Leaders with the Adventure West Council of Boy Scouts have dedicated the newly built staff building at Camp Laramie Peak in honor of Dr. Thom VanBoskirk and the VanBoskirk family. The ceremony occurred during a Scout Jamboree this past Saturday October 3rd that was attended by over 600 people, including scouts and adults.
Dr. Thom has been involved with the Scouting program since his youth and his daughter Shar provided a $100,000 donation specifically to be used to enhance Camp Laramie.
VanBoskirk joined Omaha’s Pack 65 when he was eight and earned his Eagle Scout award at 15.
After marrying his wife LaRita and while establishing his successful dental practice in Gering, he became a Scoutmaster for Troop 3, where seven scouts earned their Eagle Award during his tenure. He served on the Executive Board of the Wyo-Braska Council when it merged with the Longs Peak Council and presently serves on the Longs Peak Council Executive Board. He received the Silver Beaver Award from the Longs Peak Council in 2019. VanBoskirk says “it has been my privilege to help develop young scouts into the leaders of tomorrow”
Van Boskirk’s leadership with his church and organizations like Kiwanis, where he served as club President and Lieutenant Governor of the Rocky Mountain District for Kiwanis, are examples of his belief that “community service is the rent you pay for the space that you occupy.”
