Empowering boys to be leaders is the core of Scouting. Scouts learn by doing, and what they do is lead their patrols and their troop. The boys themselves develop a troop program, then take responsibility for figuring out how they will achieve the goals. Leaders provide direction, coaching and support. The boys will make mistakes now and then and will rely upon the adult leaders to guide them. But only through real hands-on experience as leaders can boys learn to lead.

Alex Sztajerwald- Senior Patrol Leader

Chase Donovan - Asst. Senior Patrol Leader

Dragon Patrol

Zak McCoy - Patrol Leader

Matthew Leo - Asst. Patrol Leader

Cobra Patrol

Logan Usinowicz - Patrol Leader

TBD - Asst. Patrol Leader

Other Positions

Andrew Budzyn - Librarian

Matthew Leo - Scribe

Noah McNichol - Webmaster

Milo McCoy - Historian

Zak McCoy & Jacob Taylor - Chaplain Aides

David Hargrave, Max Sztajerwald, Reese Ramsey, John Kostiou, Caleb Martins - Quartermaster

Bart Sztajerwald

Immediate Past Scoutmaster

Gordon Donovan

Committee Chairman

Jim Dougherty

Assistant Scoutmasters

Rick Cherubino, Gordon Donovan, Paul Dudak, Chris Leo and Zaka McCoy

Mondays - 7:00 - 8:30 pm

(during the regular school year)

110 Butterworths Bogs Rd, Tabernacle, NJ 08088

42 Eagle Scouts and counting

Philmont, Sea Base and Northern Tier

Troop 47 commenced operations on April 1, 1977 upon the issuance of a charter to the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company. The Fire Company continues to be the Chartered Organization for our Troop and we are thankful for their support. It is noteworthy that some of our Scouts have joined the Fire Company or the Shamong EMS Squad.

In the early years our Troop meetings were held in the barn of one of the adult leaders. Meetings were also held in the “old fire house” or the building that is currently used by the Shamong Township EMS. We subsequently relocated to the gym at the Indian Mills School and today our weekly meetings are held in the cafeteria of the Indian Mills Memorial School. Monday evening was selected as the Troop meeting night and that continues to this day with meetings held each Monday evening during the regular school year. Occasionally, meetings are held in the summer months, but not very frequently.

A number of years ago, we commenced an activity to start our Scout year. This is the annual Scout vs. leader/parent softball game. Siblings are also invited to participate. This was so much fun that we now start and end our Scout year with a ball game, followed by a pizza party.

Camping has always been a significant part of our history. Even in the early days, the leadership tried to accommodate the Scouts with a monthly outdoor activity. In the early years, we traveled to Camp Lenape in Medford. This property was subsequently sold by our Council and now our monthly trips include visits to Scout camps in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and of course, New Jersey. Although they are too numerous to list, some of our highlights include trips to Gettysburg, hiking part of the Appalachian Trail, exploring caves, fishing trips, visiting Annapolis, rock face climbing at Ralph Stover State Park and wall climbing at Vertical Reality. We also have visited Camp Rodney in Maryland many times in the winter for a weekend of cabin camping. Our activities also include canoe trips and white water rafting experiences. We also participate in many of the Council sponsored “Camp-o-Rees” including the Klondike Derby and events at the Washington Crossing State Park.

In the early history of the Troop, personal gear and Troop equipment was transported in parent cars, trucks etc. We were subsequently given a small trailer to carry supplies. This worked fine, but it pales in comparison to our Troop trailer that was purchased in 2001. We now have all of our camping gear and basic supplies in the trailer. Our current quartermaster has completely reorganized the trailer so that there is a place for everything and everything has its’ place. Just as a point of interest, the trailer that was donated to our Troop was given to another Boy Scout Troop.

Summer camp has always been an activity that has assisted in the development of our Scouts. After Camp Lenape was sold, as a Troop we were forced to find other camping facilities. This has taken us to numerous other Scout camps. We have visited many sites in Pennsylvania including Treasure Island, Camp Minsi, Resica Falls, Trexler or Settlers Camp, Camp Ockanickon, Hawk Mountain and Camp Hart. On one occasion, the Troop also planned a 50 mile canoe trip on the Delaware river, from the Delaware Water Gap to Treasure Island where the Scouts stayed for an additional week.

Troop 47 has traveled to Cayuga Lake near Ithaca, New York to Camp Barton, Camp Sabbatis in the Adirondacks, Baiting Hollow on Long Island and Camp Henson and Camp Rodney in Maryland. One year when the younger Scouts were camped at Sabbatis, the older Scouts backpacked and hiked the High Peaks and canoed on the beautiful Adirondack lakes. On another occasion when the older Scouts were traveling to the Philmont Reservation in New Mexico, the younger Scouts traveled to Harpers Ferry in West Virginia and then to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia for summer camp.