Chartered out of Central Presbyterian Church in Downingtown, PA since 1965, Troop 23 has been actively sharing and engaging area youth in Scouting!
Troop 23 helps guide boys and girls ages 11 to 18 in the Downingtown/Coatesville area along their trail to Eagle Scout. With 5 decades (and counting) of Scouting tradition, Troop 23 has provided boys, and now girls, the tools needed to advance in one of the greatest youth organizations in the world!
Many recognize Scouting for the camping, badges and uniform but there is so much more to the program! The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is 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. "Scouting" started as a means to provide soldiers the tools that they needed to survive in battle conditions when their supply lines were cut off. Sir Robert Baden Powell, a British military officer, wrote a military field manual detailing skills and techniques to survive and create shelters. Youth at the time got their hands on the manual and started doing it themselves. After hearing of the effect of his manual, Baden Powell wrote the first Scouting for Boys handbook in 1908. Since 1908, the Scouting organization has spanned the globe with the founding of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910.
In 1965, Central Presbyterian Church (CPC) in Downingtown first Chartered with the Boy Scouts of America forming Troop 23. Troop 23 has been the home for Scouting for many boys since then. Some starting as Cub Scouts in Pack 23 in elementary school to those that found Scouting later as teens, Troop 23 has provided the opportunity for many to discover and thrive in time spent outdoors learning "Scouting Skills" such as knots, fire-building, cooking, hiking, planning and leadership.
Scouting skills are not gender specific, so in 2019, the Boy Scouts of America re-branded themselves to Scouts BSA allowing the formation of girl specific troops. Seeing the need for girl troops in the area, CPC and Troop 23 chartered Troop 23G.
Scouts BSA and Troop 23, with it's carefully vetted, trained adult leaders helps area youth learn, practice and perfect their leadership skills in a supportive atmosphere. The goal of Scouting is often seen as earning the rank of Eagle Scout, of which Troop 23 has many. However, since it's very inception, Scouting goal was to provide people the skills needed to survive. Through outdoor experiences and leadership opportunities, Scouting teaches self-reliance and life skills.
By living by the Scout Oath...
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my Country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
and Scout Law...
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
For more information please contact Mr. Andrew Powell, Scoutmaster of Troop 23B or Mrs. Carolyn Kottmeyer, Scoutmaster of Troop 23G.