Intro
Troop, Crew, Ship and Pack 179 are all sponsored by Saint John The Apostle Catholic Church in Virginia Beach, VA. All three units meet in the cafeteria or library of the church's parochial school. All boys are welcome - you do not have to be a member of the church in order to join. In addition, girls that are at least 14 years old may join the Crew. Our "draw" is primarily the southeastern section of Virginia Beach. Troop 179 meets on Thursdays and the Pack meets there every 3rd Monday of the month with Den meetings the other weeks of the month. The Crew meets on Sundays. Everyone is encouraged to participate in our many fun-filled activities. We are part of Chowanoc District, Tidewater Council, BSA.
Our Mission
Our mission is develop youths morally, spiritually, and physically with strong adult role models, physical, mental, and social activities while also developing their character and citizenship. These goals are even broader than the BSA core missions of developing citizenship, character/morals, and physical/mental/emotional fitness.Remember: 70-80% of Boy Scouts were Webelos and there is a 300% better chance of retaining a scout if they attend summer camp their first year! So, start 'em early and camp!
Lord Robert Baden-Powell
Baden-Powell was the founder of scouting. The following paragraphs were quoted in the book The Last Of The Chiefs by Eileen K. Wade, his secretary of 27 years, of whom it is said knew BP better than he knew himself. The paraphrased one-sentence comment at the end is from Phil McGinnis, our Scoutmaster.
Where is there a boy, even in these materialistic times, to whom the call of the wild and the open road does not appeal? Maybe it is the primitive instinct, anyway it is there. With that key a great door may be unlocked, if it is only to admit fresh air and sunshine into the lives that were otherwise grey.
The heroes of the wild, the frontiersmen and explorers, the rovers of the seas, the airman of the clouds, and pied piper to the boys. Where they lead the boys will follow and these will dance to their tune when it sings the song of manliness and pluck; of adventure and high endeavours of efficiency and skill, of cheerful sacrifice of self for others. There's meat in this for a boy; there's soul in it.
Watch that lad going down a street; his eyes are looking far out. Is his vision across the prairie or over the grey-backed seas? At any rate it isn't here...
Through Scouting the boy has the chance to deck himself in frontier kit as one of the great brotherhood of backwoodsmen. He can track and follow sign; he can signal, he can light his fire and build his shack and cook his grub. He can turn his hand to many things in pioneering and camp-craft.
His unit is a band of six, commanded by their own boy leader. Here's the natural gang of the boy whether for good or for mischief. Here's responsibility and self-discipline for the individual. Here's esprit de corps for the honour of the patrol as strong as any house spirit in a public school.
(comment by Phil McGinnis) What Baden-Powell is essentially saying is that boys naturally form into gangs and play games and that all we have to do is direct the game.
TIDEWATER COUNCIL SERVICE CENTER
1032 Heatherwood Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Ph: 757-497-2688
Fax: 757-473-3305
email
Council Web Site
FOLLOW THE RUGGED ROAD!
(that's an old Scouting slogan from the mid 1960s)...
Page maintained by Randy Lee Everette, Eagle Scout, Jan. 1974, Troop 1140, Springfield, Virginia, who gratefully thanks all those who helped him on the way to Eagle and asks those who are able to help those Eagles-to-be.
My scouting history: Pack 54, Goldsboro, NC; Troop 54, Goldsboro, NC; Troop 18, Camp New Amsterdam, Netherlands; Troop 54, Goldsboro, NC; Troop 1140, Springfield, VA; several Troops and then my son's Pack & Troop as an adult -- Pack & Troop 179 of Virginia Beach, VA.
Page created Jul 2001. Last Updated: June 25, 2009 9:14 PM
