OUR SCOUTMASTERS:

Troop 182 was started in April of 1996 with about 7 boys. The original Scoutmaster was Robert Bellas.  One highlight activity of the summer was a camping/canoeing trip to Rock Creek, Ohio where Bob grew up.

Bob moved to Iowa during the fall of 1998 and Dan Hummel became the troops second Scoutmaster in July of 1998. Dan’s leadership of the troop continued until July of 2001 when he moved to the position of Committee Chair. Although his son, Jon, earned Eagle Scout in 2001 and is now away at college, Dan remains active with the troop as a Committee Member and in particular he helps guide our scouts on their path to earning their Eagle rank.

Our third Scoutmaster was R. Scott Miles.  In August of 2001 Scott took up the role of Scoutmaster.  Scott has led the troop on many trips, far and wide. Two of the most memorable were a High Adventure canoe trip to Canada in 2004 and the 2005 National Jamboree in Virginia. Scott stepped aside as Scoutmaster in 2007 but continues to be involved as an Assistant Scoutmaster and our Advancement Coordinator.

The troops fourth Scoutmaster was Steve Pile who took up the reigns in August of 2007.  He jumped right into action with a trip to Northeast MD with a family camping and boating weekend combined with a community service project Saturday morning. This has become a much anticipated annual event for the scout families. Under Steve’s leadership the troop continued its tradition of combining historic hikes with camping trips by visiting Boston, MA on their way to Maine for summer camp 2009.

In November of 2009 the troop welcomed our fifth Scoutmaster – Tom McCoy.  Tom has been active with the troop as an Assistant Scoutmaster and will be leading the troop at the National Jamboree in 2010!

Thanks to all our leaders

who generously give their “one hour a week”!

OUR SPONSER:

Troop 182’s Chartered Organization is Evansburg United Methodist Church located on Germantown Pike in Collegeville. 

During the school year troop meetings are held Wednesday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Evansburg United Methodist Church with the exception of the 2^nd week of the month when we meet on Tuesday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Perkiomen Valley Sportsmen Association’s clubhouse on Pechins Mill Road in Collegeville.  This allows our leaders and OA members to attend the District Roundtable meeting held the 2^nd Wednesday of each month from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Methacton High School.

During the summer months the troop holds meetings at the Lower Perkiomen Valley Park off Egypt Road in Oaks on Wednesday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

OUR SCOUTS:

The troop grew in size from the original 7 boys to a high of 45 registered scouts in 2001.  The troop currently has 13 registered scouts.  We have had over 120 boys join the troop since its beginning.  Of those boys, 32 have obtained the rank of Eagle Scout!  Click here to see a list of our Eagle Scout Honor Roll.

Troop 182 has many advancement traditions.  When a scout earns the rank of First Class he is presented with a brown Campaign Hat to replace the traditional baseball style scout hat.  The hat represents the scouts new responsibilities in the troop as a leader for younger scouts.

Upon earning the rank of Star, the scout is presented with a white candle. He is asked to meditate on his journey so far in scouting while gazing at the flame of the candle and envision his path forward.  The scout then blows out the flame. He is reminded to save the candle to use at his Eagle Scout ceremony.

Upon reaching the rank of Life Scout, the last rank before Eagle, our scouts are presented with a Boy Scout Bolo Tie to replace his troop neckerchief. The bolo is worn with his Class “A” uniform until he earns Eagle Scout and it is replaced by the Eagle Scout neckerchief. 

Many troop traditions go along with the rank of Eagle.  The scouts name is engraved on the Eagle Honor Roll plaque which is displayed at all Courts of Honor.  He is also presented with a plaque from the troop and a keepsake book which is compiled with commendations from local, state and national government officials.  Finally, the scout signs our Eagle Scout banner which is displayed at all Eagle Scout ceremonies. 

ANNUAL OUTINGS:

Troop 182 participates in several annual outings.  Among them is the Klondike Derby held every January at Musser Scout Reservation in Green Lane.  The Klondike Derby consists of a team of scouts pulling a sled filled with supplies from one station to the next.  At each station the scouts must demonstrate skills or knowledge to complete the task at hand.  The scouts compete for gold nuggets. The team with the most nuggets wins the derby.

The scouts also attend the Valley Forge Encampment held every year (rain, shine, sleet or snow) in February at the Valley Forge National Historic Park.  The Encampment draws troops from all over the country.  Scouts camp in tents and learn the history of our nation’s beginnings.

Other annual outings include the Spring and Fall Camporees organized by the Lafayette District of the Cradle of Liberty Council.  The location and theme varies year to year.  Camporees have been held at sites such as the Daniel Boone Homestead and the Norristown Farm Park.  Past themes have included Rescue & First Aide as well as Orientation & Pioneering.

Troop 182 also marches in the Annual Independence Day Parade in Skippack.  The troop began marching in the parade in July of 1999 under Dan Hummel’s direction.  This has become a favorite outing for our scouting families to celebrate our nation’s birthday!

Every September the scouts and leaders of Troop 182 also help direct parking for the Lower Providence Township Funday celebration in September.  Coordinating arrivals and departures is helped along with the coveted walkie-talkies which the “senior” boys always manage to posses! 

The scouts of Troop 182 also participate in the annual Scouting for Food drive.  Every year in November they distribute bags to local residences asking that they fill the bag with canned or boxed goods. The scouts return the next weekend and collect the filled bags.  In November of 2007 the troop collected 2,000 items of food and baby formula.  They were delivered to the Salvation Army food bank located in Norristown.

Starting in December of 2006, thru the coordination of former Scoutmaster Dan Hummel, the troop helps the Audubon Lions Club with the “Adopt A Highway” community service program.  Early on a Saturday morning every 3 months, they do roadside trash pickup along Trooper Road from Germantown Pike to the 422 Interchange.

SUMMER CAMPS ATTENDED:

1996  -  Treasure Island, Cradle of Liberty Council, PA

1997    -  Resica Falls, Cradle of Liberty Council, PA

1998    -  Camp Tuckahoe, York-Adams Council, PA

1999    -  Hawk Mountain, Hawk Mountain Council, PA

2000    -  Treasure Island, Cradle of Liberty Council, PA

2001    -  Camp Rodney, Del-Mar-VA Council, MD

2002    -  Camp Rodney, Del-Mar-VA Council, MD

2003    -  Camp Portaferry, Hiawatha Seaway Council, NY

2004    -  Settlers Camp, Minsi Trails Council, PA

2005    -  Resica Falls, Cradle of Liberty Council, PA

2006    -  Camp Ho Non Wah, Coastal Carolina Council, SC

2007    -  Mt. Norris Scout Camp, Green Mountain Council, VT

2008    - Treasure Island, Cradle of Liberty Council, PA

2009    - Camp Roosevelt, Katahdin Area Council, ME

2010    - Seven Mountains Scout Camp, Juniata Valley Council, PA

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES / CAMPOUTS:

·         April, 1999 -  Scoutmaster’s Invitational Camporee, West Point Military Academy, NY

·         January, 2000 – Merit Badge Jamboree, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD

·         June, 2000  -  Operation Sail 2000, Philadelphia, PA

·         January, 2001 - Merit Badge Jamboree, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD

·         July, 2001 – National Jamboree, Fort A.P. Hill, VA

·         May, 2002  -  Scoutmaster’s Invitational Camporee, West Point Military Academy, NY

·         November, 2003 – Honor Guard for Lynne Cheney, Valley Forge National Park, PA

·         December, 2003 – World Jamboree, Sattahip, Thailand

·         August, 2004  -  Northern Tier Trek, Antikokan, Ontario, Canada

·         July, 2005 – National Jamboree, Fort A.P. Hill, VA

·         June, 2006 – OA Trail Crew, Philmont Scout Reservation, NM

·         July/August, 2007  -  World Jamboree, Highland Park, Essex, England

·         August, 2007  -  Sea Base High Adventure, Islamorada, FL

·         June/July 2008 – Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, NM

·         June 2009  -  Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, NM

·         January, 2010 – Merit Badge Jamboree, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD

·         July 2010 – National Jamboree, Fort A.P. Hill, VA  **Last one to be held at Fort A.P. Hill **

And a special “Thank you”  to Kathy O’Donnell

for compiling this history of the troop!