 Brothers have been busy hosting community outreach activities involving Habitat for Humanity, Boy Scouts of America and non-profit family service agencies.
Brother Ross Burke arrived at Housatonic #61 early Saturday morning to set up extension cords for the volunteers who are building a Habitat for Humanity house adjacent to the lodge, as part of the lodge's ongoing efforts to support our community volunteers. Providing HH with electrical power and access to our facilities allows them to reduce costs (no need to install temporary electrical service, nor rent porta-potties).
Preparations then began for a traditional craft workshop for families, "Whittle a Wooden Spoon", hosted by Housatonic #61 and held in the beautiful grove on the banks of the Housatonic River. Boy Scouts from Pack 22 in North Canaan, CT made up most of the group, along with several brave mothers. Brother Cliff Cuseo (Temple Lodge 65) and son Lucas, traveled all the way from Monroe, CT (90 minute drive?) to participate.
Brother Joseph Brien led the workshop to teach kids an old-time fun activity and help the Scouts earn their merit badges.
Everyone worked very hard getting ready - raking the lawn, gathering firewood and hauling water. After learning how to safely start a campfire, the young Scouts prepared a huge batch of soup in a Dutch oven. The soup simmered in the coals while participants learned how to safely use whittling knives, then used glowing embers from the campfire to char and hollow-out the scoops of their spoons - following an ancient tradition which was also used by prehistoric peoples for fashioning dug-out canoes.
By the time the spoons were completed, the soup was ready and hungry whittlers ate with their brand-new spoons! The Boy Scouts invited the Habitat carpenters over for lunch, so we had quite a day of brotherhood.
Housatonic Lodge of Masons #61 has hosted several family craft programs in the past year, collaborating with the Boy Scouts, the Housatonic Youth Service Bureau, (a non-profit community agency) and Habitat for Humanity.
More community activities are being planned by Housatonic #61. We look forward to having more brothers and their families participate in future workshops. Check our calendar for details. |
Membership Info
From The East
Calendar
