Boy
Scout Troop 461
Boy
Scout Troop 461
Troop 461 traces its heritage back to 1936 and the formation of Troop 2 of Souderton, Pennsylvania, at a time when scout troops were numbered by communities, rather than by councils. Throughout most of its existence, Troop 461 has been sponsored by the Zion Mennonite Church of Souderton, Pennsylvania.
Current Troop 461 has been in continuous existence since 1956 when Harold L. Frederick, Jr., reorganised Troop 2 for the Zion Mennonite Church. Like all scout troops, Troop 461 has seen its membership grow to a high of 85 scouts in the 1970s and dwindle to a low of 12 scouts in the mid-1980s. Currently, the troop has approximately 13 Scouts registered.
In the 1970s, the Boy Scouts went from community
strips, which identified scout troops by the communities in which they were organised, to
council shoulder patches, wherein all scout troops, cub packs, and explorer posts, would
wear the shoulder patch of the council to which they belong. Troop 461 is proud of
its community involvement and heritage and continues to wear the red and white
"Souderton PA" community strip as opposed to the now officially favoured council shoulder
patch. 
The troop is not alone in its retention
of the original community strips as scout troops and cub packs in Franconia, Telford,
Hatfield, Lansdale, North Wales and Royersford have likewise retained their community strips. The
importance of the community strip to Troop 461 was heightened in 1996 when the Cradle of
Liberty County was formed when Valley Forge Council merged with Philadelphia Council, and
now the new Cradle of Liberty Council had two Troop 461s, ours and one in
Philadelphia. There have been a number of occasions when Council officials have
mixed up the two Troop 461s.
Summer camp is the highlight of the Boy Scout year. It is during these extended times at scout camp that the boys have the greatest opportunity to experience Scouting at its best and to take advantage of the various advancement opportunities that an organised scout camp presents. Troop 461 has offered its members the opportunity to experience this Scouting experience every year since 1956. The pages set forth below give a history of Troop 461's summer encampments since 1956. These pages include troop summer camp photographs and may take some time to load. Please be patient!!
1950s - Starting out.
1960s - We are in need of group photos from '61, '63 & '69!!
1970s - We are in need of group photos from '70 through '73, '75 and 77 thru 79!!
1980s - We are in need of group photos from '80 through '86 & '88 & 89!!
1990s - We are in need of group photos from '91, '94, 95 & '97!!
2000s - We are in need of a group photo from 2000!!
2010s - Going great so far!
Troop 461 International Adventures
One of the hallmarks of Troop 461 since its reorganisation in 1956 has been the troop's international scouting theme. The Scouting program is worldwide embracing 216 countries and having a worldwide membership of more than 25 million adults and youths. Since 1959, Troop 461 has travelled out of country for summer camps, attended international jamborees, jamborettes and camps overseas as well as hosted scouts and scout leaders from around the world! As time permits, we hope to include photos and narratives of some of the troop's international outings and plans for further overseas scout adventures.
1966 - Patrol Sized Group to 10th Scottish Jamborette, Blair Atoll, Scotland
1968 - Troop Sized Group to Denmark, Norway, Sweden & Switzerland
1970 - Patrol Sized Group to Austria, Germany, the Netherlands & Switzerland
1973 - Patrol Sized Group to Norway
1975 - Patrol Sized Group to England and Central Europe
1977 - Troop Sized Group to England (Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee)
1979 - Patrol Sized Group to the Netherlands and Switzerland
1982 - Patrol Sized Group to Finland
1988 - Patrol Sized Group to Belgium, Germany and Switzerland
1990 - Adult Group to Finland
2000 - Patrol Sized Group to Austria (Vienna 2000)
2003 - Patrol Sized Group to Austria, Lichtenstein & Switzerland
2009 - Patrol Sized Group to Great Britain (Tentative)