The son of Eagle Scout and Vigil member Jack Getkin, Ben began his career in Scouting at age five as a Tiger Cub in Penn Pills, PA. He spent his first years of Summer Camp at Twin Echo and was present the last season that the facility operated as a traditional resident camp. In 1994, Ben's family moved to Mt. Lebanon, PA and he earned his Arrow Of Light award as a member of Pack 230. After making the crossover, Ben joined Troop 284 based at Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church.
With Troop 284, Ben served in a wide range of leadership positions, starting out as Quartermaster and eventually serving two years as Senior Patrol Leader. He earned the rank of First Class in 1996, enabling him to join the Troop on what would be his first high adventure outing to Charles L. Sommers Wilderness Canoe Base. The experience made a distinct impression on him, and he followed up with subsequent trips to Seabase in 1997, and Philmont Scout Ranch in 1999.
In addition to high adventure programs, Ben also took an interest in working on staff at Summer Camp. In1998, he joined the Camp Freedom staff at heritage Reservation as a Counselor In Training. During this period, Ben was elected by his Troop into the Order Of The Arrow, and completed the requirements for Ordeal membership. He earned his Brotherhood in July of the following year.
All told, Ben worked as paid Junior staff at Camp Freedom from 1999 - 2001, serving on the OA Ceremonies team in 2000 and part of 2001. In 2002, he earned his Eagle Scout rank at the age of seventeen, completing his project at Howe Elementary School in Mt. Lebanon.
In 2004, Ben applied and was accepted as staff at Clark's Fork Back Country Camp at Philmont Scout Ranch. The following year, he returned to Camp Freedom as Senior Camp Commissioner, and then as Trail to Eagle Director in the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Currently he participates as a Crew Advisor for Venture Crew 638 based at the Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building. He credits Scouting with helping him to discover his career calling, and is currently working on his Masters Degree in Secondary Education at Duquesne University.
