From the boys in the Troop’s perspective, we have FUN! We do a lot of camping and hiking, and within the past few years we have hiked several of the more scenic Alaskan trails, three times took over a deserted island for a water skiing weekend, went to Philmont three times, rode our mountain bikes over the  rugged and remote Resurrection Trail, and drove snow machines up a frozen Alaskan river.  We have also driven Iditirod Dog teams across the arctic wilderness, white water rafted some of Alaska's most awesome rivers, and hiked most of the more rugged trails from here to Kenai.  We do the usual scout stuff too, like spending  a week at summer camp and working on merit badges.  

We have a history of doing great things.  In July and August of 1998, we took a 17 day adventure into the heart of the Yukon, traveling to Skagway, Dyea, over the Chilkoot trail, and then onward to Whitehorse and Dawson City.  Boys' Life Magazine featured our troop in this adventure in August 1999.  That trip was so fantastic that we did it again in 2002, taking a team of 22 into the heart of the Yukon.   We are going to do it again this year, 2007, planning another trek over the Chilkoot Pass.   Three times in the past five years we have sent a team to New Mexico, and in 2003 and 2004 we went on fly-out fishing trips via Beaver floatplane, and have another Beaver trip scheduled for 2007.  In 2004 and 2006 we canoed more than 50 miles of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and also sent another crew on a 1500 mile trip into the Yukon.    Two summers ago we white water rafted the Nenna River, took the train north to the Denali National Park, and hiked the Valley of 10,000 Smokes in the Katmai National Park.    This past summer we canoed more than fifty miles through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, backpacked over Johnson Pass and the Russian River Lakes Trails, and went to Colorado where we white water rafted the Royal George, mountain biked down Pike's Peak, a 14,110ft high mountain, and toured the USAF Academy.   We explored the Philmont Scout Ranch, and when we got back home three days later we went sea kayaking.   Already this year we have taken another nearly 200 mile snow machine trip, and started an exciting Venture Crew for the older and most experienced boys in the troop.   

We don't just read about adventures--we live them.  Four times now we have driven our own snow machines deep into the wilderness, rafted 50 miles of the Gulkana River, hiked Crow Pass, Johnson Pass, and mountain biked Resurrection Pass.   A few years ago we went night vision goggle sledding, took a 90 mile wilderness snow machine expedition, went sea kayaking through Prince William Sound, explored the Six Mile River and enjoyed a Class V whitewater experience.  We have boated with whales, stormed Mt Marathon, and explored the Sea Life Center in Seward.    And of course, we never forget at the heart of what we do is our commitment to others.  Sure, scouting can be hard work, but fun, fun, fun, and those that take on these challenges never forget them.

We are a troop that believes in the ideals of the scouting program, and many of our guys climb through the ranks all the way to Eagle.   When you have an active troop and you are doing things, the guys stay in and advance as they do so.    In the past ten years more than fifty scouts have earned Eagle in our troop, an average of one almost every other month.    Every Eagle is earned, and every Eagle Scout from our troop works very hard to get it.   That said, many of our boys do earn it, which is a direct testament to our program and to the guys in it.   

For the parents, Scouting offers far more than fun times and good memories for your son. I stay involved because it is the best character building experience I know for boys growing up today. We have a great group of adults and boys, and the combination makes for a superb program. Our goals are simple: To build character, to foster citizenship, and to develop fitness. The principles outlined in the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout Motto, and Scout Slogan will serve as anchor points for your son, and as he grows into Scouting those written words will become your son’s guiding principles. They are the gift of Scouting and he will carry them into adulthood.

                                                                                       Sincerely,