Scouts honor their deceased friend with gaga ball pits
Aiden Lutz used to spend hours playing gaga ball, and now his friends can play the game in a gaga ball ring built in honor of the late Scout.
Scouts in Troop 6 spent the day Saturday, July 27, putting together two gaga ball pits at Camp Bucoco for their friend, who died Oct. 20. Aiden was riding an electric bicycle Oct. 19 on Dutchtown Road when he was struck by a vehicle, and subsequently transported to Allegheny General Hospital. The 15-year-old was a sophomore at Butler Senior High School, and had participated in Scouting since he was in kindergarten.
Jeff Orsborn, a scoutmaster for Troop 6, said he and the Scouts agreed Aiden would be happy to know that Camp Bucoco has two more gaga ball pits, because he was such a fan of the game. Gaga is a variant of dodgeball.
The troop recently completed Aiden’s Eagle Scout project by installing Little Free Libraries at two Butler Area School District elementary schools, but the Scouts wanted to do an additional project in his honor.
“The first thought about honoring his memory was a gaga pit at Bucoco,” Orsborn said. “He would spend free time at the gaga pits playing and making friends. This game brought him enjoyment, and he talked about it around the evening campfire.”
The Scouts still have to complete the finish on the pits, and they will later dedicate them in a ceremony, which may take place in the fall, according to Beth Orsborn, committee chairwoman for Troop 6.
Orsborn said several Scouts in the troop were happy to put in the hard work over a long day for Aiden, because he was such a positive person within the troop.
“It felt nice to do this project because the feeling of finishing the project he couldn't finish is very special to me,” said Scout Gabe Kappler.
John Stoops, a scoutmaster for Troop 6, said he knew the troop would understand the significance of building gaga ball pits at Camp Bucoco, because with Aiden, “It was always ‘One more game.’”
One of Aiden’s best friends, Anthony Stoops, said despite the long hours playing gaga ball with Aiden, he would like to play one more game with his Scouting friend.
“Aiden would be super excited with the new pits at Bucoco,” Anthony said. “Wish we could play another game together.”
