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 2012.
Troop Activities & Program
BSA Quality Unit recognition earned for the current year
Membership (1 September 2012)—56 Scouts & 15 uniformed adult leaders
New Scouts (since 1 September 2011)—9
Schools—Scouts attend 8 elementary/middle schools & 7 high schools
Current Scouts by Rank—4 no rank, 3 Tenderfoot, 5 Second Class, 12 First Class, 16 Star, 13 Life, 3 Eagle
Current Scouts by Age—4 age 11, 13 age 12, 10 age 13, 11 age 14, 6 age 15, 4 age 16, 8 age 17
Advancements Earned During the Year—163 merit badges and 53 rank advancements: 6 Tenderfoot, 10 Second Class, 10 First Class, 12 Star, 4 Life, 6 Eagle (plus 2 Eagle Bronze Palms & 1 Eagle Silver Palm)
Eagle Scouts—6 this year; troop has averaged 3.7/year since 1979 (25% of all Scouts), 161 Eagle Scouts since the troop's first in 1954
Troop 97 Master Camper Award—earned by 5 Scouts this year; 19 current Scouts & 9 current adults have earned the award
Service Projects—This year, 7 Eagle candidates led major community service projects to repair & complete a trail at Gateway Natural Area; repairs at Bingham Hill Cemetery; built bookshelves for a Kindergarten classroom; built a fence at Animal House dog shelter; constructed a disc golf course at Fort Collins High School; repaired the Memorial Garden at Boltz Middle School; built a kennel roof at Animal House dog shelter.
Camping—33 days (and nights) of camping, including 10 weekend days, 7 days at summer camp, and 15 days of backpacking & canoeing high adventure. Among our current parents, 46 dads and 22 moms have camped overnight with the troop, plus 22 siblings of current Scouts have attended our family campouts.
Summer Camp—In June, 20 Scouts and 12 adults attended our Adventure Weekend for new Scouts. Then 34 Scouts and 10 full-week adults spent 6 days at Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch / Camp Cris Dobbins in Colorado's Black Forest.
High Adventure 'SuperTrek'—In late July, 24 Scouts and adults, in two crews on separate itineraries, backpacked the Klondike Goldrush trail over the Chilkoot pass, canoed the Yukon River, and explored Alaska, British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory.
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 (9/2011—8/2012)
Income
The troop took in almost $75,000, and provided over $11,000 in family discount credits. This included High Adventure fees of $42,000, and fund raising/donations of $12,000.
Expenses
Troop expenses included $1800 for BSA charter/registration/Boys Life magazine fees, $9300 for summer camp, and $46,000 for the High Adventure trek.
