PROGRAM
Our program is designed to teach leadership and life skills to our Scouts. As of early 2023, we have produced 69 Eagle Scouts, but more importantly our Scouts leave as team players with confidence, integrity, compassion, and life skills that are learned through the Scouting program.
Our troop prioritizes the concept of Scout-led, and we are a truly Scout-led troop. Each month the Scouts meet to plan activities and meetings, assign a Scout to coordinate and run each activity, and review the successes of the past month. In the fall the Scouts plan the major events for the coming year, and coordinate with our parent group for advice and aid in planning those events. The program always includes a week at summer camp, a major high-adventure, and campouts and/or hikes every month. Another aspect of Scout-led is that we believe Scouts should take control of their own advancement, and we let them choose how and when they earn ranks and merit badges. Advancement is encouraged and the resources are provided, but it is not required. This can sometimes be seen as taking longer, but is ultimately more rewarding as Scouts accomplish their own set goals.
Leadership is another top priority for the troop. The youth leaders are elected on a six-month cycle to provide plenty of opportunities, from Webmaster, Historian, Troop Guide, or Quartermaster, all the way up to Senior Patrol Leader – the Scout tasked with leading the entire troop. Each Scout is encouraged to hold any leadership position they choose, and our troop size makes it possible to hold a variety of positions. Each year select Scouts showing leadership skills are nominated to attend a weeklong National Youth Leadership Training, and the troop pays for their dues in our commitment to furthering these skills.
Paying back the community through volunteering is a key purpose of our troop. We volunteer at organizations chosen by our Scouts, including the Food Bank, planting trees for the Forest Service, reading and finding names at the Veteran’s Plaza, Eagle Scout projects, and paying back our amazing charter organization – Harmony Presbyterian Church.
For those new to the troop, appointed Troop Guides and more experienced Scouts act as mentors to incoming Scouts, introducing them to the troop while teaching them basic scouting skills.
OUTINGS & ACTIVITIES
The troop has a campout, hike, or other outdoor activity every month and annually includes a week-long summer camp and a
high adventure trip. The campouts typically include district events like Spring/Fall Camporees and Klondike, along with troop specific camping and backpacking trips. Some annual overnight camping favorites include Wilderness Survival, winter camping, climbing, and Awesome Sauce – where Scouts prepare gourmet food while camping.
Day activities include rock climbing, bike rides, hikes, and volunteer opportunities.
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High adventures for the older boys have included: Scuba diving, sailing, and sea-kayaking in Florida; weeklong canoe trips in southern Ontario/Northern Minnesota; sailing in St. Thomas; and 12-day backpacking trips at Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico.
Weekly meetings are a balance of:
Learning scouting skills for ranks & merit badges
Topics of the Scouts’ choosing (2023 included a K9 unit demonstration and CSU drone flying)
Friendly competition such as edible cookie dough, bike Olympics, game night, & improv cooking
Preparation for camping and day trips
Our most recent and next upcoming summer camps and high adventures are:
High Adventures (Scouts 14 and up):
2023 – Sea Base
2024 – Philmont Scout Ranch
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Summer camps:
2022 – Camp Loll near Yellowstone
2023 – Melita Island in Montana
MEMBERS
We have a close-knit group of around 20 boys from a variety of backgrounds, with almost all of them active at any given time depending on sports, activities, school, etc. The troop has a flexible policy concerning participation—if you pay your dues, you are a member for the full year. We have over 20 registered adults with 2-4 uniformed adult leaders participating in the weekly program. We believe a Scout deserves a trained adult leader, so many of the registered adults have completed fundamental training, Scoutmaster training and/or Wood Badge training.
We always welcome adult participation and have positions and/or jobs to suit just about any schedule, aptitude, and confidence level.
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We are chartered by Harmony Presbyterian Church (HPC) as a "Boy" Troop with the Boy Scouts of America. At this time, HPC does not charter a "Girl" Troop, but we can help families with female Scouts contact some of the outstanding "Girl" BSA Troops in our District.
THE HISTORY OF TROOP 191
Troop 191 was created by Michael J. Kelley and Erick Selgren in September 1994. Since then we’ve produced 69 Eagle Scouts (and counting).
Our Scoutmaters:
Michael Kelley served as our first Scoutmaster from our Troop's founding in 1994 until September 2004. He is currently serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster and as our Unit Commissioner.
After seven years as Committee Chair, Andy Weilert stepped into the role of Scoutmaster when Michael J. Kelley retired in September 2004. Andy still serves as a Committee Member.
Dean Nicholson took over as Scoutmaster in January 2013.
Clint Conrady became Scoutmaster in January 2016.
Bob Greene became Scoutmaster in March 2018.
Our current Scoutmaster is John Brailsford.
EQUIPMENT/UNIFORM
The troop has a supply of tents, stoves, and patrol boxes for check-out by the Scouts. They need to provide their personal gear: sleeping bag, backpack or duffel bag, mess kit & eating utensils.
The troop uniform consists of the khaki Scout shirt and a troop-provided neckerchief. We do not require Scout pants, shorts, socks, or hats. The summer uniform is a troop-provided activity T-shirt.
DUES/FINANCES
Full year national & council dues total $135. In addition, a Scout must raise at $75 to help fund troop activities, typically through fundraising or donations.
The troop participates in the district popcorn sale in the fall, and adventure cards in the spring. These are great opportunities for the Scout to fund their troop fees while learning key scouting skills. Funds a Scout raises in excess of the $75 requirement can be used by the Scout to fund summer camp, high-adventures, outdoor gear, and other Scout-related expenses.
Summer camp typically costs $300 - $450 (depending on camp and course selections). High adventure bases can range from $650/Scout to as much as $3000/Scout (for Sea Base).