By Barbara Denning

Published: Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 8:56 p.m.
Updated: Friday, March 29, 2013

It was an exciting night on Oct. 18 for Cub Scouts of America Pack 135.

Not only was it the pack's first 2012 meeting held at St. Pius X Church Social Hall in Mt. Pleasant, but one of the pack's own also received the first-ever Arrow of Light Award in the group's 4 1⁄2-year existence.

Dakota Miller, 11, of Mt. Pleasant, son of Tricia Miller, earned the award — the most valuable that can be achieved in Cub Scouts.

The recognition can be obtained by Webelos division Cub Scouts who have been active participants in their den and have completed many requirements.

It represents all of their achievements fulfilled in Cub Scouts as they begin their journey moving up the ranks to a Boy Scout Troop.

“In order to qualify for the award, a scout must earn at least eight pins, and Dakota had exceeded that amount by earning fifteen,” said Suzi Daniels, den leader of Webelo 2.

Dakota will now become a Boy Scout in Boy Scouts of America Troop 133 of Mt. Pleasant.

Members of that troop were present during his “Crossing Over” ceremony.

Dakota has been an active member of the Scouts since 2009.

He has been motivated by a family legacy of Scouts, as his mother, grandmother and two aunts being registered girl scouts and his grandfather being a registered Boy Scout.

“I learned a lot, got out, made new friends as a girl scout and wanted to instill good values in his life,” Tricia Miller said.

Some of the pins Dakota earned as a Cub Scout included the Readyman; Outdoorsman; Technology Group; and the Mental Skills Group, for which the scout must do well academically and be in a school activity or service.

Dakota is a member of the Norvelt Elementary School Band.

Along with exercising a grea t amount of determination and learning many new skills, Dakota says that “one of my favorite things to do was making square lashing”, which is a form of knotting rope.

When asked to describe Dakota, Daniels said “he is very detailed with the tasks he does, reserved at first, but has excelled and come a long way within the den ... he's really a good kid.”

Barbara Denning is a freelance writer.

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