Thank you for your interest in the Boy Scouts of America and Troop 230 in particular. We hope that this website will help answer your questions about the Scouting program and our troop. The rich history of the scouting movement from its inception by Lord Baden-Powell in England to the world-wide scouting program of today will teach your son the three basic principles of scouting - duty to God and country, duty to others, and duty to self. These concepts are promoted throughout the Boy Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan.
Your son will walk the rocky trail to the highest rank in scouting - Eagle Scout. Statistically, only one in every one hundred scouts will attain this goal. You can help your scout achieve his Eagle rank by encouraging him to always to do his best. Do not allow a job to go uncompleted or done poorly. The capabilities of our scouts are very high. With proper guidance and support from you his parents and members of this troop, the scout can achieve his goals.
BSA Troop 230’s program revolves around the great outdoors. We are a backpacking troop and will start hitting the trail in March and go until November. Most of our backpacking has been on the Appalachian Trail in Southeastern Pennsylvania. We average 5-7 hikes per year with at least 3 of them being overnight trips or longer. Recently we have completed a 5 mile hike at Rickets Glen State Park in the Pocono’s. Some other trails that we have hike are French Creek, Hickory Run State Park, and Monacacy Hill, a very local trail that is approximately 5 miles of various terrain and small challenges along the way as to not discourage the boys. This is a great way to introduce the boys to hiking.
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Long Term Camping - We attend summer camp yearly at Camp NoBeBosco in Northern NJ where the scouts have the opportunity to earn up to Merit Badges of which our first year scouts are required to take First Aid and Orienteering since they are essential with an active out troop.
High Adventure Camping – Since 2003, we have attended the Phil Mont Scout Ranch in Cimmaron NM. In 2010 we are sending two crews. The love for the outdoors and to see what God has created is just a miraculous trip. The troop has its sites set on Sea Base Scout Adventure for 2011.
Normal Camping – Normal camping weekend include the “Klondike Derby” which is an annual event held by the local BSA districts during the winter months and is meant to test the Scouts skills by performing different skills at 10 stations and earning points to their total score. The scouts transport their gear in homemade sleds that are pulled by the scouts themselves. We have also participated in an annual First Aid meet that stresses the importance of first aid and gives the scouts the opportunity to practice what they have learned. In the six years that we have participated, we have won 5 times.
Community Service – We work with the community to help as much as we can to help give back to the community. Some events are helping to clean up the church grounds where we meet, to help shoveling snow for the elderly. We dedicate at least two events a year to help the scouts learn about the environment and how to help keep it. The first is the Perkiomen Watershed where we have helped eradicate Lake Delmont of the European Water Chestnut has become too evasive to control. We also help maintain 7 miles of the Horseshoe Trail in Chester County where the boys help clean up the trail, help with erosion control. We stay at a local horse farm that has hosted us for years where the boys get to enjoy a privately stocked fish pond to help relax and have fun when completing the maintenance of the trail.
Fundraising – As with any organization we require funds to support the troop. We hold several fundraisers thought the year to help offset the cost of these activities. Such events are carwashes, selling Shoo Fly pies and holding pancake breakfasts.
The success of the program and our troop is dependent upon the involvement of the parents. There are many positions in the troop ranging from Scoutmaster to Committee Member to Merit Badge Counselor. Your background, vocation, hobbies, and special skills are needed to ensure a quality program for all our scouts.
We want to ask each of you to join the Scouting family and assist in the operation of our troop. Help is always needed in merit badge counseling, providing transportation for various activities, organizing Courts of Honor, and in many other ways. There is no such thing as a "free ride" in Scouting. Everyone must do their part. Footprints in the sands of time are not made by staying at home. Be active with your scout in the Troop 230 program! If you have any questions about the organization or the program of Troop 230, please contact any member of the Troop Committee or the Scoutmaster.