Scoutmaster's Page

        Dear potential scouts and scouting parents, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Boy Scout Troop 454 in Davidsonville, Maryland chartered by the Davidsonville Ruritan Club.   We exist to serve the boys of the greater Davidsonville and Riva areas by instilling in them ethical values that will prepare them for making good choices throughout their lifetime and enable them to reach their full potential.   Using the Boy Scout Law and Oath as our cornerstone, we accomplish this through an outdoor focused program working toward three aims: 

(1)   Participatory Citizenship,

(2)   Moral strength and character, and

(3)   Development of physical, mental and emotional fitness. 

Some specific features of our troop include:

•  Small, Boy-led Troop.  Planning and conduct of meetings and outings is facilitated by adults, but the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and his Patrol leaders run the show.   The yearly schedule is developed directly from the boys’ input during both a general all-hands planning meeting and follow-on involvement by the Patrol Leaders’ Council.  Meetings and outdoor activities may sometimes seem chaotic, but it really is the only way that the senior boys can learn to lead.  

•  Weekly Meetings.   A typical weekly meeting runs from 7:00 to 8:30 on Wednesday evenings, and includes 1-2 instructional periods, patrol time, and a game/activity.  Instructional periods are often led by senior Scouts and are based on interest from the boys, combined with instruction from adult leaders qualified as merit badge counselors in those areas. 

•  Self-Paced, Facilitated Advancement.   We offer ample opportunities for advancement-related activity, but allow each boy to progress at his own pace. It is up to each boy to show initiative and interest with guidance from the older scouts in his patrol/troop.   We make it a point to ensure that the Troop has merit badge counselors for all Eagle-required badges.

•  Outdoor Program.   We believe in a strong outdoor program.    We plan on a field activity for every month of the year.   Past weekends in the last couple years have included hikes through historic areas; whitewater rafting trips; skiing trips; caving/spelunking trips; canoeing/kayaking trips; biking trips; fishing trips; rifle/shotgun shooting outings; and camping on Naval ships.  

• We attend a Boy Scout full week summer camp each year with recent visits to camps in Pennsylvania (Sinoquipe, Trexler, Minsi) and have a extended trip planned for next summer to bike/camp the entire length of the C&O canal. 

•  Adult Support.   We are fortunate to have a strong Troop Committee and a number of Assistant Scoutmasters with a strong background in outdoor skills and Scouting.   We also have excellent support from the parents of scouts.  

        I hope this gives you a small feel for our troop.  If scouting sounds like a match for you, we look forward to meeting you.  Please contact the webmaster of this site (webmaster@scout454.org) for more information.

Yours in Scouting,

Jay Stefany

Scoutmaster, Troop 454

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updated 02/27/2009
contact the webmaster @ webmaster@scout454.org