Through various activities, Scouts learn valuable life skills such as cooking, first aid and more.
Moorestown Scout Troop 4061 hosted an open house for boys and girls from 11 to 17 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church on Nov. 20.
Troop 61, established in 1956, has a history of shaping young lives and fostering a love for the outdoors. More than 50 of its Scouts have achieved the organization’s highest rank, Eagle Scout. Over the years, troop members have had the privilege of visiting various Scout camps and national parks from West Virginia to Maine and have learned valuable life skills such as cooking and first aid.
Scouts can discover new hobbies and potential career paths by obtaining merit badges. From scaling mountain peaks to exploring forests, from mastering survival skills to leading peers, Troop 4061 offers a mix of adventure and character development.
“We do a combination of indoor and outdoor events,” said assistant Scoutmaster Jim Murawski. “We meet every week indoors or we go over certain skills, or we get ready for an upcoming event. And then, once a month, we have an outdoor event, which is either going to be a camping trip or a hike or a bike ride or a canoeing trip … It’s usually the weekend or sometimes it’s just a day trip, depending on the season and the weather, and things like that.”
The troop actively participates in activities that benefit the local community, including a recent drive that collected more than 400 pounds of food for the Christian Caring Center charity in Browns Mills and helping families in need during the holiday. The Scouting for Food drive collects non-perishable items and provides much-needed resources to help fight hunger.
“We’re producing future leaders for our communities and families, and creating citizens who care about themselves and each other,” said Scout executive Patrick Linfors, of the Garden State Council, BSA. (Troop 4061 is part of the Garden State Council).
“ … When you talk to somebody about what’s the ideal program, the ideal activity for a young person outside of school, if you ask a parent to describe it, they’re going to say things like, ‘We want a place where our child is going to have fun, where they’re going to grow, where they’re going to have quality adult mentors …
“We want (Scouts) to be kind,” Linfors added. “We want them to be cheerful, we want them to be happy and successful in their futures … That’s exactly what Scouting is trying to do for young people.”
Troop meetings are held every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the church gym. To learn more, contact Scoutmaster Leo Greaney at t61bsa@gmail.com. For information on the girls troop, contact Murawski at Jimmymurawski@gmail.com.
For all questions, email t61bsa@gmail.com.
