While most high school sophomores in Lake Orion will spend the next few days in the classroom or doing homework, Matt Hansen will be thousands of miles away, participating in the World Scout Winter Games in Kandersteg, Switzerland.
Hansen was one of 12 U.S. scouts chosen from a pool of about one million.
He was first chosen from a local council of about 8,000 scouts and then was picked from a pool of 300 highly deserving youth nationally.
‘I didn’t know any of it until Jay Soucy called and asked if I had a passport,? Hansen said.
Soucy is the program director for the Clinton Valley Council, and said Hansen was an outstanding choice to represent the scouts abroad.
Hansen earned his prestigious Eagle Scout badge at the young age of 14, and his dad, Rich (a troop leader), noted that Matt was crew leader for a venture crew at Mt. Holly.
That program is in the process of becoming a junior program of the ski patrol and Rich noted that it’s hard to get his son off the hill.
There will be some skiing involved in Matt’s trip to Switzerland, naturally, but that’s not all.
Matt noted there are eight different countries participating in the winter games and they will spend their mornings learning events, like snowshoeing, cross country skiing and curling, and the afternoons in competition.
‘It’s going to be a great opportunity, not just to meet scouts from across the country, but from across the world,? he said, prior to leaving on Tuesday.
Hansen turns 16 just in time to go on the trip, which is only for 16-17-year-old scouts.
‘You have to be 16 to do the program,? he noted. ‘I turn 16 the day we leave.?
Not a bad birthday present, heading to the Alps.
Prior to leaving for Switzerland, Hansen had to head down to meet the U.S. contingent in Dallas.
‘The biggest thing for me is getting to Dallas on my own,? he said, noting the entire traveling time is about 36 hours.
Hansen added that he doesn’t have a problem meeting new people and will have at least two familiar faces in the bunch.
He and two of the other 12 U.S. scouts selected (both also residing in Michigan), met at Mt. Holly last Saturday for some skiing.
Hansen, who is from Troop #186 out of St. Joseph, will return to the states on March 4.
He’s had lots of help from Health Quest Physical Therapy (which gave him a place to work out), the Orion Firefighters Association (which helped offset some travel expenses) and Doug Gorton (providing custom footwear).
‘I’ve had plenty of help getting ready,? Hansen said. ‘There’s not too much more I could do to prepare.?
To learn more about the World Scout Winter Games, visit www.kisc.ch/’tkw=wintergames.