Our activity year ("fiscal year", including budget and program planning) runs concurrently with the school year, from 1 September through 31 August. This report covers the activity year ending 31 August 2011.
Troop Activities & Program
BSA Quality Unit recognition earned for the current year
Membership (1 September 2011)—60 Scouts, 14 uniformed adult leaders, 39 total registered adults
New Scouts (since 1 September 2010)—14
Schools—Scouts attend 12 elementary/middle schools & 6 high schools, including 2 home-schooled.
Current Scouts by Rank—3 no rank, 6 Tenderfoot, 7 Second Class, 17 First Class, 12 Star, 13 Life, 2 Eagle
Current Scouts by Age—10 age 11, 11 age 12, 11 age 13, 8 age 14, 6 age 15, 10 age 16, 4 age 17
Advancements Earned During the Year—213 merit badges and 64 rank advancements: 17 Tenderfoot, 19 Second Class, 14 First Class, 8 Star, 3 Life, 2 Eagle (plus 1 Eagle Bronze Palm)
Eagle Scouts—2 this year; troop has averaged 3.7/year since 1979 (24% of all Scouts), 155 Eagle Scouts since the troop's first in 1954
Troop 97 Master Camper Award—earned by 10 Scouts & 1 adult this year; 20 current Scouts & 11 current adults have earned the award
Venture Scouts *—26 current Scouts
*—-In T97, we award the Venture badge to any Scout who has been on a T97 trek, been to a BSA high adventure base, or been on any Venture expedition, lasting at least 6 days.
Service Projects—This year, 4 Eagle candidates led major community service projects to build a raised garden box at Winslow Retirement Home, improve a walkway at Fossil Creek dog park, build benches at Ridgeview Classical School's outdoor classroom, and create a pictorial garden area around the main sign at St Elizabeth Seton church.
Camping—26 days (and nights) of camping, including 12 weekend days, 7 days at summer camp, and 7 days of backpacking high adventure. Among our current parents, 52 dads and 19 moms have camped overnight with the troop (9 mostly new dads and 35 moms have not [yet]), plus 10 siblings of current Scouts have attended our family campouts.
Summer Camp—In June, 43 Scouts and 10 full-week adults spent 6 days at BSA Camp Alexander in Colorado's Elevenmile Canyon in South Park. Also, 32 Scouts and 18 adults spent the 24 hours before the start of camp on our annual Adventure Weekend for new Scouts.
High Adventure Trek—In August, 31 Scouts and adults, in four crews on separate itineraries, explored Indian ruins, rode the steam train, and backpacked the Weminuche Wilderness Area near Durango.
The Troop 97 Treks challenge our more experienced Scouts, developing leadership, initiative, teamwork, and maturity. And 53% of trek graduates will earn Eagle Scout, compared to 6% of those who never go on a trek.
Troop Budget (9/2010—8/2011)
Income
The troop took in $37,000, and provided almost $9000 in family discount credits. This included High Adventure fees of $5600, and fund raising/donations of $12,000.
Expenses
Troop expenses included $2100 for BSA charter/registration/Boys Life magazine fees, $13,000 for summer camp, and $7400 for the High Adventure trek.
The Weminuche Wilderness backpack trek, including charter bus, tour of Ute Mountain Reervation Anasazi ruins, and Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge steam train ride to the trailheads, cost an average of $162/person, with the troop picking up additional costs. Only cost not covered was meals.
