Philmont Scout Ranch, the Boy Scouts of America's premier High Adventure™ base, challenges Scouts and Venturers with more than 214 square miles of rugged northern New Mexico wilderness. Backpacking treks, horseback cavalcades, and training and service programs offer young people many ways to experience this legendary country.

The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base is a unique Scouting program that offers aquatics programs found nowhere else. Whether your interests lie in sailing, scuba diving, rustic camping on an undeveloped barrier island, fishing or a combination of all, this is the place for your Troop, Team, Crew, Sea Ship or Explorer Post.

United States Naval Academy’s and West Point’s Scout Days are annual events that traditionally takes place during a home football game. The events have welcomed over 7,000 scouts (boys and girls) and family members in the years past. Troop 117 attended Scout Day at both Service Academies.

2020 Summer Camp at James C. Justice Summer Camp at The Summit Bechtel Reserve

West Virginia

About Troop 117

For over 100 years, Scouting has relied upon proven values and principles to help boys flourish into young men. For over 50 years, Troop 117 has provided a program that balances challenge, safety, and fun.

Troop 117 was founded February 12th, 1958 and is located in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The Troop serves boys ages 10 through 17 from the Whitpain, Plymouth Meeting, Whitemarsh, and Conshohocken areas. We meet on Thursday nights at 7:00 PM at UCFW Union Hall, Building A, 3031 Walton Road, Plymouth Meeting from Labor Day to Memorial Day. During the summer, the Troops meets outside behind Grady Hall at Holy Rosary Regional School. The school is located at Epiphany Of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church at the corner of Walton and Township Line Roads.

Every year after new Scouts join the Troop, generally, Webelos, a “New Boy Patrol" is formed to create an environment for the new scouts to learn scoutcraft skills, leadership, and teamwork, before having the option to transfer to existing scout patrols.

The Varsity crew consists of older scouts who are participating in High Adventure activities while typically continuing to serve in troop leadership positions.

To join the Boy Scouts, a boy should either be 11 years old or have completed the Arrow of Light and be 10 years old. New scouts usually join in the Spring which allows them time to participate in the weekend camping program before their first long term summer camping experience.

The Troop usually has two long term camping experiences every summer and 7 to 9 weekend camping trips through the course of the year.

Adventure!

Troop 117 has earned its reputation as ‘The Camping Troop!’

Camping provides our Scouts the opportunity to face challenges as a team, to learn all they are capable of doing, and to come home excited for more.

Our camping program is the centerpiece of what we do:

Outdoor Skills Development

Practical Event Planning

Menu Building & Cooking

Nature Appreciation & Preservation

Many Scouts in Troop 117 log over 100 nights of camping at a variety of fun venues:

Monthly Weekend Camping Trips

Annual Week-long Summer Camp

Philmont High Adventure Backpacking (New Mexico)

Seabase High Adventure Sailing (Florida)

National & World Jamborees

Advancement!

110 Scouts from Troop 117 have earned the coveted rank of Eagle Scout including 24 new Eagles in past five years – well above the national average.

Ranks are earned by demonstrating skill proficiency, participating in public service events, acquiring leadership experience, and earning Merit Badges.

Merit Badges introduce Scouts to a wide variety of topics.

Our goal is to help our new Scouts earn the rank of First Class by the end of their first year.

Scouts are recognized for their achievements at our semiannual ‘Court of Honor’ ceremonies.

Safety!

All Troop activities are conducted under the supervision of

At least two trained adult leaders.

Troop 117’s Scoutmaster and 16 Assistant Scoutmasters have all undergone the Youth Protection training required by Boy Scouts of America. Each of these volunteers offers their own personal and professional talents, skills, and experiences. The Troop’s Adult Leaders bring hundreds of years of Scouting experience to our Scouts.

Parents are always welcome to participate in Troop activities.

Troop 117 welcomes all Scouts.

We take pride in the academic and athletic prowess of some of our Scouts. We are also proud of the Troop’s welcoming environment for boys of all ability levels and interests and religious backgrounds.

Leadership!

Youth leaders of today are our society’s leaders of tomorrow.

Imagine your son leading his peers on camping trips, long hikes, and competitions.

Troop 117 provides Scouts with true leadership opportunities not found in other youth programs.

Patrol Method

The Troop is organized into units of 8-10 Scouts called a ‘Patrol.’ Working as a team, patrols plan, camp, cook, eat, compete, and have fun – together.

Each patrol elects one of its members to serve as Patrol Leader (PL) for a 6-month term. The PL teaches classes, encourages patrol members, and assigns work.

Collectively, the Troop members elect a Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) to organize and direct the activities of the many patrols. SPL is the highest youth leadership position in the troop. Outside of Scouting, very few young men have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills the way being SPL does

Troop 117 Eagle Honor Roll by Decade

1970's - 8 Scouts 1980's - 9 Scouts

1990's - 18 Scouts

2000's - 30 Scouts

2010's - 29 Scouts (and counting)

Values!

The Scout Oath and Scout Law provide the foundation for Troop 117. We begin every meeting by reciting them, along with the Pledge of Allegiance. We end every meeting with a moment of non-denominational prayer.

What we've done!