Troop 1607
Troop 1607 is a first-rate Scouts BSA troop. We create adventure, teach life skills, and provide community for boys and girls in the Southbury area.
Our meetings are every Monday at 7 to 8:30 PM. There are full-weekend camping trips every month. Summer camp and High Adventure are offered every year.
What is Scouting?
Scouting is adventure.
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 community.
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. They elect their own patrol leaders, maintain their own gear, and plan their own campout menus. On outings, the patrols cook, eat, and camp together.
Scouting is a life skill.
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 their own camping 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 runs as much of the program as possible.
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 service to others.
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.
Scouting is year-round.
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 scouts 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.
Scouting is affordable.
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.
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 offer a 50% scholarship to every scout who attends advanced leadership training.
Additional financial aid is available on a per-case basis.
Scouting is for everyone.
Everyone ages 10-17 is welcome to be a scout.
Scouting is safe.
Safety is the first consideration at all scouting activities.
Every troop activity is overseen by at least 2 adult volunteers who are trained and registered. The buddy system is employed at all times, including in online communications.
Every adult camper undergoes a background check, volunteer screening check, and takes a Youth Protection Training course every two years. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters also receive hazardous weather training, aquatic safety training, and a full weekend course in camping skills.
Scouting is for parents too.
Parents are encouraged to get involved! The troop is operated entirely by scouts, parents and volunteers. There are lots of ways to help out, spanning all skill-sets and levels of time commitment.
Joining us on camping trips and troop meetings
Attending our monthly Committee Meetings
Serving as a merit badge counselor in any of 135+ topics
Helping run parties, award ceremonies, or open houses
Driving scouts to/from outings