Troop 3 is a proud member of the Youth Ministry of Northwest Hills United Methodist Church – our sponsoring organization. Be sure to check out the main NWHUMC web site: http://nwhillsumc.org/ Troop 3 meets every Monday night (except for Mondays following campouts, which are sometimes reserved for Troop parent/adult meetings) from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Youth Center of Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, located on Hart Lane directly across from Murchison Middle School. Meetings cover many diverse topics. Meetings focus on various rank advancements, merit badge requirements and skills necessary for upcoming campouts, such as canoeing, rock climbing, fishing, backpacking, etc. Depending upon the meeting topic, the meeting may be presented by one of the Scouts, a Scoutmaster, a parent with special knowledge, or by an expert in a specific area. The types of campouts (e.g. shooting, kayaking, backpacking) are determined by the scouts in an annual meeting / survey. With this input, campouts are planned and scheduled. The Troop attends a traditional summer Scout camp every other year. During the off years, the Troop will plan and execute a high adventure trek such as canoeing the Current River in Missouri or mountain camping and white water rafting in Colorado. If you are interested in joining our troop, please see the "New Scout Info" link on the left for more information and the process.
TROOP HISTORY By: Michael Eddins and David W. Stroud It is 1915 - Albert Einstein first publishes his "General Theory of Relativity". Tensions run high as the world plunges headlong into World War I. In Austin, Texas, a group of boys approach a young law student named J. Harris Gardner. They want to start a Boy Scout troop and they need him to sign the papers saying that he will be their Scoutmaster. Scouting was in its earliest years, having only been introduced to the United States five years earlier. In the early days, you applied for a Scoutmaster Commission to start a troop. It cost $3.00 to do this. J. Harris Gardner would go on to become a state District Judge and the first Travis County juvenile court judge. Judge Gardner was fond of stating, "I did not organize the troop, the troop organized itself around me." This is the beginning of Troop 3, founded in Austin at the University of Texas in 1915. Very shortly after the troop was founded, it moved across the street to University Methodist Church. In 1972, enrollment in Troop 3 was down to 4 to 6 boys. At this time, Scoutmaster Bill Ward approached Jack Eddins about taking over the Troop and moving it to an institution that could attract more members. Mr. Eddins agreed and moved Troop 3 to its present home, Northwest Hills United Methodist Church. Troop 3 has been continuously chartered since 1915, thanks in no small part to a dedicated group of men willing to lead young men. Troop 3 Scoutmasters include:
These Scoutmasters have successfully guided the troop over the years with the help of numerous Assistant Scoutmasters, Troop Committee Members, and parents. Troop 3 has a very long and proud Scouting heritage. With a philosophy that the best delivery of the Scouting Promise is with a strong outdoor program, Troop 3 remains very active for a centenarian (104 years and counting) and offers an outstanding youth program. Monthly campouts punctuated by high adventure summer outings and long-term summer Scout camps give boys a chance to experience the outdoors and challenge themselves. Troop 3 has backpacked rim-to-rim-to-rim in the Grand Canyon, backpacked 50 miles on Arkansas’ Ozark Highlands Trail, and hosted its own summer camp twice in Texas and three times in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. In June 2001 Troop 3 completed an 86-mile canoe trek on the Current River in Missouri. In June 2003, Troop 3 conducted its third summer camp in Colorado – activities included white water rafting, horseback riding, and hiking in the mountains. In June, 2006 Troop 3 revisited the Current River in Missouri for another 86-mile canoe trek. In June 2008, we visited the mountains of New Mexico for another high altitude high adventure.
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