What is Scouting?
Scouting is community.
Scouting is more than just learning outdoor skills – it's about building a strong sense of community. Joining our troop means becoming part of a group of like-minded people who share a passion for adventure, service, and leadership. Through our programs and activities, Scouts have the opportunity to form lifelong friendships, learn valuable life skills, and be a part of the worldwide brotherhood of Scouting. Come join us and be a part of our welcoming and supportive Scouting family.
Scouting is adventure.
In Troop 1607 you could:
Master the art of building a campfire without a match
Split wood and throw tomahawks like a frontiersman
Learn how to rock climb and rig your own harness
Launch pumpkins from our full-size trebuchet
Trek 100 miles through the backcountry
Raft through Class IV whitewater rapids
Go scuba diving in the Florida Keys
Shoot a bow, rifle, shotgun, or revolver
Scouts BSA also offers over 135 merit badges on a huge range of topics, such first aid, emergency preparedness, welding, nuclear science, engineering, aviation, archery, horsemanship, robotics, and lifesaving, to name just a few.
Scouting is life skills.
Scouting teaches skills you can carry with you for life.
The values of the Scout Oath and Law
Scouts take on increasingly senior leadership positions in the troop as they progress. Troop 1607's program is planned, prepared, and executed by the scouts! This includes all meetings and camping trips.
We hold our own leadership training course every year, which is free for all scouts to attend.
Eagle-required merit badges include Personal fitness, Cooking, First Aid, Citizenship, and Communication.
Scouts can choose from over 130 merit badges spanning an incredible range of topics.
The Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
The Scout Law
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, clean, brave, and reverent.
Scouting is service.
Part of the Scout Oath is to be "helpful at all times". Service and leadership are core to what it means to be a Scout.
Troop 1607 is deeply embedded in the Southbury community as a whole. There is hardly a park, trail, cemetery, or church in town that hasn't been touched by the hard work and leadership of our scouts. We hold flag retirement ceremonies, maintain local trails, build footbridges and fences, and volunteer at food drives. We work closely with our partners at the VFW, Land Trust, Audubon Center, Food Bank, and more, and we're always looking for new opportunities to serve our community.
Read about some of our service projects on the In the News page.
Scouting is year-round.
Troop 1607 is year-round, rain-or-shine, and highly active.
Our weekly Monday night meetings are when the scouts learn and practice their skills, prepare for upcoming trips, and socialize.
We have overnight outings every month. September though June, there are weekend camping trips that span a huge variety of locations and activities.
In July, the troop travels to a scout summer camp for a full week of camping. Instead of limiting ourselves to the same camp every time, the youth leadership chooses a different camp to attend each year.
In August, the troop holds a "High Adventure" event for scouts 13+. These premier trips have included backpacking in rugged New Mexico, manning a sailboat in the Florida Keys, whitewater canoeing on the Allagash river in Maine, and conquering peaks in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Scouting is affordable.
The 2023 national/council registration cost was $150 for the year plus $25 on initial joining. Unlike many units, Troop 1607 does not charge its own membership fee or joining fee. Our outings are run at-cost and you only pay for what you attend.
We have a large library of camping equipment that is also available for members' personal use outside of Scouting. New scouts only need a few basic camping items to get started.
The troop pays for all patches and awards the scouts earn. We provide each scout all the patches and their neckerchief on joining. We have a hand-me-down uniform program. When scouts attend advanced leadership training in our council, we split the cost with them 50/50.
Most of the troop's funding comes from our fundraisers and through donations.
Scouting is safe.
Safety is core to everything we do.
Every adult volunteer undergoes a background check, volunteer screening check, and takes a comprehensive youth protection training course every 2 years. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters also all receive hazardous weather training, safe swim training, and a full weekend course in outdoor skills.
Every troop activity is lead by at least 2 volunteers who are trained and registered. The buddy system is employed at all times.
