First Presbyterian began its support of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA)
in 1916, just six years after the organization was founded in 1910. Since then,
the church has chartered and financially supported three different
troops, including Troop 24, which was organized in 1978 and has
positively influenced the lives of hundreds of boys and young men in our
community. Troop 24 has an active camping/adventure program that
effectively teaches Scouts the character attributes of reverence to God, self-reliance
in the outdoors,
emergency preparedness, leadership, good citizenship, and service to others, while
they are having fun. Above everything else, Scouting
is definitely fun!
Troop 24 Eagles
Troop 24 encourages each Scout to advance up the
Eagle trail, with the goal of earning the highest rank of Eagle Scout.
In this regard, our troop has a very rich history. Only a small
percentage of our troop's Scouts have attained the Eagle rank, but since
1983, Troop 24 has produced 56 Eagle Scouts. These young men include 5
bankers, 2 doctors, 1 dentist, 2 teachers, 3 engineers, 2 print
journalists, 2 television journalists, 3 lawyers, 1 real estate broker,
1 plumber, 1 graphic designer, 2 architects, 1 Air Force officer, 1 Navy
officer, 3 Army officers, 1 Marine officer, and 1 deputy sheriff. Many of
our Eagles are still in high school and college (including attendance at
our country's military academies)
and have yet to make their mark in the world.
Troop Activities
Our troop meets most Tuesday evenings in the basement
Scout Room of the church between 7:00 and 8:30 PM, except during the
summer months. (The Scout Room is presently being renovated as part of
the church's capital improvement, so the troop is temporarily meeting in
the Lodge on the second floor above the church kitchen). Scouts
and their adult leaders go on monthly camping trips (including
backpacking, rappelling, and canoeing activities) during the nine months
of the school year at various locations in the southeast. Older
Scouts may even have the opportunity to take part in a "High Adventure"
backpacking trek through the beautiful and rugged Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. The
members of our troop will also participate in a number of community service
projects every year.
Troop 24 Invitation
The leadership of Troop 24 believes that the Boy
Scouts of America is the finest youth program in our country today. Any boy who thinks he would like camping and cooking in the
woods, has completed the 5th grade, and/or is 11 years old should check
out Troop 24. Fathers are encouraged to take an active role with their
sons in our troop's outdoor activities, and mothers are also welcome to
take
behind-the-scenes roles to help run an effective troop. If
you wish to learn more about the Troop 24 family or wish to take part in
the Troop 24 adventure, please visit a troop meeting, contact
Scoutmaster Lance Hoffman at 706-568-7404 (home) or 706-587-9404 (cell)
or contact Assistant Scoutmaster Bud Paepcke at 706-320-0621 (home).
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