Welcome to Troop 61

Troop61 Hold Summer Camp Fun Fest!

Marty Fitzgerald — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:59:37 +0000

SUDBURY - From across the lake, and through the darkness the hushed crowd of more than 500 Scouts and parents saw six flaming torches begin to make their way toward the amphitheatre. A minute later, six Scouts in Native American costume reached land, walked through the crowd, and selected the nine Scouts who were to receive this year’s Order of Taunkacoo Honor Camper award. For Troop 61 Sudbury, the 2009 recipient was 15 year old Lincoln Sudbury High School sophomore, Julian Helgeson.

So concluded the final campfire of Troop 61’s annual summer fun-fest week long event at Camp Resolute in Bolton. This year, together with eight other troops from Southborough, Maynard, Natick, Bedford, Westborough and Saxonville, 29 boys and eight adult leaders camped and had the kind of fun which lives deep in the memory for a lifetime.

Click here for the full story and pictures …

Troop 61 Scoutmaster Announces Retirement

Marty Fitzgerald — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:43:19 +0000

SUDBURY - If you ask Paul Arsenault what the boys like most about Scouting, he’ll tell you “it’s the camping.” And whereas those three words are very true, they simplify what is the experience that Arsenault has created for Troop 61, which he wistfully refers to as ‘Scout Magic’

On June 11, Arsenault was honored as the 2009 recipient of both the BSA National President’s Scoutmaster Award of Merit and the 2009 Liberty District’s Unit Leader Award.

Arsenault received the awards for serving as the Troop 61 Scoutmaster for four years, and creating a strong and rapidly growing troop which today comprises more than 46 youth members and 17 adult leaders. During his tenure the boys have earned 427 merit badges, 10 have become Eagle Scouts, and four more will become Eagles by year’s end.

… Click here for the exclusive story and pictures!

Town Honors Sudbury Troop 61’s Newest Eagle Scout

Marty Fitzgerald — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:38:44 +0000

SUDBURY - On Sunday June 7, more than 100 members of the Sudbury community gathered at the Sudbury United Methodist Church in Sudbury to honor Jacob Lifschultz, Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School senior, as he received the rank of Eagle Scout.

Nationwide, fewer than 2 percent of Scouts receive the rank of Eagle. Scouting in Sudbury today has more than 400 members and boasts a rate of almost 12 percent expected to receive the rank of Eagle Scout. In fact, Troop 61, the oldest and fastest growing Troop in Sudbury, has graduated 56 Eagle Scouts in its more than 70 year history. Moreover, the interest in, and pace at which Scouts have been earning the rank of Eagle Scout has increased in recent years, with 21 Eagles having been awarded by Troop 61 alone in the last 10 years.

… Full newspaper story and pictures here!

A Proud Scout for 50 Years

Marty Fitzgerald — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:15:49 +0000

SUDBURY - When Alan Williamson joined a Waltham Boy Scout troop in 1959 he discovered an activity that would shape the rest of his life. Those early days camping with his troop at the Hale Reservation in Westwood sparked a passion for the outdoors that he has shared with thousands of young Scouts as he helped them to learn life lessons along with practical skills.

A scoutmaster from the age of 18, Williamson has received local, national and international awards for his work and holds leadership roles in Sudbury Troop 61 and on the board of the Knox Trail Council. The father of three, a Sudbury resident since 1972, Williamson also coached Sudbury Youth Basketball and served on the Park and Recreation Commission.

… Full newspaper story and pictures here!

Sudbury Boy Scouts Receive Distinguished Leadership Awards

Marty Fitzgerald — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:12:40 +0000

SUDBURY - The Knox Trail Council recently recognized five Sudbury Troop 61 Boy Scout leaders and one Troop 63 leader with awards for their distinguished Scout service. As a movement whose leadership is overwhelmingly volunteer the Boy Scouts of America acknowledges the invaluable services that men and women give to youth. The Silver Beaver Award is one of Scouting’s more prestigious awards. The award is presented by the National Boy Scouts and is the highest award that a local council can bestow on a volunteer for rendering outstanding service to Scout Youth.

… Full newspaper story and pictures here!

Sudbury Boy Scout Troop 61 Conquers the Cold

Marty Fitzgerald — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:09:50 +0000

SUDBURY - Over the weekend of Jan. 24th, when the local temperature fell way below zero degrees, there was only one place to find the boys of Sudbury Boy Scout Troop 61; they were all deep in the woods of the Nobscot Boy Scout Reservation enjoying their annual Freeze-Out Camporee.

Troop 61 holds a camping trip just about every month of the year. The trips include white water rafting, biking on Cape Cod, hiking in the Blue Hills, high adventure trips to destinations such as Canada, Florida and New Mexico.

… F-f-f-f-full newspaper story and pictures here!

Scout Projects Save Town Money

Marty Fitzgerald — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:05:28 +0000

SUDBURY - Sudbury’s three Boy Scout troops have long contributed to local charitable efforts, but lately a bumper crop of Eagle Scouts are providing labor and materials for dozens of improvements that save taxpayer’s dollars.

“These projects make the kids feel they are part of the town, and makes the town realize that our kids our wonderful people,” said Linda Hawes, chairman of the Historic Districts Commission. “The town really needs people to donate their time because the town can’t afford to pay for all the things that need to get done.”

About 12 percent of Sudbury Scouts – about triple the national average - earn the Eagle, the highest achievement in Scouting. The requirement for the award includes a substantial project that must be of benefit to the community.

… Full newspaper story and pictures here!

Five members of Troop 61 Earn Eagle Badge

Marty Fitzgerald — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:03:24 +0000

SUDBURY - Baseball superstar Hank Aaron, film director and producer Steven Spielberg and former President Gerald Ford were all Eagle Scouts. And now Sudbury can add Matt DeLaney, Alex Muri, Patrick Ryan, Greg Voyta and Stephen Weiss to the list.

“It’s not totally rare to have five Scouts honored with the badge but it’s the first time we’ve had five Eagle Scouts at once in Troop 61,” said Alan J. Williams, a member of the executive board of the Knox Trail Council and the Troop Committee.

… Full newspaper story and pictures here!

Go Take a Dive

Marty Fitzgerald — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:53:24 +0000

SUDBURY - Members of Troop 61 recently took diving lessons at Atkinson Pool. Shown here, left to right, are Josh Cinicola, Capt. James Sullivan, instructor and owner of Boston Diving Club and Jack Mannherz.

… Shown where? Click here to find out!

Scouts Prepare for Food Drive

Marty Fitzgerald — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:50:59 +0000

SUDBURY - Boy Scout Troop 61 and Cub Scout Packs 80 and 61 hopes to fill up the Sudbury Food Pantry at Our Lady of Fatima Church during their upcoming food collection drive.

On Saturday, Nov. 3, scouts from middle, elementary, and high schools plan to drop off bags to their friends and neighbors.

…Read the full newspaper report!