Troop Traditions

It's pretty common for a troop to establish its own unique traditions over the years. Over the last 60 years, we've established a few.

If I missed any, please let me know!

Parish and Community Service

We regularly operate water aid stations for the Rocket City Marathon, Cotton Row Run, and David McKinnon Memorial 5K. We have supported the marathon every year since at least 1985, when it was cold enough for the water to freeze inside the cups as we were passing out water.

We regularly serve the parish at Holy Spirit, as well, through Eagle Scout projects, campus cleanup days, and special projects that are assigned to us.

For many years, Scouts and adults from Troop 361 would build and tend to the fire for the Service of Light and Easter Vigil Mass. This tradition was lost during Covid, but we have recently resumed this annual service.

Finally, our annual Scouting for Food project is one of the most successful in our area during recent years. Since 2017, in cooperation with Pack 361, we have collected food and cash donations equivalent to more than 20,000 pounds of food for the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry at Holy Spirit.

Summer Camp

Like many troops, we attend a long-term resident camp every year. Most years, we travel out of council. Common destinations include Camp Daniel Boone (Canton, NC), Camp Buck Toms (Rockwood, TN), Skymont (Altamont, TN), and Boxwell (Lebanon, TN).

High Adventure

Since at least the mid-1990s, our troop has had a strong tradition for high adventure. We have completed multiple treks at Philmont, Northern Tier, and Sea Base. We have guided several of our own treks along various parts of the Appalachian Trail.

When the Covid-19 pandemic officially closed Northern Tier in 2020, the crew decided to work with independent outfitters in the area to plan their own trek!

In 2026, we will visit Summit Bechtel Reserve as a troop for the first time.

"Special Event" Outings

Every year, we have an "Iron Chef" outing to show off our cooking skills and inspire some friendly patrol competition. We also hold an annual lock-in event in December to clean out the Scout garage, clean up the Scout closet, attend Mass together, and spend the evening playing video games, board games, and more.

Since 2021, we've had an annual "Back to Basics" outing, usually in March, to help our newly-bridged Scouts quickly earn their Totin' Chip and Firem'n Chit, learn some knots and lashings, and practice camping as a patrol.

Every few years, since at least the mid-1990s, we have also organized a troop ski trip. Early trips visited Paoli Peaks in Indiana. More recently, we have visitied Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain, and Appalachain Ski Mountain, all in North Carolina.

Religious Emblems

Since our founding in 1966, nearly 100 Scouts have earned Catholic youth religious emblems (Ad Altare Dei, Pope Pius XII), while nearly a dozen adults have been selected to receive adult religious emblems (Bronze Pelican, St. George Emblem).

Many others have earned religious awards according to their own faith.

As a troop, we earned the Pope Saint Paul VI National Catholic Unit Excellence Award every year from 1993 through 2017, spanning nearly a quarter century.

Order of the Arrow

The Order of the Arrow is known as Scouting's National Honor Society, and we have had many Scouts and adults inducted over the years. Many of them have gone on to serve in a variety of roles at the chapter and lodge levels. Several have also been recognized with the Vigil Honor.

Vigil Honor Recipients from Troop 361

Alertness to the needs of others is the mark of the Vigil Honor. It calls for an individual with an unusual awareness of the possibilities within each situation.

The Vigil Honor is the highest honor that the Order of the Arrow can bestow upon its members for service to lodge, council, and Scouting. Membership cannot be won by a person's conscious endeavors.

This list is probably incomplete. If you If you have any verifiable data to help us improve it, please let us know!

• 1984 - Ed Dravecky III
• 1985 - Myron Cole
• 1988 - Ed Dravecky, Jr.
• 1999 - Chris Brightwell (Prior to joining Troop 361)

District and Council Service

We have a long history of service at the distrct and council levels. This is most obviously seen in the history of members from Troop 361 who have received the District Award of Merit and/or the Silver Beaver Award.

District Award of Merit Recipients from Troop 361

The District Award of Merit is a council award presented by districts in the same manner that the Silver Beaver is a national award presented by councils. The award is available to Scouters who render service of an outstanding nature at the district level.

This list is probably incomplete. If you If you have any verifiable data to help us improve it, please let us know!

• 1979 - Myron Cole; Ed Dravecky, Jr.
• 1979 - Bob Webber
• 1980 - Bill Riehl
• 1984 - Eve Dravecky
• 1986 - Kerry Scifert
• 1988 - Harold Eskew
• 1997 - Ava Joly
• 1998 - Steve Chapman
• 2002 - Bill Oliver
• 2003 - Enitza Gillespie
• 2020 - Chris Brightwell
• 2022 - Lora King

Silver Beaver Recipients from Troop 361

The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award. Recipients of the award are registered adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council.

Those deemed worthy of the award by their local council must be approved by the National Court of Honor. Upon their approval, recipients are presented with a silver beaver pendant suspended from a blue and white ribbon, as well as the corresponding square knot.

This list is probably incomplete. If you If you have any verifiable data to help us improve it, please let us know!

• 1993 - Bob Webber
• 2001 - Steve Chapman
• 2014 - Chris Brightwell (Prior to joining Troop 361)