Community Journal: Many join Scout's 50th anniversary celebration Community Journal: Many join Scout's 50th anniversary celebration (October 19, 2005)

By Phil McHale Assistant Scoutmaster

Local dignitaries, friends, families and current and former scouts and leaders from Boy Scout Troop 206 met at Trinity Church in Menlo Park on August 27 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the troop.

Troop 206 serves the communities of Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, Redwood City and San Carlos.

Atherton Mayor Bill Conwell and Menlo Park Mayor Mickie Winkler delivered proclamations and recognized the troop for its proud history of youth development, community service and outdoor adventure -- all grounded in the timeless values of the Boy Scout oath and law.

Jan Partin, Redwood District executive with the Pacific Skyline Council of the Boy Scouts of America, added the council's best wishes.

Troop 206 was founded in 1954-55 by a group of enthusiastic dads, and continues in the same way today -- with the addition of a good number of enthusiastic moms.

A strong guiding principle throughout its history is that it is a "boy-led" troop. The scouts are organized in patrols and they plan and execute the program, set priorities and choose activities, with adult leaders and committee members on hand to guide, advise, mentor and support.

The troop's history was remembered and re-lived through a series of entertaining presentations by former and current scouts and leaders from the troop who recalled what scouting was like through the past five decades: 1950s-60s, Frank Merrill Jr. and Bill Ashworth; 1970s-80s, Rich Collyer and Warren Storkman; and 1990s-2000s, Phil McHale, Ryan Braunstein, Roger Hardy and Peter Von Der Porten.

The speakers described memorable, famous (and infamous) episodes from the troop's history. Many of the adventures -- especially those involving rampant bears, errant skunks, large campfires, camp food (both good and bad) and cross-country trekking in the back-country, etc. -- happened during the troop's many outdoor activities.

A strong, year-round program of backpacking, camping and high adventure (such as whitewater rafting and canoeing, rock climbing and caving) is the bedrock of Troop 206 activities, where scouting skills are developed and put into practice.

Troop 206 also delivers more than 100 hours of community service each year through the Scouting for Food program, which collects for local food banks, and service projects for local organizations, churches, schools and parks.

Another pillar of the scouting program is youth development, with the highest award being Eagle Scout. Some 150 scouts from Troop 206 have achieved this rank. Several Troop 206 Eagle Scouts were present, including Frank Merrill Jr., the troop's first Eagle Scout.

Several former Troop 206 scoutmasters were on hand, including George Treat, the troop's second scoutmaster, and Warren Storkman, who established the troop's tradition of week-long backpacking treks in the Sierra, and more strenuous 50-milers for the older scouts.

The celebration concluded with an informal reception. Scouts, friends and families -- old and new -- swapped stories and looked over a collection of memorabilia, photos and slides.
INFORMATION

Troop 206 meets at 7:30 p.m. on Monday nights at Sacred Heart Prep School. The next meeting will be September 12. For more information, go to http://www.best.com/~bsat206/index.html.
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