Boy Scout Troop # 361
Chartered by First Christian Church of Denton
About Our Troop
Our our troop is focused on boy-led leadership and learning how to be responsible, productive adults. The scouts are ultimately in charge of the troop and its direction with adult guidance as they explore service, leadership, and learn exciting new skills. Physical fitness through outdoor scouting adventures is high on the list as well as service to our community. The troop tries hard to make sure that we are Thrifty so that any boy may join despite their economic situation. They have developed an in-house videography group, completed steps toward several merit badges, and learned a number of outdoor skills so far this year. Our troop is part of the Frontier Trails district of the Longhorn Council.
Our Scoutmaster
Russell Linton -- russlinton@charter.net
Looking Back on 2011
In April 2011 we revived Troop 361 at First Christian Church inDentonafter a couple of years little activity for the troop. With the assistance of Pack Master Shannon Gregory, we got the troop off the ground and the boys developed a solid plan for the year. Each month for the next year the boys chose a program feature or focus. Every month was capped off with an outing where the troop could learn more about their chosen program feature.
Over the year the troop put together 11 outings. Their first outing included a trip to NASA, which they diligently saved up for as Webelos under their Den Leader Maaike Linton (now our treasurer). We next put together a series of outings throughout the summer focused on the chosen features: Fishing, Swimming, Canoeing, Pioneering, Hiking, Wilderness Survival and Hobbies.
The Fishing campout at Lake Ray Roberts was a tremendous success with the assistance of parent Kevin Hair. Nearly all the boys were able to catch some fish in our night time fishing frolic. One lucky scout even caught three! Our swimming field trip involved a trip toLakeLewisvilleand the assistance of FCC Denton's youth pastor, Cassie Sexton. Also as part of the Swimming program, our now treasurer, Maaike Linton, also a certified diver, introduced the boys to SCUBA diving!
Canoeing was a blast - literally and figuratively. The boys braved the scorching temperatures of summer, battling against 105 degree temperatures in their canoes and paddle boats at Rancho de la Roca. Special thanks toBryan Taylor, one of our Merit Badge counselors for also bringing out his kayaks and providing some fun instruction! At our pioneering trip to the local Boy Scout campground, Hills and Hollows, the boys forged their own way through the many trails and built bows and arrows with fallen sticks and rope. They next constructed two outdoor hammocks which one brave scout tested out overnight.
For hiking we attended Score-O, the regional orienteering competition. The boys did well for their first time - navigating through a small portion of the 16 square mile property at Sid Richardson. For a first time and in the face of a few injuries, they did amazingly well capturing 55 points in flags, finishing well ahead of time, and sticking perfectly to their planned route!
Our Wilderness Survival campout included an intro backpacking trip where we plunged into the LBJ National Grasslands outside ofDecatur,Texas. Here the boys learned how to start a fire without a match, secure and treat drinking water from a nearby lake, and select a campsite out in the wilds. One scout also built his own shelter out of rope and fallen limbs, but when night fell, the idea of sleeping there became a bit less appealing. We also held our first court of Honor in the same month with many of the boys walking away with new ranks in scouting and recognition for their hard work throughout the year!
Finally, we enter December with our Hobbies program in full swing. We have a troop of musicians with nearly all of them playing in their school band or orchestra. So they have shared their music and other hobbies with the group. For our upcoming lock-in we'll have each boy present their hobby or collection and demonstrate how to pursue it.
Upcoming for 2012:
January: Cooking
February: Winter Camping
March: Archery
April: High Adventure
Helpful Links:
BSA Website: http://www.scouting.org/
Parent/Member Login: https://myscouting.scouting.org/_layouts/MyScouting/login.aspx
Longhorn Council: http://longhorncouncil.org/
Merit Badges: http://meritbadge.org/
Philmont Scout Ranch: http://philmontscoutranch.org/
Topographical Maps: http://topomaps.pickatrail.com/
TexasParksand Wildlife Department: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/
US National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov/index.htm
US Forestry Service: http://www.fs.fed.us/
US Army Corps of Engineers: http://www.usace.army.mil/Pages/default.aspx