Through sheer will and determination, along with the help of his family, a Lehighton youth has raised over $2,000 in popcorn sales.

As his Scout sales track record indicates, it's just another day at the office for Ryden Chapman, a Webelo I with Cub Pack 82 of Lehighton.Ryden, a fourth-grade student at Shull-David Elementary School, reflected on his latest feat in which he has garnered $2,056 in combined in-person and online sales."I enjoyed seeing my repeat customers from last year," said Ryden, 9. "We made postcards and attached them to orders to show how thankful I was to help get to camp, and while selling, many of the same customers remembered and asked about camp."He added, "I also loved reaching my first goal of $1,000 and winning the PlayStation 4. Mom said if I found the game system, her and dad would buy the TV. So that was also awesome."Ryden said that while it was hard work, he had a lot of fun."I learned how to be a good salesman," he said. "I enjoyed selling popcorn to friends and even teachers at school."Ryden's mother, Theresa Chapman, said her son set two goals this year: To sell at least $1,000 in popcorn, and to find a Minsi Mystery House.Chapman said they worked together to figure out the clues, which won him a PlayStation 4."I could not be any prouder of him," Chapman said. "It became a family adventure most days. Ryden's sister, Lena, would hunt for Pokemon while we walked door to door through town."Chapman said the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts have been doing the National Popcorn Fundraiser for many years, and that Ryden received the in-person order forms in September in time for the beginning of the Scouting year, and that it ran until the end of October."Ryden, his sister, and myself began our door-to-door sales the next day," she said. "We work around our schedules and get out as much as we are able."However, Chapman said that online sales go year-round, and they count toward the Scout's total and goals they can set for themselves. When they hand in the door-to-door sales, the total in-person and online sales at the time is recorded, and Ryden is able to pick prizes, she said, adding that online sales can continue to build to be counted toward the goal until Dec 31.Of that, Chapman said 27 percent of Ryden's total sales go toward his Personal Cub Scout account, which helps him pay for dues, Minsi Trails Sponsored Activities, and to offset the cost of summer camp.Last year, she said Ryden sold enough popcorn to cut their out-of-pocket expense for overnight camp in half. In addition, Chapman said 10 percent of Ryden's sales stays in the pack, which helps the pack with Scout activities and events.At present, Chapman said Ryden is about $500 shy of the scholarship goal. If a Scout sells $2,500 in popcorn (online and in-person) by the end of the year, Trails End (the popcorn company) will put 6 percent of his total sales each year into a scholarship for him.She said Giant donated about 100 of their Eco Friendly Bags to Ryden, which made the sorting and delivery easier while they went around town."Seeing Ryden create and then meet goals makes me feel so thankful and so excited. Thankful that we live in a town that supports their local youth and will help out in any way they could," Chapman said."We had many that did not want popcorn, but instead told us to donate the popcorn to the local pantry," she said. "I am so excited and happy to see him smile and beam with excitement when he made sales."