High Adventure at Troop 600

Question about Scouting or would like to join a meeting? Contact us at bsatroop600.com, and include scoutmaster@troop600.com, with your name, the name of the potential Scout, and your zip code. We meet most Mondays at 7p. Starting in January 2023, we will meet at Sacred Heart Church in Bellevue. We look forward to hearing from you!

Troop 600 was founded in 1959 and has produced a high number of Eagle Scouts over the years. We do this by making the Troop fun and providing a supportive place for advancement. The work must come from the scout; the Troop provides the opportunity.

At Troop 600, the Scouts plan and decide on the program, run the meetings, manage the equipment, plan and execute the trips, and learn leadership skills to advance.

Troop meetings typically occur most Monday evenings during the school year. The dates and location are on the Troop calendar posted on the Troop’s web site. We usually do not have a formal meeting the following Monday after an overnight weekend outing, but offer an optional Advancement Night. Class A uniforms are to be worn at the meetings.

Courts of Honor are special meetings where the Scouts are recognized for their achievements. It is very important for Scouts and parents to attend these as a sign of respect for the Scouts’ hard work. For this reason, Class A uniforms are mandatory. Courts of Honor are held three times a year, typically in October, February and June.

Troop 600 also supports the Order of the Arrow, which is Boy Scouts’ honor organization. To be eligible, Scouts must meet specific camping and rank requirements, and must have the approval of the Scoutmaster. Troop members vote for eligible Scouts, and those who are elected are invited to go on to participate in the OA’s initiation. Generally, Scouts are in their third year before OA is a possibility.

Troop Dues:  Money and Responsibility

The Troop does not charge dues.

Money is collected from time to time for Camp Parsons summer camp (6 nights costs $300 +/-), food, and other expenses for trips your Scout elects to attend.

Scouts and parents are required to participate in the annual Troop fundraiser – the Christmas Tree recycling drive. This one January event raises enough money to fund the troop the entire year. Scouts are required to attend the Tag Day Sale – first Saturday in December and the Tree Recycle Day – usually the first Saturday in January.

If families, due to economic hardship, cannot afford camp or any other Scout activity, we usually have enough funds to scholarship some boys to any Troop activity. This is arranged through the Troop Committee Chair or the Scoutmaster.

Outings:

We try to have one outing a month during the school year. Often these will be an overnight but may be a day outing or both a Friday and Saturday for events called Camporees, which are group camps with other Troops.

Summer months are a busy time for Troop 600. Troop 600 reserves a week at Camp Parsons each summer - https://www.campparsons.com/. This Scout Camp is a fantastic experience in a world-class setting. Younger scouts get an opportunity to work on rank advancement and older scouts get to work on Merit Badges. There is also troop time where they get to do fun events including but not limited to pier jumping, archery, rifle shooting and/or canoe swamping. Scouts should make every effort to attend this week of camp.

Every two years, we try to have a high adventure trek for Scouts older than 15, usually to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Other years, a 50-miler canoe trip, bike ride or climb up Mount Adams or another Cascade Peak may be organized.