The 2020 Annual Report for Scout Troop 32 ~ Jeff Rachael and Chris English, Scoutmasters
The mission of Scouts BSA is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
State College Presbyterian Church received a charter to conduct the Boy Scouts of America program in 1914, four years after this national organization was founded. Troop 32 has been continuously chartered by the Church since then, for 105 consecutive years, making it one of the longest continuously chartered troops in the United States, and the longest in Centre County, Pennsylvania.
2020 was a challenging year for the troop as we learned how to execute a Scouting program during a pandemic. Troop 32 had 35 boys and six girls ranging in ages from 11 to 17 active in the Scouting program in 2020. The Troop is youth-led, with advice and counsel provided by volunteer adult leaders, with 15 adults actively serving as Scoutmasters, and 12 adults participating as committee members in 2020.
The Troop participated in 10 camping activities during the 2020 calendar year totaling 122 total nights camped. These numbers are significantly lower than normal due to the pandemic. Typically, the Troop holds one weekend of camping each month of the school year. The Venture Patrol, Scouts between the ages of 13 and 17 who have demonstrated the skills and knowledge required to achieve the rank of First Class, holds additional, more physically demanding activities that might not be suitable for younger, less advanced Scouts.
Scouts only participated in short-term camping events during the year. The longest outing was a 3-day mini-summer camp in July that was planned and executed by the troop’s adult leadership after Seven Mountains Scout Camp cancelled the week-long summer camp we had planned to attend.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Troop’s scouting program included a variety of activities: Scouts backpacked/hiked 127 total miles and bicycled 96 miles.
The Troop’s service to the community in 2020 included 21 different service projects, with a majority of the Scouts and adults participating in more than one project. Some of the service projects included workdays to help Scouts complete their Eagle Scout projects. Other community service supported the Centre County Home Show and the Food Bank of the State College Area. In total, the Troop provided more than 644 community service hours in 2020. While the Scouts adhere to the Scout slogan “Do a good turn daily”, these larger community service projects help all who participate and practice servant leadership.
The Troop is proud of the outdoor skills, knowledge and achievements demonstrated by its Scouts. In 2020, Scouts achieved 14 rank advancements in Troop 32. There is a plaque hanging in the hallway outside the sanctuary that bears the names of those Scouts from Troop 32 who have earned Scouting’s highest honor, the rank of Eagle. One Scout from Troop 32 achieved Eagle in 2020. One earned Life, three earned First Class, three earned Second Class, three earned Tenderfoot, and three advanced to Scout. Scouts also earned 38 merit badges in 2020.
The Troop is blessed with outstanding volunteer adult leadership. These adults devote a great deal of time and effort to providing the Scouts with an outstanding and varied array of programs. Each Scoutmaster and Committee Member has completed youth protection courses and gone through Commonwealth mandated background checks and courses to ensure the safety of the Scouts. Additionally, a majority of these volunteers have given additional time and resources to complete position-specific training offered by the Scouts BSA.
Normally, we meet each Thursday evening (when school is in session) at 7:30 pm in Westminster Hall. This year, we had to switch to meeting virtually for the most part, although we were permitted to meet in Westminster Hall in January, February and November. We welcome members of the congregation whose child may be interested in Scouting to join us for a meeting or outing, or adults interested in providing volunteer service to our young people.
The members of Troop 32 are grateful to the State College Presbyterian Church for its support. With the congregation’s continued support, the Troop Committee and Scoutmasters of Troop 32 will continue to lead a program of activities that will allow the Scouts to explore leadership and to grow and develop. We encourage members of the congregation to contact us with questions or concerns, and attend a meeting or event to learn more about our efforts.
Jeff Rachael, Troop 32 Boys Scoutmaster
Chris English, Troop 32 Girls Scoutmaster
State College Presbyterian Church received a charter to conduct the Boy Scouts of America program in 1914, four years after this national organization was founded. Troop 32 has been continuously chartered by the Church since then, for 105 consecutive years, making it one of the longest continuously chartered troops in the United States, and the longest in Centre County, Pennsylvania.
2020 was a challenging year for the troop as we learned how to execute a Scouting program during a pandemic. Troop 32 had 35 boys and six girls ranging in ages from 11 to 17 active in the Scouting program in 2020. The Troop is youth-led, with advice and counsel provided by volunteer adult leaders, with 15 adults actively serving as Scoutmasters, and 12 adults participating as committee members in 2020.
The Troop participated in 10 camping activities during the 2020 calendar year totaling 122 total nights camped. These numbers are significantly lower than normal due to the pandemic. Typically, the Troop holds one weekend of camping each month of the school year. The Venture Patrol, Scouts between the ages of 13 and 17 who have demonstrated the skills and knowledge required to achieve the rank of First Class, holds additional, more physically demanding activities that might not be suitable for younger, less advanced Scouts.
Scouts only participated in short-term camping events during the year. The longest outing was a 3-day mini-summer camp in July that was planned and executed by the troop’s adult leadership after Seven Mountains Scout Camp cancelled the week-long summer camp we had planned to attend.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Troop’s scouting program included a variety of activities: Scouts backpacked/hiked 127 total miles and bicycled 96 miles.
The Troop’s service to the community in 2020 included 21 different service projects, with a majority of the Scouts and adults participating in more than one project. Some of the service projects included workdays to help Scouts complete their Eagle Scout projects. Other community service supported the Centre County Home Show and the Food Bank of the State College Area. In total, the Troop provided more than 644 community service hours in 2020. While the Scouts adhere to the Scout slogan “Do a good turn daily”, these larger community service projects help all who participate and practice servant leadership.
The Troop is proud of the outdoor skills, knowledge and achievements demonstrated by its Scouts. In 2020, Scouts achieved 14 rank advancements in Troop 32. There is a plaque hanging in the hallway outside the sanctuary that bears the names of those Scouts from Troop 32 who have earned Scouting’s highest honor, the rank of Eagle. One Scout from Troop 32 achieved Eagle in 2020. One earned Life, three earned First Class, three earned Second Class, three earned Tenderfoot, and three advanced to Scout. Scouts also earned 38 merit badges in 2020.
The Troop is blessed with outstanding volunteer adult leadership. These adults devote a great deal of time and effort to providing the Scouts with an outstanding and varied array of programs. Each Scoutmaster and Committee Member has completed youth protection courses and gone through Commonwealth mandated background checks and courses to ensure the safety of the Scouts. Additionally, a majority of these volunteers have given additional time and resources to complete position-specific training offered by the Scouts BSA.
Normally, we meet each Thursday evening (when school is in session) at 7:30 pm in Westminster Hall. This year, we had to switch to meeting virtually for the most part, although we were permitted to meet in Westminster Hall in January, February and November. We welcome members of the congregation whose child may be interested in Scouting to join us for a meeting or outing, or adults interested in providing volunteer service to our young people.
The members of Troop 32 are grateful to the State College Presbyterian Church for its support. With the congregation’s continued support, the Troop Committee and Scoutmasters of Troop 32 will continue to lead a program of activities that will allow the Scouts to explore leadership and to grow and develop. We encourage members of the congregation to contact us with questions or concerns, and attend a meeting or event to learn more about our efforts.
Jeff Rachael, Troop 32 Boys Scoutmaster
Chris English, Troop 32 Girls Scoutmaster
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State College Presbyterian Church
132 West Beaver Avenue State College, PA 16801 Phone: 814-238-2422 email: officescpc@gmail.com Stay and Play Preschool 814-237-1154 stayandplayscpc@gmail.com Sunday Outdoor Worship ~ (weather permitting) outside the Beaver Avenue Tower Entrance 9:00 am - a brief service with social distancing and face masks required. If it's raining, we won't meet) see article above. Online Worship ~ An email is sent out on Saturdays (to those on our mailing list) with a link to a recorded service on YouTube. If you would like to join our mailing list, please click here. Normal Building Hours: (call ahead to 814-238-2422 for information on when the building is open during COVID)
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am - 9:00 pm Friday: 8:00 am-5:00 pm Saturday: Closed Sunday: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm |
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