BSA Troop 504
North Amherst, MA
Community
An important part of Scouting is Service to Others. This concept of giving back to the Community is something that the Boy Scouts of America feels is important to nurture in young people. This is shown in the Promises and Oaths of Scouts at all Levels and in the Scout Law. There are also Service requirements for rank advancement.
Troop 504 scout p[articipate in a number of community servcice projects on an annual basis. Some of these include:
* Scouting for Food for Amherst Survival Center* Volunteering at Not Bread Alone
* Cleaning church grounds
* Participating in Eagle Projects
Together with Troop 500, we run an annual fundraiser, selling Christmas Trees in downtown Amherst. Every family in both troops participates in this event, usually covering two or three four-hour shifts between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tree sales are a lot of fun, and this is a town tradition going back at least 50 years. The proceeds enable us to pay the dues for every scout, including a subscription to Boys Life magazine, and to pay for all badges earned. They also cover periodic purchases and repairs of camping equipment, and usually one special trip per year, such as whitewater rafting or canoeing in the Adirondacks.
