When Ayden Kobryn joined Boy Scouts, he learned the ropes from the older guys in Troop 208.
First aid, camping skills, making a fire, setting up a tent and more.
And now that Ayden is 17 and about to become an Eagle Scout, he’s passing along what he learned to the younger members of Troop 208, which is based at Gloria Dei Church, on Welsh Road.
Troop 208 is for kids 11-17, and Ayden said his journey has been well worth it. He’s earned merit badges, attended an air show at Fort Dix, gone to the annual Scout camp in Resica Falls in East Stroudsburg and completed – with the help of a lot of people – a massive Eagle Scout project at Cranaleith Spiritual Center in the Somerton section of Northeast Philly.
“It’s good to get out, work with your hands, go on trips and learn essential life skills,” he said. “There’s a little bit of everything in Scouts. You can literally learn about anything. And you make friends along the way.”
Troop 208’s roots date to the early 1920s, though the charter was not formalized until 1941. The troop has been chartered by Gloria Dei since 2010.
Over the years, many of the Troop 208 Scouts have “crossed over” from Cub Scout Pack 802, which is for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade and is based at St. Albert the Great Parish.
Ayden was in Scouts as a youngster, then temporarily dropped out due to being in so many activities. Even today, he is a state-qualifying swimmer and EMT school student who is eyeing a molecular biology major at Baylor with future plans to become a surgeon.
It was Sean Garvey, a friend from St. Albert the Great Elementary School, who recruited him back to Troop 208. Ayden and Sean are now both seniors at Holy Ghost Prep.
Sean, who turned 18 on July 19, completed his Eagle Scout project in September 2023. A runner at Holy Ghost, he renovated a cross country kiosk and added two benches and distance markings at Tyler State Park, in Newtown.
Sean has enjoyed his days in Scouts.
“It’s been fun. You get to do a wide variety of things. There are some things you get to do you wouldn’t normally do,” he said, citing archery, rifle shooting, kayaking and canoeing.
Matt Morgan, who was part of a Cub Scout Pack in Cheltenham, recalls being at a St. Albert school choir practice when Sean and Ayden convinced him to join Troop 208. Today, he is 17 and a senior at Mercy Career and Technical School at 29th and Hunting Park in Philadelphia.
Matt, who removed and replaced 100 feet of fencing at Pennypack Environmental Center in Northeast Philly for his Eagle Scout project, is glad he accepted Sean and Ayden’s invitation to join Troop 208.
“It’s a great way to meet people,” he said. “Leadership is very important to me. I had a great experience at Treasure Island (a Scout camp). And it’s a real good opportunity to put on your resume.”
Tommy Keaton began with Cub Scouts before crossing over to Troop 208. His dad, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and cousins have been in Scouts.
“I have a connection with family,” he said.
Tommy, a senior at Lower Moreland High School, completed his Eagle Scout project at Pennypack Preschool, improving the playground and garden. He assisted in Ayden’s recent project and is thankful for the help he received.
Tommy enjoyed going on trips and working toward merit badges and, in general, being around fellow Scouts and adult leaders.
“They’re great people,” he said.
Jonathan Wilson is only 14 and about to enter his freshman year at Lower Moreland, but he holds Life rank, one step before achieving Eagle Scout. His service project is installing an informative kiosk on a trail on the Delaware Canal in Washington Crossing. He’s proud to be one of 18 members of Troop 208.
“We’re a small troop, but we know each other very well,” he said. “The leaders give us their full attention and help us advance in rank.”
Those leaders include Don Murtha, scoutmaster since 2021, and Mike Garvey, the troop chairman. Murtha and Garvey oversee a troop that has 100 Eagle Scouts in its history.
Sean Garvey, Mike’s son, was No. 98. Tommy Keaton and Kieran Murtha, Don’s son, were No. 99 and 100. Tommy and Kieran, along with Ayden and Matt, are awaiting their Court of Honor.
As Ayden explained, an approved Eagle Scout project must benefit the community in some way. Ayden’s project is the Thuja Memorial Kiosk, a 14-foot-high structure featuring 63 plaques that were purchased as part of a Cranaleith fundraiser.
Like most Eagle Scout hopefuls, Ayden needed a lot of help, starting with Home Depot donating most of the wood, concrete, shingles and other material.
Then, on project day, there was the heavy lifting by, among others, family members, Troop 208 Scouts and leaders, fellow Holy Ghost swimmers and Holy Ghost classmate Cillian Binder, who is pursuing his Eagle Scout rank as a member of St. Christopher Parish-based Troop 367.
Don Murtha’s been a longtime Scout leader, as all four of his sons have been Scouts. He’s seen many young people grow over the years.
“They learn citizenship, skills, leadership and service to others,” he said. “They make themselves self-reliant and become fine young men.”
Mike Garvey has been involved with Scouts since Sean joined when he was in first grade, and thinks it’s a great opportunity for parents to spend time with their child while helping others.
“An active Scout troop can teach a lot of skills,” he said. “Scouts can do so much more than they think they can. They learn skills they can take with them their whole life. And along the way, they have some fun.” ••
For more information on Troop 208, visit bsatroop208.org or attend a meeting. The troop meets all year on Mondays at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Room at Gloria Dei Church, 570 Welsh Road.
