By Stephen Peeck, Boy Scout Troop 260 Scoutmaster
Gabriel Peeck, Eagle Scout from Troop 260 in Centralia, is aging out of Boy Scouts of America as he turns 18 years of age this September. Now with that said, his adult volunteering in Scouting begins as he is still involved as an Assistant Scoutmaster at Troop 260, the GSLAC First Aid Program called the EZ-Squad and BSA Life Guarding. Gabriel Peeck has been a part of staffing at Beaumont Scout Reservation — Camp May for the Greater St. Louis Area Council the last three years, the first year as assistant Scout-craft counselor, the second year as Scout-craft director and this past summer as the office business manager at Camp May.
EZ Squad is a team of older Scouts that have worked hard to obtain the necessary training through the Red Cross and BSA to provide first aid to other Scouts, crews and Cub Scouts at local events. In addition, they have studied hard and become proficient in skills to the point of being able to teach in the skill centers when the First Aid Merit Badge and/or Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge is being presented by a qualified merit badge counselor. Their name is derived from the team’s usage of the term “Emergen-z Squad” which was eventually shortened to EZ Squad.
EZ Squad members may also be called upon to teach first aid skills and/or emergency preparedness to other groups such as AHG, Girl Scouts and church groups. Gabriel’s Squad name is APOLLO.
Gabriel’s future plans are continuing with the health occupation classes during his senior year at Centralia High School and to get his Certified Nurse Assistant classification. He is planning to attend a four year Bachelor of Nursing program in hopes of being a Nurse Practitioner someday. Troop 260 just wants this advanced Scout to be recognized for the hard work he has put into molding his own future, and to let other youth and interested parents know that there are many opportunities in Scouting to prepare our youth for the future. Gabriel is the rank of 3M in the GSLAC EZ-Squad Boy Scout Medical Team and is planning to continue his advancement in this Scouting program.