Scouting for Families

While many struggled to stay active and in the outdoors throughout and after the COVID-related shutdowns and sheltering orders, Troop 82 has managed to thrive and grow. We continue to find ways to meet Scouts' needs with creativity and Scout Spirit.

As Alaskans, camping is an integral part of Troop 82's annual program plan. Each year the youth leaders of Troop 82 plan outings, generally including one per month year-round. We take pride in helping Scouts learn confidence to safely and cheerfully camp in conditions other folks might find intimidating, like ski-in campouts in sub-zero temperatures. In the past, the kids of planned and ecstaticly executed campouts including multi-day river floats in canoes, climbing, biking, hiking, sea kayaking, backpacking, overnight lock-ins, and more.

As a supplement to monthly Troop activities, the Troop also participates in quarterly Council-planned activities including Camporees, Freeze-o-rees, and more. And most years we attend a week-long resident summer camp. We try to travel out-of-Council (usually that means out of Alaska) for summer camp every other year, using Troop-raised funds to bring kids on adventures they might otherwise miss. Previous out-of-Council summer camp adventures have been at Midnight Sun Council camp near Fairbanks; Camp Wente in Northern California; Camp Parsons in Washington; and the Florida Sea Base for snorkling and ocean canoeing.

Troop 82 is proud to be youth led. That means that the Scouts, with the assistance and support of adults, plan and execute our program. We feel this is a critical part of meeting our mission to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. In short, we build great humans and great leaders by allowing them to be human and to lead. This can take a bit of bravery from a Scout's adults, but we work very hard to ensure Troop 82 is a safe place for Scouts to try, regardless of outcome.