Issac Henry - Treasurer

My favorite memories

My favorite memory of Scouting as a child was attending summer camp in the mountains of central California.

As a parent, some of my favorite memories have been our Pack campouts. Watching my son experience those adventures and make his own memories has made them especially meaningful to me.

My advice to anyone considering joining Scouts

To anyone interested in scouting, jump in and do it. Its great for the kids! I know my son loves it and enjoys getting to be a part of all the activities.

Pack 117 is a great organization to join because we have very engaged and active leadership and parents. There are so many opportunities for kids to learn, explore, make friends, and have fun.

I would encourage anyone considering Scouts to give it a try—you never know what adventures are waiting for you!

Alex Stone - Treasurer in Training

A few things you should know about me

I grew up in Massachusetts, and spent several years throughout childhood and early adulthood living in the Philippines where I was also born. Moved to the Tri Cities after grad school in the Philadelphia area, and have put down roots to raise my 2 boys, both in the pack. I love to travel, camp, hike and anything outdoors including gardening when at home.

As a leader

The core principles of the organization guide the culture of our pack, but the individual pack leadership and group dynamics are what keeps someone interested in staying. My goal is to foster an environment where the kids and caregivers feel welcome and piqued to explore the topics introduced at scouts in more depth.

My leadership style

My leadership style is to facilitate an enjoyable, fun, organized environment where kids feel motivated to do their best.

My favorite scouting memories

I love anything outdoors, so camping and hiking with the pack is a great time. We were able to go to Camp Grizzly this year and I can safely say that was a favorite memory for all 4 of us!

My advice to families considering scouting

Come to an event, where you can get to know the kids and families of the pack! Reach out to leadership with any questions. Our family found a home with Pack 117, and the decision to join has afforded us so many rewarding experiences and development of community.

Tiana Rios- Secretary

For me, Scouting is about more than just earning badges. It is about creating lasting memories, building character, developing useful skills, and giving kids a place where they can grow alongside their friends. I’m grateful to be able to play a small part in that experience and look forward to continuing to support our pack and its Scouts.

My favorite Scouting memory

My favorite memory of scouting? Its hard to pick one. I love seeing all the kids working/playing together at the scouting events!

Kylene Hartshorn - Membership Chair

meaningful it can be to find a place where you are accepted, included, and free to be yourself. Because of that, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment is especially important to me. I want every child to feel that there is a place for them in our Pack, no matter how they learn, communicate, or experience the world.

I love planning activities that the kids will enjoy and finding ways to make each experience feel special and memorable. I’m artistic and crafty by nature, and one of my favorite things about Scouting is being able to share that creativity with the Pack. Whether I’m creating something, planning an activity, or simply finding a way to make an event more engaging, I love bringing the kids’ imaginations to life. My ADHD has also given me a lot of energy and creativity, and I’ve learned to turn that into something positive by creating fun, hands-on experiences for the kids.

More than anything, I want the kids to know that being different is not something they need to hide. It can be a strength. I want to help create a Scouting experience where they can be themselves, discover what makes them special, build confidence, and know that they truly belong.

My Why

The world is constantly changing, and I want my son to grow up feeling confident and prepared to navigate that world while holding onto the morals, values, and life skills he has learned through his experiences in Scouting.

I believe every child deserves a place where they feel heard, accepted, and comfortable being themselves, and  Scouting can be that place. One of the things I value most is the emphasis on doing your best while being willing to try new things. Scouting teaches kids that it is okay not to succeed the first time. Life is full of challenges, mistakes, and moments when things don't go as planned, but what matters is having the courage to try again, learn from the experience, and keep moving forward.

As a parent and leader, my goal is to help create an environment where every child feels welcomed, encouraged, and supported. I want Scouting to be a place for kids who are searching for somewhere to belong—a place where they can build friendships, try new things, overcome challenges, discover their strengths, and gain confidence in themselves and who they are.

I want every Scout to leave an activity knowing that they were valued, that their ideas mattered, and that they are capable of more than they may have believed. To me, that is what Scouting is all about: helping kids become confident, compassionate, capable people while giving them a place where they can simply be themselves.

My favorite Memories

It is hard to choose just one memorable moment because, for me, every day in Scouting brings something special. One of the moments that stands out most was placing flags on Veterans’ graves for Memorial Day. Having my dad there with us made it especially meaningful because he is a Veteran. Being able to share that experience with him while teaching the kids about honoring and remembering those who served our country is a memory I will always treasure.

One of my favorite Scouting traditions is Toys for Tots. I love being able to give back to our community and help make the holiday season a little brighter for families who may be struggling. Knowing that our efforts can help make sure children in our community have gifts to open on Christmas is incredibly rewarding.

Giving back and teaching our Scouts to think about others is one of the things I value most about Scouting. These experiences show kids that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone else’s life.

My advice to people looking into joining Scouts

My advice is simple: take that leap and give Scouting a chance.

You don’t have to know everything, be outdoorsy, or have a specific set of skills to belong in Scouting. There is a place for everyone, and you may be surprised by what you discover about yourself along the way.

Scouting is so much more than camping and hiking. It is about trying new things, learning practical skills, making lifelong friendships, building confidence, and learning how to face challenges when things don’t go as planned. It gives kids opportunities to discover what they enjoy and what they are capable of, while giving families opportunities to grow and make memories together.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to get involved. You may start out thinking you are doing it for your child, but you might find that Scouting changes you, too. It certainly did for me.

Take the leap, try something new, and remember that you don’t have to be perfect. Just do your best, keep learning, and enjoy the adventure along the way.

Justin Hartshorn - Pack Trainer