Troop Philosophy: The main goals of Troop 30 are for each Scout to develop academic skills, self confidence, ethics, leadership skills, and citizenship skill that influence their adult live, all while having fun – fun with a purpose! Each Scout is encouraged to challenge himself both physically and mentally, but no one is forced to do something they can't or won't do - but they have often surprised themselves (and their parents).
Meetings: Held Monday evenings 7:30 – 9:00pm from September through June. While Scouting is important and will help your child grow, family and school come first. After these however, each Scout is expected to be present at each meeting and Scout activity. The Patrol Leader Council (older Scouts) meets monthly to plan upcoming Troop meetings. Usually one troop meeting each month is an outside activity like rock climbing, sports events, or bowling. Weekend outdoor camping trips are scheduled monthly.
Activities/Camping: Troop 30 strives for at least one activity each month. Following is a sample of our events over the past few years:
Appalachian Trail Hiking - Bicycling on the Delaware Canal - Backpacking Hikes - French Creek State Park - New York City Historical Hiking Trails - Canoeing/Kayaking on the Wading River in NJ - Gettysburg National Park - District/Council Camporees - Hiking the Delaware Canal - Indoor/Outdoor Rock Climbing - Klondike Derby - Valley Forge Pilgrimage and Encampment - Fly Fishing at World's End State Park - National Aquarium in Baltimore - Whitewater Rafting on the Lehigh River - Orienteering at Washington Crossing State Park - Rafting on the Delaware - Ski Trips - Naval Academy - West Point - Boston Freedom Trail - Washington DC - COPE at Ockanickon Scout Reservation
Summer Camp: The Troop as a whole attends a weeklong camping trip at a Scout Reservation. We normally attend Bucks County's Camp Ockanickon. All new scouts are strongly encouraged to attend this strong, well led program.
Troop Structure: As is the tradition of Scouting, Troop 30 is a youth-led Troop. The Troop consists of several Patrols. Newer Scouts are assigned to Patrols in their own age group. The Troop elects the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders (ASPL). They are in charge of the day-to-day operation of the troop. There is an adult Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters whose job is to guide and mentor the youth Scout Leaders. There is a Troop Committee that serves as the Board of Directors, whose function is long range planning, development of adult leaders and Troop finance.
Advancement: Each Scout is responsible for his own advancement. Older Scouts and adult leaders are always available to teach, assist and guide. In practice, the older Scouts (in cooperation with the adult leadership) are assigned the responsibility of monitoring the progress and advancement of the younger scouts as part of their leadership development skills.
As a Scout learns more skills and takes parts in activities he is recognized in his achievements by earning badges of rank. They are Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and finally Eagle. The requirements to earn each rank are more challenging than the one before it. Most active Scouts will earn the rank of First Class within a year of joining the troop. It’s important for Scouts to participate in activities and camping trips in order to advance. Many of the requirements for the first four ranks center around basic Scouting skills learned and practiced on camping trips.
Eagle Scouts: Our Troop is very proud of our record of Eagle Scouts. Being an Eagle Scout is something that is carried throughout a Scouts entire life and marks him as being special. It can open doors that may otherwise be closed and can be proudly listed on a resume for college or work. In the past two years we are very proud to have 10 of our scouts attain the rank of Eagle, and we have a number of boys actively working on completing their requirements and projects.
Community Service: Part of Scouting includes service to the community. Each rank in Scouting requires a minimum number of service hours to advance. Service projects include a variety of work at various churches and community locations. Younger Scouts are also invited to assist Eagle candidates on larger service projects required for the Eagle rank.
Uniforms: Uniforms are required at all meetings (minimum of a Scout shirt) and during travel to/from activities. The formal Class "A" uniform (Scout shirt, neckerchief) is required for the two Court-of Honors (where we award rank advancement and badges) and for an Eagle Court-of-Honor. During the hot months, Class "B" uniform (Scout T-shirt) are acceptable at meetings.
Outings: The Troop usually has one outing each month in place of a normal Monday night troop meeting. Sometimes the outing themes are tied to current advancement themes, and others are just for fun and family entertainment. Some of the past outings have included Trenton Thunder Baseball, Bowling, Rock Climbing, and Visiting the Troop at Woods Services School to assist in a Sports Night.
Dues/Fund Raisers: The Troop dues are between $175 and $230 per Scout/per year depending on participation in fundraising activities. As with any organization, dues do not cover all the expenses for the Troop. In the past we have had the following fundraisers: popcorn sale, and a spring car wash. These help offset the cost of new equipment and the monthly activities.
Adults: All adults are welcomed and encouraged to participate. This may be through becoming an adult leader, committee chairperson, merit badge counselor, or chaperone. There is a monthly meeting of the Troop Committee that manages the business of the troop. All parents are invited and encouraged to attend.
Web Site: Families of Troop 30 can log further into this website to view the Troop calendar, view links to documents and websites relevant to Scouting, and view photos of our trips and activities.
New Scouts: Once the scout has crossed over into Scouts (or joined the troop) they should start attending the weekly meetings and are encouraged to participate in all Troop activities. The new scouts are grouped together in new scout patrols, and lead by Troop Guides. The Troop Guides are older scouts who will be responsible to teach the new scouts many scouting basics in order for the youth to achieve the first rank of Scout.
Scouting skills for the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class are taught at most meetings. Many requirements can only be earned while camping. Camping is a big part of the Troop 30 program. First year Scouts are strongly encouraged to attend summer camp where most of the requirements for the first four ranks may be earned that week.
First year Scouts will be assigned to regular patrols during their first year, where the Patrol Leaders will work with the new scouts to advance. As the youth begin to reach the rank of First Class, many more activities become available to them.
As they grow and advance, each youth will have the opportunity to assume some sort of leadership role in the troop. In fact, the higher ranks require leadership positions to be held for many months.
Questions: Please contact our Scoutmaster, Gary Thau at 610-823-7465, glt383@yahoo.com or our Troop Committee Chair, Art McCarthy at 609-212-3871, ajmaciii2@aol.com.
TROOP 30 EAGLE SCOUTS - 1970 to PRESENT
2020
Evan Gerdy
Tyler Schaub - Ryan Bayna - Nicolas Fallacaro
2019
Adam Einwechter - Aidan McKeon
Wesley Dearolf - Caleb Kisler
Gray Gibson - John Yates - Matt Humbert
Chris Kingsley - Ezra Greenberg - Tyler Hunsperger
2018
Evan Wadley - Michael Calcagni - Sam Humbert
2017
Dean Wadley - Chris Gruda - Andrew Kisler
Joseph Miskel - John Majewski - RJ Krimetz
2016
Jake Mako - Alec Nunziato - Eric Rafalovsky
2015
Riley Daniels
2014
Kevin Caruso - Mason Houriet - Sam Hamacher - Sean Furgiuele
Anthony Fallacaro - Benjamin Greenberg - Joseph Majewski
2013
Joshua Brown - Clark "CJ" Martin - John Rymer - Grant Harriman - Jason Pepin
2011
Lee Hamacher - Mark Pepin
2010
Zack Gursky - Craig Sanford - Andrew Moore - Ryan Staudt - Luke Gallagher
2009
Ryan Fox - Dylan Principi - Matt Godart - Colin Davis
Justin Rhoden - Ben Lerner - Ricky Brodbeck
2008
Brett Stewart - Steven Pepin - Kyle Ennis - Matt Katz
2006
Andrew Weisel - Rick Kaeble - Keith Rankin
Aaron Weston - Brian Laraia - Ryan Hamill
2005
Andrew Yarnall - Marck Goldstein - Matthew Fisher - Craig Yeager
Jonathan Pepin - Jonathan Katz - John Csaszar - Joseph Pocetti
Kurt Sanford Rebert
2004
Zachary Kantner - Whit Leyenberger - Sean Wolodzko - Joseph Naylor
2003
Sean Sullivan - John Shlegle - Matthew Potocki
Paul Yeager - Kevin Suyo
2002
Christopher Barley - Joseph DiGiovanna - Tom Stanley - John Gerace
2001
Aaron Waterman - Jason Conrad - Eric Tornegard - Aaron Kimball
2000
Mike Moculak - Alex Riccardo - Eric Miller
1999
Sean Lough - Mike Plaisted
1998
Joshua Nay - Ryan O'Conner - Joseph Schneider
Michael Newman - Matt Mastropaolo - Dante Bucci
1997
Andrew Plaisted
1995
Michael Corrigan - Robert Mangold - C. Patrick Westfall
1993
John Rapp
1992
R. James Bishop
1991
John Szeghy - Todd Wright - Tyler Sterkel
Timothy Armagost - Raymond Short, Jr. - Brent Hall
Vincent Wright - Kurt Yancy
1990
Craig Hansel - Scott Yancy - Chris Mangold
1988
Kenyon Waugh
1987
Gary Bernstein
1986
Dave Long
1982
Matt John Byrnes - Thomas Roland, Jr. - Jeffrey Ellis
1981
Robert Medve - Frank McNeilly, Jr.
1979
Kenneth Burton - Scott Barberides - Edward Wagner
1978
Steve Dilliplane - Edward Moshinsky - Doug Serfass - Paul Medve
1974
Scott Sanford - William Dayton
1973
Robert Barnhart
1972
Alexander Harris 1972
1971
Walter Witucki
1970
Mark Ellis - Keith Sanford