Southern Berks Scouts mark merger of troops at service
Daniel Boone Boy Scout Troop 595 celebrated a special Scout Sunday at a Douglassville church.
Such events are an early-February staple for Boy Scout troops, but organizers said this one was a special occasion.
Sunday’s gathering at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church marked the merger of Troop and Pack 595 of Birdsboro with Troop and Pack 521 of Douglassville. Troop 595 will be chartered by St. Gabriel’s and Pack 595 will remain chartered by St. Mark’s Lutheran Church as it has since it founding in 1942. The pack is the second oldest in the Hawk Mountain Council.
“The congregation is excited to begin this new chapter with Troop 595 and the communities we serve,” said the Rev. Andrew VanBuren of St. Gabriel’s. “We look forward to many years of cooperation in this relationship and can’t wait to see what the future brings.”
Troop leaders said the move was made in response to reduced membership due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last fall the leaders of the troops began discussing a partnership to strengthen Scouting in southern Berks County. While based in Birdsboro and Douglassville, the troop includes families from Bally and Boyertown along with Amity, Exeter and Union townships.
The troops started meeting together in December, and the merger becomes official on April 1.
Contact Scoutmaster Kurt Freer at danielboonetroop595@gmail.com or visit the Daniel Boone Troop 595 Facebook page for more information.
Further information on Scouting is available by visiting BeAScout.org or contacting Hawk Mountain Council at 610-926-3406.