Former Troop 9013 Eagle Scout Tim Fah whittles wood in front of his 5-year-old nephew, with the hopes that both his nephew and 2-year-old niece will eventually follow his scouting path.
“You really don’t understand what you get out of scouting till you’re looking back at it,” said Fah, 25.
Eagle Scouts, from left, Phil Walk, Eli Baynes-Marsh, Andrew Wussler and Tim Fah gather during Baynes-Marsh’s Eagle Scout ceremony, June 5, 2017. Troop 9013 (previously known as Troop 13) is celebrating its 100th Anniversary on Saturday at St. Columba School. (Martha Wald / Scouting Troop 9013)
Minnesota Troop 9013 of Scouting America is celebrating its 100th anniversary Saturday at St. Columba School, 1330 Blair Ave. in St. Paul, with a reunion event for past and present troop members, family and anyone interested in attending. Since 1924, Troop 9013 (previously known as Troop 13) has provided opportunities for personal development, leadership and outdoor skills for Scouts in Hamline-Midway and nearby St. Paul neighborhoods.
“I think the value is that we get to have a whole bunch of different generations of scouts meet up and talk about shared stories, connect and network,” Fah said.
The open house runs from 1 to 4 p.m. with a flag ceremony at 2 p.m. Guest speakers, camp stories and an open mic will follow. Troop memorabilia and archives will be on display and appetizers will be served.
The mission of Scouting America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law, according to the group’s website.
Fah, who grew up in the Midway area, said that his father was also a Boy Scout at one point and Fah became inspired to become a Scout after watching his older brother climb the ranks.
“It’s honestly surprising just how much I ended up learning from Boy Scouts,” Fah said.
Now an assistant scoutmaster with Troop 9013, he’s witnessed positive changes to the scouting program over the years. He looks back fondly on memories of camping with his troop and said he actively applies lessons he learned about wood lashing, knot tying and managing stressful situations still to this day.
“It’s just insane to me,” Fah said. “It’s kind of hard to comprehend that the troop has been around that long.”
Role models and traditions
Julie Ludowese, a Troop 9013 committee member since 2014, said her now adult son joined the Scouts when he was in first grade. She said that, as a single mother, being involved in scouting helped them form a community in a safe environment.
“The thing that I really appreciate was the leadership he was shown,” Ludowese said.
Ludowese said her son had great role models and mentors because of the program. She said that she values the amount of community service projects and initiatives the troop is involved with in St. Paul.
“For being a really small troop, it has carried some really big continuous traditions,” Ludowese said.
The Hi-lex Gnomes march during the 2024 St. Paul Winter Carnival King Boreas Grande Day Parade along West Seventh Street downtown on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Troop 9013 has been active in St. Paul with events such as the St. Paul Winter Carnival, where they are known for wearing the antique Hi-lex Gnome costumes in the Grande Day Parade.
For 65 years, the troop has served more than 250 meals to friends and neighbors annually through their spaghetti dinner fundraiser, which Ludowese helps organize along with other projects.
Nick Denkinger joined Troop 9013 as a scout leader in 2001, when he enrolled his 12-year-old son in the troop.
“It was such a worthy program that I stuck around, and I help out,” Denkinger said.
Denkinger said his son learned a lot about the outdoors, building fires, wildlife and camping through the program. He said he enjoys seeing the growth within troop members as they age, and is impressed by how the program has changed to include over 100 merit badges from physical fitness to environmental science.
“All of these kids are so incredibly different and it’s really a treat to work with them,” Denkinger said.
Learning from mistakes
Scouting has had to deal with negative connotations after grooming and sexual abuse scandals were reported in scouting programs across the U.S. since the 1970s.
Denkinger said he believes the program has learned from past mistakes. What used to be the Boy Scouts is now Scouting America and includes all genders and aims to be more inclusive.
“What was acceptable 20 years, 40 years ago is not acceptable now, and they’ve adapted to it,” Denkinger said.
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Ludowese said a lot of organizations start something that fizzles out within a few years, but she is impressed with the longevity of Troop 9013, and believes it is a reflection of the strength of its community.
“Most of us will be lucky to live 100 years,” Ludowese said. “A hundred years I think is a huge milestone.”
Sponsors, funders and supporters of the troop include Hamline-Midway neighbors, St. Columba Parish, Midway Men’s Club, American Legion Post 8 and Westcott Station.
Saturday’s reunion event is open to the public; no reservations are needed.
To learn more about Troop 9013, visit www.facebook.com/ScoutTroop13/ or contact them at mntroop13@gmail.com.
