Boy Scouts of America     

Boy Scout Motto
Be Prepared.

Boy Scouting with Troop 472 is a year-round program for boys 11 to 17 (previous involvement in Cub Scouts is not a prerequisite). Based at St. John's Episcopal Church in North Guilford, Troop 472 provides a year-round program of enjoyable outdoor activities. Through the Boy Scout program, young men can achieve the core objectives of strengthening character, personal fitness and citizenship. To learn how to join Troop 472, call Tom Gannon at 203-395-1918.

Summer Camp Troop 472 attends Boy Scout summer camp every summer. During their week at camp, Scouts earn badges and participate in activities including swimming, boating, shooting sports, scoutcraft, handicrafts, and ecology. This summer, the troop will be attending Camp Yawgoog in Rhode Island, located in the southwestern corner of the state on the Connecticut border, between June 26 and July 3.

Court of Honor Troop 472 scouts and families gathered for our winter Court of Honor on Thursday evening, February 17, at St. John's Episcopal Church. Rank advancements to the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class and Life were awarded, as well as more than a dozen merit badges earned since the last Court of Honor. After the conclusion of the ceremony, dessert, coffee and soft drinks were served.

Merit Badges and Ranks Troop 472 has an active advancement program to support scouts towarding earning ranks and merit badges. Boy Scouting's advancement system includes more than 100 Merit Badge programs, where scouts can earn the badges of their choice by fulfilling specific requirements. Some Merit Badges encourage you to increase your skill in subjects you already know about, while others challenge help you learn about new subjects of knowledge. Scouting also recognizes the achievements of scouts by awarding badges of ranks, based on their progress in earning Merit Badges and meeting other goals. In advancing order, the Boy Scout ranks are: Scout, Tenderfoot, Second-Class, First-Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. The requirements for each rank are more challenging than the one before.

Parent Involvement Parents are welcome to attend all of Troop 472's activities, and active parent involvement is encouraged (though not required). Active adult participation in Troop 472 is vital to our success, and parents can choose among many roles and opportunities to be involved. Parents are active in the troop as Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters, Merit Badge counselors, Troop Committee members, and as volunteers leading or participating in troop activities and fund raising. Two-deep adult leadership is provided at all Scout activities and events, and the Boy Scout program provides required training for all adult leaders.

Historical Carpentry Several scouts from Troop 472 recently completed the historial Carpentry Merit Badge. This vintage badge was reintroduced for one year only in 2010, as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. To complete this badge, the scouts needed to meet the same requirements that scouts met a hundred years ago. They demonstrated how to use various (non-power) tools and made articles of furniture like the chair shown here. The instructor for this merit badge was Randy McCartney.

Where to Find Us Troop 472 meets weekly at St. John's Episcopal Church, which is located on Ledge Hill Road in North Guilford. The churh's history dates back to 1747, when a group of dissidents left the neighboring North Guilford Congregational Church to form a new congregation centered on Church of England rituals and prayers. For more information, visit www.stjohnsguilford.org.