ABOUT TROOP 624
Trop 624 is chartered by the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church (MIPC). Most of our Scouts attend schools on Mercer Island, however, we welcome any Scouts from Mercer Island, Bellevue, Seattle, and the greater Eastside to join our troop!
HISTORY OF TROOP 624 AND THE MIPC
Troop 624 for first organized in 1964, and chartered by MIPC under Scoutmaster Bill Price. Generations of Islanders have come through BSA Troop 624 over the past several decades. We meet every Monday at 7:00 pm while the MI schools are in session, either at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church or on Zoom.
HOW DO WE DO THIS?
Our programs happen at weekly meetings, during monthly outdoor activities, and at various summer camps and other outings, including a week-long summer camp at Camp Parsons, the oldest Scout camp west of the Mississippi. The Troop also sends Scouts to the various “High Adventure” BSA camps around the country.
Scouting was founded as “a game with a purpose.” Our programs offer fun and challenging activities structured to reinforce the ideals and methods of BSA Scouting:
working together in groups,
personal growth and advancement,
outdoor and emergency skills,
youth leadership, and
positive adult role models
Scouting was founded as “a game with a purpose.” Our programs offer fun and challenging activities structured to reinforce the ideals and methods of BSA Scouting:
working together in groups,
personal growth and advancement,
outdoor and emergency skills,
youth leadership, and
positive adult role models
WEEKLY TROOP MEETING
Our meetings are run by elected Scout leaders. These meetings are comprised of sessions focused on training, preparing for outdoor activities, advancement and games.
We work hard to foster an atmosphere where all Scouts treat each other with respect and as friends. Every Scout can tell you that the fourth point of the Scout Law is “Friendly” and what that means.
Ours is a diverse Troop, boasting boys of varied interests, abilities, faiths, and ethnic backgrounds. We are welcoming to all who are willing to participate and follow the Scout Oath and Law.
Of note is the Troop 624 ’game’. It is a Troop tradition, and the rules often seem beyond adult understanding. The Scouts can be rowdy, but friendship and respect are constantly reinforced.
This troop has Spirit.
We work hard to foster an atmosphere where all Scouts treat each other with respect and as friends. Every Scout can tell you that the fourth point of the Scout Law is “Friendly” and what that means.
Ours is a diverse Troop, boasting boys of varied interests, abilities, faiths, and ethnic backgrounds. We are welcoming to all who are willing to participate and follow the Scout Oath and Law.
Of note is the Troop 624 ’game’. It is a Troop tradition, and the rules often seem beyond adult understanding. The Scouts can be rowdy, but friendship and respect are constantly reinforced.
This troop has Spirit.
OUTDOOR PROGRAMS
Scouting lives in the outdoors. The Scouts test themselves a step at a time against the challenges of nature. They experience the beautiful forests, lakes, mountains, deserts, and animals of Washington State.
We are committed to an outdoor activity every month of the school year and at least one week-long camp during the summer. Because of scheduling challenges, not every Scout is able participate in every activity. However, if the Scout wishes to do something, we’ll be going somewhere.
We are committed to an outdoor activity every month of the school year and at least one week-long camp during the summer. Because of scheduling challenges, not every Scout is able participate in every activity. However, if the Scout wishes to do something, we’ll be going somewhere.
ADVANCEMENT
Our goal is to offer frequent opportunities for learning, advancement, and leadership. The Scouts take advantage of these activities; they learn, advance and eventually lead other boys themselves.
We are very proud that nearly every Scout who stays with the Troop beyond the first year makes the Eagle rank. Our Eagle achievement far exceeds the national average.
We are very proud that nearly every Scout who stays with the Troop beyond the first year makes the Eagle rank. Our Eagle achievement far exceeds the national average.
SCOUT LEADERSHIP
Every Scout has the opportunity to learn how to help the group achieve its goal. We conduct leadership training in groups and individually. At the age of 13, every Scout who has achieved the rank of 1st Class is encouraged to attend the Council’s week-long leadership training. Other leadership opportunities include serving as Den Chief with Cub Scout Dens and staffing at a Scout Summer Camp.
ADULT LEADERSHIP
BSA Scout Troops operate with the help of a Scoutmaster, a Committee Chair, and several Assistant Scoutmasters and Committee Members - all adult volunteers. Troop 624 is fortunate to have many dedicated and fully trained adult leaders, including several Eagle Scouts and two recipients of the prestigious Silver Beaver Award, a council-level distinguished BSA service award. Each person over the age of 17 involved with Scouts must pass a background check, satisfy the annual “Youth Protection Training“ requirements, and be trained for the role(s) they perform. Most of our adult leaders are parents of boys in the Troop and are trained in several positions.
ACTIVITIES
The Scout year begins each Fall with the start of school. In addition to the weekly Troop and Patrol meetings held on most Monday evenings, Scouts have the opportunity to do the following throughout the year.
- Hikes in and around the region
- Camping in many locations around the state and beyond
- Backpacking trips (from two to several days long)
- In-person and virtual training programs
- Awards Ceremonies, called Courts of Honor
- Service projects, such as cleaning up a park or harvesting crops for a food bank
- Merit Badge advancement days
- Shooting Sports days
- Camporee intra-Troop competition
- Klondike winter intra-Troop competition
- “High Adventure” summer camps around the country, such as Philmont Ranch
- River rafting
- Fundraising, such as the Spring Tomato Plant Sale and Fall Pumpkin Sale
- Annual Mercer Island canoe race
- Earn the various rank and Merit Badge awards