Troop Info

Troop 677 - Fun Facts

January 2007

Troop 677 is organized around the concept of a “boy led troop.”  Scouts are in charge of events with significant mentoring and backup from adults.  An adult might spearhead an event, but a scout will always be involved in “marketing” and organization.  This helps scouts develop leadership skills, but with troubleshooting and coaching from adults. 

Troop 677 has high parental participation and several older Eagle Scouts who act as mentors and role models.  The troop is very active, having events planned many weekends of the year.  Scouts are not required to participate in every event and choose what to do according to their own interests and their family’s time constraints.  Some scouts take time off periodically to pursue their other interests or obligations, such as sports seasons.   Most of the troop activities revolve around camping, hiking, and community service projects, although we’re seeing more activities around biking, canoeing and kayaking.  They also do several fun things such as Whirly Ball and laser tag.

Troop 677 is a family-oriented troop, and families are always welcome on events.  This provides a strong, cohesive community for the troop and underscores the value of the family.

The scouts hold a boy-led campout and family BBQ meeting in the late summer.  The entire troop of scouts brainstorms and schedules the troop events for the coming year. 

Adult Leadership Structure       (Committee Structure attached)

Scoutmaster                             John Martino

            Committee Chair                      Mel Morgan

            Assistant Scoutmasters Peter Dunphy, Kit Bowerman, Allan Geller, Steve Hayashi,

                                                            Dave Plowman, Steve Sheehan, Bruce Smith, Steve Thues,

                                                            Michael Toomey, and other “graduated” adults.

            Advancement Chair                  Deb Morgan

Eagle Scouts.  Since 1993, 35 Scouts from Troop 677 have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.  In the last seven years, we have been averaging four Eagle Awards each year.  Five teenage Eagle Scouts are currently active in the troop.  Several older Eagle Scouts still visit the troop and occasionally join the events.

As of the January 2007 Court of Honor, Troop 677 has active scouts in the following ranks:

Scout               7

            Tenderfoot       3

            2^nd Class          6

            1^st Class           11

            Star                  7

            Life                  18

            Eagle                5

Webelos cross-over in early spring, and on average we welcome eight to ten new scouts annually.

Advancement                                                                                                              

                                                Ranks Awarded                       Merit Badges Earned

2005                                                50                                                201

2006                                                61                                                199

2007 through 1/29/07                       14                                                  22

Several special awards are presented each year as well.  We’ve presented three Eagle Palms in the past year, and ten World Conservation Awards, which requires the scout to first earn three merit badges:  Environmental Science, Citizenship in the World, and one of either Soil and Water Conservation or Fish and Wildlife Management. 

Leadership Training

The troop holds a day-long Junior Leadership Training each winter.  We’ve developed new leadership positions for more advanced scouts, particularly “Instructors” and “Troop Guides,” both of which are allow advanced scouts to act as trainers and mentors to younger scouts.

Order of the Arrow

Annually the troop elects troop members into the Order of the Arrow.  Four scouts were elected in 2005, three in 2006,and three in 2007.  Our elections are held around annually in January-February.

50 Milers

Troop 677 has a long love of the “50-Miler.”  50-Milers in the past two years have been both hiking and canoeing in beautiful areas of the Northwest:  Enchantment Lakes, Yellowstone Park, Bowron Lakes (Canada), Olympic National Park, and Stephens Pass to Snoqualmie Pass.  Eighteen boys completed a 50-miler in 2005, and ten in 2006.  This is a big draw for adults, as well!

Activities by Type

Biking                                                   Canoeing/Kayaking

            Sammamish River Trail             Bowron Lakes, Canada

            John Wayne Trail                                  San Juan Islands

See attachments for details on Camping, Hiking and Community Service (2005 & 2006)

Camping - 33 camping events;    Hiking – 18 trips;    Community Service – 77 opportunities

These lists are lengthy, so are included as an attachment.  The Community Service list has several entries for the same events due to varying hours of scout participation (a software issue!).  The scouts really enjoy camping and hiking, and always gladly participate in the various community service events.  Donuts are always a big attraction!

Some of our scouts choose to participate in the events without pursuing rank advancement.   Our philosophy has been to welcome them in their comfort zone.  Participation in scouting, in whatever form, helps build a wholesome and capable character in these fine young men.