In Troop 1607 you could:

• Master the one-match campfire

• Split wood and throw tomahawks like a frontiersman

• Navigate the backcountry with a map and compass

• Learn knots, first aid, campfire cooking, and all kinds of other camping skills

And as a senior scout, you can:

• Lead your own patrol of scouts and choose the activities the troop does

• Raft through Class IV whitewater rapids

• Trek over peaks in the White Mountains of New Hampshire or even the Rockies of New Mexico

• Go scuba diving and crew a sailboat in the Florida Keys

Scouting 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 more than just getting outdoors– it's a community. Joining our troop means becoming part of a group of like-minded people. Through the Scouting program, you will have the opportunity to socialize and form lifelong friendships.

Our troop is arranged into "patrols"– pods of 6-8 scouts of mixed age and gender. The members of each patrol work together to learn outdoor skills and run the troop. Each patrol elects its own leader, maintains its own gear, and plans its own camping menus. On outings, the patrols cook, eat, and camp together.

Scouting prepares young people with skills and values that will serve them forever.

• The values of the Scout Oath and Law are the guiding principles of everything we do in Scouting.

• In order to advance in rank, each scout must make a self-directed effort to learn new skills, serve others, and become a leader within the troop.

• Scouts take on increasingly advanced leadership positions in the troop as they progress. All of our meetings and camp-outs are planned, prepared, and executed by scouts. For example, they plan the menus, choose a volunteer to buy the supplies, and then divide cooking and cleaning responsibilities among themselves. The youth leadership committee decides where we camp and oversees the troop's program.

• The core merit badges include Personal Management, Cooking, First Aid, Citizenship, and Communication.

• Scouts can choose from over 135 merit badges spanning a wide range of topics and career paths.

The Scout Law

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, clean, brave, and reverent.

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 Motto

Be prepared.

Scouting is defined by service and leadership. Part of the Scout Oath is to be "helpful at all times".

There is hardly a person in Southbury that hasn't benefited from the hard work and leadership of a scout. We maintain local trails, build footbridges and fences, run food drives, and retire the American flags brought to the transfer station. We regularly partner with organizations like the Southbury Land Trust, Region 15, the town of Southbury, the Audubon Center, Southbury Food Bank, Sustainable Southbury, and more.

Read about some of our service projects on the In the News page.

Troop 1607 is year-round, rain-or-shine, and highly active.

The weekly Monday night meetings are when the we learn and practice our skills, prepare for upcoming trips, and socialize.

We have overnight outings every month. September through June, there are weekend camping trips, planned and executed by scouts, that span a wide variety of activities and locations.

In July, the troop travels to a scout summer camp for a full week of camping, merit badges, and activities. The youth leaders choose 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, crewing a sailboat in the Florida Keys, whitewater canoeing on the Allagash River in Maine, and conquering peaks in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

The annual registration cost for Scouting America is $154. Unlike many troops, 1607 doesn't charge any membership fees of its own. Our outings are run at-cost and you only pay for what you attend. Financial aid is available.

We have a large library of camping equipment that is available for members' use inside and outside of Scouting. New members only need a few basic items to get started.

The troop's fundraising efforts pay for all patches and awards the scouts earn. We provide each scout all the patches and their neckerchief on joining, and also run a hand-me-down uniform program.

We provide a 50% scholarship to scouts who attend National Youth Leadership Training.