Troop 50 updates Auburn Rotarians on activities, achievements

On Wednesday, July 31, Troop 50 scouts and leaders were present at the weekly meeting of the Auburn Rotary Club to provide the troop’s charter organization with an update on troop activities during the past year. Rotarian and the troop’s charter organization representative, Michael Tullier, hosted the group.

Leading the presentation was Scoutmaster Andrew Baird, who reported to Rotarians that, in 2018, the troop qualified as a “Gold Unit” under the Boy Scouts of America’s “Journey to Excellence” program. This was in part to its individual Scout advancement efforts, which included 35 awarded ranks (of which three were the rank of Eagle Scout) and 99 earned merit badges. Journey to Excellence also evaluates a unit’s year-round activities, which for Troop 50 Scouts and leaders included 408 collective nights of camping, 154 collective miles of hiking, and 971 collective hours of service.

Following Mr. Baird’s overview, several Scouts shared with Rotarians about their troop involvement. Senior Patrol Leader Camp spoke about his progress toward earning the Eagle Scout rank — specifically his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project to fence the McLain Garden at the Lee County Historical Society’s Pioneer Park in Loachapoka.

Camp’s younger brother James talked about his experiences as one of the troop’s newest Scouts. He noted how regular monthly campouts helping him develop new Scout skills and advance in rank. Finally, Camp and James’ middle sibling, Will, summarized the troop’s summer camp experience this past June at Camp Rainey Mountain in Clayton, Georgia. There, he and other Scouts were able to make significant progress toward earning merit badges as they deepen friendships.

Troop Committee Chair Rob Stanford wrapped up the presentation by thanking the Rotary Club for its ongoing financial support, as well as inviting Rotarians to serve as merit badge counselors. Mr. Stanford noted that anyone with hobby-level knowledge to professional expertise on a specific topic could share their subject-matter expertise as a merit badge counselor for a single Scout or group of Scouts.

For more information about Troop 50, visit www.boyscout50.org or read more about the troop's activities here on its blog.