Butch Hawkins oversees Scouts preparing lunches at Fun Fest. Organized by The Amputee Center, the event was held at the Wood County Resiliency Center. (Photo provided)

A local Boy Scout troop earned a Disability Awareness Merit Badge for a service project at The Amputee Center in Parkersburg.

Troop 203 of the Kootaga District, Buckskin Council, chartered by The Amputee Center, provided numerous service hours on April 25 at the center’s annual Fun Fest that featured American Ninja Warrior star Gary Weiland, an amputee and firefighter.

Scouts set up canopies for a camp kitchen, helped vendors load and unload merchandise and worked a children’s activity station throughout the day. Adult scout volunteers drove golf carts to transport people to and from parking areas, according to Scout spokesman Kelly Faires, a merit badge counseler.

The event for the second year was held at the new Wood County Resiliency Center.

New this year was a 5K run in the morning. Weiland, wearing his Fearless FAN Man suit, ran in the race with Scout Sussie Slaugenhaupt Hitt from Troop 203 running along side. FAN stands for “firefighter amputee ninja.”

From left, Kelly and Andrew Faires of Boy Scout Troop 203 pose with American Ninja Warrior Gary Weiland in front of the obstacle course leader board at the annual Fun Fest held April 25. Fun Fest is organized by The Amputee Center. (Photo provided)

Also new was a Ninja Warrior Obstacle course created and worked by the Scouts. Scouts reset the obstacle course between participants and returned the basketball to competitors who were shooting hoops.

The obstacle course provided an opportunity for kids of all ages to participate and try to beat Weiland’s time.

Stations 1 to 4 were only for competitors competing on foot. Participants using wheel chairs could complete for the best time on wheels and their course were stations 5 to 10.

Andrew Faires, a recent Eagle Scout from Troop 203, was the timer for the event. Kelly Faires ran with participants to make sure they didn’t miss a station.

Weiland, who was a Scout, ran the course twice with onlookers cheering. No one could beat his top time of 2 minutes 25 seconds.

Scouts try out the adaptive bikes after the course was closed at Fun Fest on April 25. (Photo provided)

Afterward, Matt Hill, owner of Impossible Performance, an Eagle Scout and Troop 203’s chartering organization representative, presented a fitness demonstration specifically for amputees.

Among requirements for the Disabilities Awareness Merit Badge is to volunteer with a disability advocacy agency for eight hours. Two scouts from Troop 207 in the River Trails District, Muskingum Valley Council, also participated and earned the badge.

Scouts also helped with parking, worked a water station during the Fun Run, served lunch and drinks to attendees, worked an obstacle course and cleaned the course at the end of the day. In total, 11 scouts and scouters volunteered covering morning and afternoon shifts.

Butch Hawkins, a Scout for over 75 years, was available with the troop’s rope-making bike and spoke to prospective scouts. A survey for anyone wanting to get involved with Scouting was available on paper or by scanning the QR code with a phone.

Kelly Faires is working on forming a new Venturing Crew, a coed Scouting opportunity for ages 14-20. No experience is required.

From left, Matt Hill, owner of Impossible Performance, an Eagle Scout and Troop 203’s chartering organization representative, and Jesse David, a Canadian adaptive athlete and Instagram content creator raising limb loss awareness, at Fun Fest on April 5. (Photo provided)

Anyone interested can contact her at fairesk231@gmail.com for the interest survey. The crew interest meetings will be held in late July and early August.

The Kootaga District serves Scouts and volunteers in Wood, Jackson, Wirt, Roane, Ritchie and Calhoun counties in West Virginia and Belpre, Little Hocking and Coolville in Ohio.