Last month, three Lexington Scouting leaders, Peter Ricci, Sue Ellen Briggs, and Ronnie Andersson, were honored by the Spirit of Adventure Council for their contributions to the Scouting community.
Ricci, a longtime member of Troop 119 and now a Lexington firefighter, received the 30-Year Veteran Award. Briggs was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award for her decades of leadership and mentorship. Andersson, Cubmaster of Pack 160 and a committee member of Troop 119, was presented with the Silver Beaver Award, the highest honor a local Boy Scouts Council can bestow on an adult volunteer.
For Briggs, the award acknowledged not just the years she has dedicated to Scouting, but the choice she made to return during a pivotal moment in the organization.
“What this award means to me is recognition—not just for time, but for stepping back in when girls were allowed to join and continuing to be a role model,” Briggs said.
Andersson, whose son joined the Cub Scouts in 2015, has taken on a variety of roles over the years to support the program. He currently helps lead Pack 160 and advises Troop 119.
“A big part of the role involves organizing activities, preparing materials, communicating with parents, and setting a strong example for our scouts,” Andersson said.
It’s in those behind-the-scenes responsibilities where Andersson has made his mark, stepping in wherever help was needed.
“Doing some of these extra things, which the Council really needs, ultimately leads to that you are a recipient of an award,” Andersson told LexObserver.
Beyond individual contributions, Andersson and Briggs believe that Scouting’s power lies in its collaborative spirit—not only among the Scouts themselves, but the families.
“What Scouting is, is a bunch of parents—a whole community—bringing up each other’s children,” Briggs said.
Andersson echoed that sentiment, pointing to a shared trait among Silver Beaver recipients across the country.
“A common theme among recipients is their long-standing dedication to Scouting across multiple levels, not just within a single unit or the one their own children are involved in,” he said. “They’ve gone beyond that, working to ensure Scouting thrives across the entire council.”
That commitment has a strong foundation in Lexington, where civic groups and local officials have long supported Scouting initiatives.
“What we have in Lexington is pretty rare,” Briggs said. “The town truly supports Scouting, when a Scout wants to do an Eagle project, the Conservation Commission has a list ready. That kind of collaboration doesn’t happen everywhere.”
Both Andersson and Briggs have witnessed firsthand the lasting impact Scouts make in town, whether it’s participating in Patriots’ Day and the Veterans Day Parade or volunteering in environmental service projects.
“We support local conservation efforts, like removing invasive species and helping maintain public spaces,” Andersson said. “Our goal is to continue growing and becoming an even more vibrant and active part of the community.”
At its core, Briggs believes that Scouting leaves a lasting impression far beyond the outdoor adventures and meetings.
“These aren’t just one-time experiences,” Briggs said. “They’re skills for life.”
Kudos to all three of these leaders! It is easy to have kids in scouting; not so easy to find adult leaders.