. The awards ceremony coincides with Boy Scouts of America Week, which celebrated the 102nd year of the organization this week.
"It's quite an honor," Whipple said. "There are not many people who have 70 years of community service in Scouting."
Whipple still serves as the Scout coordinator for Troop 180, which he started 35 years ago and is sponsored by the church. He also is the Eagle Advancement chairman for the Arrowhead District.
Whipple won't be the only Scout leader honored Sunday: His son-in-law, Jim Connors, will also receive the Cross and Flame award for his service of more than 49 years to Scouts.
Connors has served as an assistant Scout master since he was 18. Connors, who is in the city band, does some maintenance for the church, serves on church committees and helps out with Sunday School classes, said he was surprised by the award.
"I wasn't expecting it," Connors said. "It's one way our church can give to the leaders."
Rev. Randy Booth of Monroe United Methodist Church said the church is amazed by the service of both Whipple and Connors.
"The church and Scouts want to do the same thing to help young people grow and raise up and become young leaders," Booth said. "Because I'm an Eagle Scout, I know what it means to have adult leaders. It (Scouts) has made me who I am. I love to see Art and Jim doing it for the next generation."
Whipple and Connors have seen many changes in Scouting over the last 50 years.
Whipple, for example, was never able to become an Eagle Scout because he wasn't able to swim well enough to meet the life saving requirement. But now, Connors said, there are several options for Scouts now instead of swimming: They can complete hiking and bicycling instead of swimming to meet the Eagle Scout requirements.
"There are a lot of good kids out there, but some of them swim like rocks," Connors said.
The Merit Badge system has also been modernized for today's era of Scouts. "There are more Merit Badges and chances for career opportunities than when I started Scouts," Whipple said.
One thing that hasn't changed in Scouting is a commitment to community service. Troop 180 has been instrumental in tearing down an old playground and building a new one for Noah's Ark, the church's day care center and preschool. The Scouts have also replaced wood chips on the play area several times, and planted bushes and flowers around the church. The troop, along with other Cub Scouts and leaders, have also put in 12 years of community service to clean up stretches of Honey Creek Park.
Both Whipple and Connors have received many Scouting honors, including the Silver Beaver award, the highest national award for volunteers awarded by their council.
But the Veteran Award is one Whipple will especially cherish.
"I would say it's a higher honor because not many of us get it," he said.
"It's nice for Art," Connors said. "Being in anything for 70 years is an accomplishment."
For Whipple, those years have been about helping youth grow and mature through Scouting.
"I like seeing young boys turn into men," he said.