Boy Scout Troop 125 - Home Page

Troop Summary

|  History  |  Charter Organization  |  Purpose & Objectives  |  Our Eagle Scouts  |
| Troop Meetings  |  Camping  |  Other Outdoor Activities  |  Jamboree On-The-Air  |
|  Cub Scout "Arrow of Light" Program  |  AOL Ceremonial Team  |  Community Service  |

	TROOP 125 ~ HISTORY Troop 125 was originally chartered by the PTA of McAuliffe Elementary School (Germantown, MD) in 1988 under the number 464.  In 2003, the troop charter organization became the Churchill Community Foundation.  In 2005, we moved our meeting place to the adjacent community of Clarksburg, Maryland; and in 2006 our number, along with the number of the Cub Scout Pack also chartered by the Churchill Community Foundation, became 125.   We have experienced adult leaders, and focus our efforts on outdoor activities and community service.  We encourage our scouts to advance through the ranks, but allow them to set their own pace.  Since 1988, we have nurtured the growth of many scouts, including 26 Eagle Scouts!

CHARTER ORGANIZATION

Boy Scout Troop 125 is sponsored by the Churchill Community Foundation
The Churchill Community Foundation owns Lake Churchill, which is an 18-acre man-made lake in Germantown, Maryland.  The Lake is situated between Wynnfield Drive, Father Hurley Blvd, the Waters Landing community, and Laurel Hill Way.  Although Lake Churchill is not stocked, it contains a healthy variety of fish and is home to numerous other species of wild life. The mission of the Foundation is to maintain Lake Churchill as an amenity to the community. The Foundation also charters Cub Scout Pack 125.
As Scouts, Lake Churchill provides us with many opportunities to appreciate the great outdoors and nature, practice the conservation skills we learn in scouting, learn more about local wildlife, and do a "good turn" for the community by helping with the Lake in some small way.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

Boy Scout Troop 125 National Capital Area Council Black Hill District Clarksburg-Germantown Maryland

Build Character

    Scouting is proven to be successful in developing self-reliance, self-discipline, self-confidence, and self-respect.  Under adult supervision, the Scouts run the program and assume as much responsibility for the Troop's program as possible. Mistakes are made, but as we know, experience is the best teacher.  As Scouts acquire these traits, their level of maturity noticeably increases.  The older Scouts provide positive role models and new Scouts quickly learn that working as a team, showing respect to leaders, and doing their "good turns" is a rewarding and fulfilling form of behavior.

Foster Citizenship

    The Scouting program emphasizes citizenship in terms of the duties, obligations, privileges, and functions of a citizen.  Citizenship activities are required at all ranks and three required merit badges for the rank of Eagle are citizenship merit badges (Community, Nation, and World).  By participating in community service projects, Scouts gain an appreciation for the environment and for the needs of others that may be less fortunate.

Promote Fitness

    Requirements for several ranks include physical fitness activities.  It is not the intent of Scouting to develop superior athletic skills, but general well being and good health habits are the focus.  Scouts are introduced to various outdoor activities through overnight campouts and summer camp.  Participation in sports and physical activities is more for pleasure and enjoyment rather than winning or being number one.

Develop Leadership and Teamwork Skills

    Leadership: To obtain the later ranks of Star, Life and Eagle, each Scout must serve in some role of leadership and responsibility.  Many positions are available within the Troop.  Some are elected, some are appointed. Scouts can volunteer for appointed positions if they have an interest in a particular position.  Leadership changes every six months so that each Scout has an opportunity to serve in a leadership role.

    Teamwork: Scouts are grouped into patrols. Within each Patrol, each Scout will have specific duties.  This is referred to as "The Patrol Method."  For example; on a campout, one Scout will be Grubmaster.  He shops for the food and collects money from the other Scouts.  Should the Grubmaster not perform his duty, the patrol has no food for the campout.  Using the patrol method, Scouts learn the importance of teamwork and that others depend on them performing their duties.

OUR 30 EAGLE SCOUTS

Eric Anthony D__ (1994)		Jason Eugene K__ (1994)
Michael Scout Z__ (1995)		Joshua Samuel R__ (1995)
Daniel R. R__ (1998)		Kenneth M. C__ (1999)
Matthew W. D__ (1999)		Adam G. M__ (2000)
Bryan M. A__ (2000)		Bryon W. V__ (2000)
Christopher M__ (2000)		Andrew J. D__ (2001)
Christopher D. S__ (2001)		William L. R__ (2001)
Gregory A. B_ (2002)		Bradley J. M_ (2002)
David K. T_ (2002)		Patrick D. M_ (2003)
Roderick J. L_ (2003)		Robert C. I (2003)
Erik D. F_ (2003)		Arthur S. (2004)
James Mc_ (2005)		Tom D_ (2006)
Evan W_ (2006)		Alex B_ (2007)
Mike G_ (2007)		Nick G_ (2007)
Vik L_ (2007)		Mathew A. D_ (2008)

TROOP MEETINGS

Our Regular Weekly Troop Meetings are held every Monday night (except the 2nd Monday of each month and holidays), from 7:30pm until 9:00pm, at the Clarksburg Recreation Building, located in the Clarksburg Neighborhood Park, at 22501 Wims Rd., Clarksburg, MD 20871 (off of Route 355, next to Clarksburg High School). The boys work on advancement and merit badges; and plan upcoming outdoor activities.  The elected boy leaders direct the meeting, and trained adult leaders are available to assist.
For a Map to Our Weekly Meeting Place
Occasional Troop Meetings (during the summer) are held in modular trailer "B" next to the Greenridge Baptist Church at 21925 Frederick Road (Rt. 355)  -- which is located about 1 mile north of the Milestone Shopping Center.
For a Map to Our Summer Meeting Space

CAMPING

Our Scouts enjoy frequent camping.  We camp at: Antietam Sugar Loaf Mountain Goshen Scout Reservation Eagle Camp Camp Olmsted Lenhok'sin High Adventure Camp

Cold-Weather  /  Hot-Weather

OTHER GREAT OUTDOOR SCOUTING ACTIVITIES

Biking	Backpacking
Caving	Canoeing
Fishing	Sailing
Horseback Riding	Whitewater Rafting
SCUBA Diving / Swimming	First Aid / Search & Recovery Training
Skiing	Rope Skills

JAMBOREE ON-THE-AIR

On the third full weekend in October of each year, Troop 125 (with the help of the Montgomery Amateur Radio Club) hosts a Scouting Jamboree On-The-Air for Black Hill District Cub Scouts, and Boy and Girl Scouts.  Our next event will be held on the grounds outside of Boyds Presbyterian Church, 19901 White Ground Road, Boyds, MD 20841 (take Clopper Road toward Boyds, MD; Clopper Road becomes White Ground Road [MD-121] ), on Saturday, October 18, 2008, from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. [map].  The event is held rain or shine.

This is an international event which is organized locally by Boy Scout Troop 125 from the Germantown-Clarksburg area and Ham Radio operators, who use the event to interest young people in technology and two-way radio communications. Jamboree participants also learn about different regions and cultures around the world by contacting other scouts via voice and Morse code.  We also try to set up a shortwave radio receiver and allow scouts themselves to work the receiver and listen in on transmissions from international stations.

Jamboree On-The-Air gives Scouts the opportunity to make friends around the United States and in other countries.  Since its inception in 1957, the Jamboree and Amateur Radio have connected millions of Scouts and Guides across the globe.

From our local events, Jamboree radio operators have made contact with stations from the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Israel, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.  Within the United States, scouts participating in our Radio Jamboree have spoken to other scouts in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

For a Video Clip from our Radio Jamboree

During the event local Boy Scouts are also given the opportunity to begin work on the Radio Merit Badge by learning about Amateur Radio, learning some Morse code and making contact with other Amateur Radio operators.  Girl Scouts are also given the opportunity to use Amateur Radio to earn badges and participate in special-interest projects that range from high-tech communication to space exploration. 

CUB SCOUT "ARROW OF LIGHT" TEACHING PROGRAM

Boy Scout Troop 125 sponsors a free program to help Webelos II Scouts earn the prestigious Arrow of Light Award.  The Arrow of Light is the highest award a Cub Scout can receive and it is the only Cub Scout recognition that is carried over to Boy Scouting.

Troop 125 Scouts help Webelos II Scouts satisfy the Arrow of Light requirements by helping them learn what they need to know about Boy Scouting to earn the award.

Webelos II Scouts are invited to join us at one of our Troop meetings to learn about the Scout Oath and Law, to practice the Scout motto, slogan, sign, salute and handclasp, to learn what the parts of the First Class Badge represent, to understand the difference between the Webelos and Boy Scout uniforms, and to learn how to tie the joining knot (square knot).  After the learning portion of the meeting, we involve the visiting Webelos II Scouts in a game or other fun activity.

Interested Webelos II Scouts or Den Leaders should contact the Troop 125 Scoutmaster,
Phil Baker, at (301) 428-1849 or via email PBAKER464@comcast.net to set up a date.

ARROW-OF-LIGHT CEREMONIAL TEAM

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Scouting for Food

"Scouting for Food" (Food Drive) Community Cleanup and Restoration "Service Troop" for Webelos-O-Ree

Community Cleanup and Restoration

We regularly help out at District Events, and host the annual Scouting Jamboree On-The-Air,
as a service to the Black Hill District, National Capital Area Council, scouting community.

To Learn More About our Program or to Join Boy Scout Troop 125
contact Scoutmaster Phil Baker at (301) 428-1849 or PBAKER464@comcast.net

You Can Also Download (in MS Word format) our:  Troop 125 Factsheet