News Archives

NEW BERLIN BOY SCOUT TROOP 61 EXCELS AT SUMMER CAMP
Published: September 14th, 2023 (New Berlin Gazette)
The Troop 61 Court of Honor Ceremony on September 13th recognized each scout's summer achievements. Six scouts completed the "Dan Beard Society" program for first-year scouts while earning nine merit badges at summer camp.  Troop 61 was awarded a flagpole ribbon as one of only 4 troops to achieve "Honor Unit" status at camp.  Each scout and adult who helped the troop earn the ribbon also received a monogrammed Swiss pocket knife!! Scouts received patches for serving at the food drive for the New Berlin Food Pantry.  Our honored guests were Paul Straney and Tom Deforest from the Unadilla Valley Railroad Society & Museum (http://uvrs.org/) headquartered on Railroad Street here in New Berlin.  The museum is a prominent stop on the new New Berlin Historical Trail.  On May 6th, the inaugural historical trail hike with 50+ scouts featured a tour and presentation at the museum.  Thank you Paul and Tom for the U.V.R.S. partnership with Troop 61!!!
 
Troop 61 enjoyed Camp Tuscarora's "Shooting Sports" weekend September 15-16.  Liam and Hayden served an exquisite bacon macaroni and cheese dinner Friday evening.  ASM Joanis guided our Totin' Chip safety instruction.  Monti completed the 5-mile "quest" using only map & compass to complete the Second Class rank!  Thank you District Executive Kellie Amlin for the V.I.P. tour of camp with our troop.
 
THIS WEEK is "joining week" complete with a Tuesday, September 19th, 2:30pm school assembly at U.V.C.S., a Tuesday, September 19th, 6:30pm "Open House" at UV for parents to learn more and to register their sons as scouts, and a 6:30pm troop fun night complete with an "Archery Blow-up" on Wednesday, September 20th!!!
 
Troop 61's next campout and service project will be October 6-7 beginning at the train museum from 1-3pm (on UV'S half day).
 

New Berlin Boy Scout Troop 61 is chartered by the Frank H. Arnold American Legion Post #348.  The troop meets weekly, camps in tents monthly, and serves the community regularly throughout the year.  ALL boys, ages 11-17, are welcome to join.  Check out the 2023 calendar of “fun with a purpose” at www.Troop61NewBerlin.com and/or email Scoutmaster Kevin Phillips at kp84@tc.edu

 

BOY SCOUT TROOP 61 SERVES NEW BERLIN

Published: July 1st, 2023 (New Berlin Gazette)
At the June 24th Court of Honor Awards Ceremony, New Berlin Scout Troop 61 was recognized for an extraordinary spring of community service at the Fish & Game Club, Memorial Day Observances, Food Drive for the New Berlin Food Pantry, painting fire hydrants on Earth Day, the Soap Box Derby with PathFinder's "Special Needs" participants, and the Flag Retirement Ceremony with the American Legion.
 
Serving at the NB Fish and Game Club was part of Eagle Scout Deegan's final requirement for "Quartermaster" - the highest rank in Sea Scouting.  Deegan is currently attending college in Binghamton and is a member of the Sea Scout Ship in Ithaca.  Only 3-4% complete the Scouting's highest rank of Eagle Scout.  Completing both Eagle Scout and Sea Scouting's Quartermaster rank is extremely rare.  Congratulations Deegan and thank you for the slide show at our May 24th meeting!
 
Troop 61 was privileged to honor our veterans by joining the New Berlin Parade and by leading the Pledge of Allegiance on Memorial Day.
 
Thank you residents of the village for donating cans and dry goods for the Food Pantry.  Even though the Food Bank in Norwich has reduced the Pantry's cost for buying food, the New Berlin Food Pantry is serving over twice as many families than they did a year ago.
 
The Annual Soap Box Derby on Moss Street has become a favorite activity for PathFinders Village.  Each year their attendance has doubled so that 18 attended this year on June 14th.
 
On July 14th, the troop joined the American Legion in the sacred ceremony for retiring American flags that have completed their service.  American flags are burned when they have become too worn to represent the liberties that so many have given so much for in defending the USA.
 
Since the May Court of Honor Awards Ceremony, three scouts completed and received their next rank.  Congratulations Monti-Tenderfoot, Blake-Scout Badge and Shawn-Scout Badge.
 
Thank you NBYC (https://www.nbyouthcenter.org/) for hosting Troop 61's year-end picnic and awards on June 24th and our Chenango District "Merit Badge Saturdays" this summer.  Thank you Dr. Lisa Johnson DVM for leading both the Pets and Dog Care merit badge classes on June 24th.  Summer time is a great time for our scouts to complete these requirements!!!
 

New Berlin Boy Scout Troop 61 is chartered by the Frank H. Arnold American Legion Post #348.  The troop meets weekly, camps in tents monthly, and serves the community regularly throughout the year.  ALL boys, ages 11-17, are welcome to join.  Check out the 2023 calendar of “fun with a purpose” at www.Troop61NewBerlin.com and/or email Scoutmaster Kevin Phillips at kp84@tc.edu

 

NEW BERLIN SCOUTS WIN FIRST PLACE

Published: May 19th, 2023 (Evening Sun and New Berlin Gazette)

NEW BERLIN — On Sunday, May 7 New Berlin's Boy Scout Troop 61 was awarded first place at the 2023 Millbrook Invitational Encampment. The New Berlin troop has hosted this annual weekend event since 2019 but has never won first place until now.

Scoring was based on a blend of scout skills, teamwork, and campsite cleanliness. The May 5-7, 2023 event attracted 52 scouts and scouters from Baden-Powell, Longhouse, and Leatherstocking councils. Saturday afternoon included the new New Berlin Historical Trail with tours of both the Unadilla Valley Train Museum and the New Berlin Library and Museum.

On May 10, Troop 61 welcomed eight new scouts with the Candlelight Induction Ceremony during the Court of Honor Awards. Congratulations to Audin, Daniel, Hayden, and Liam D., who also received the first rank - the Scout Badge.

The April 21-22 campout included Troop 61's participation in New Berlin's Earth Day events by painting fire hydrants.

New Berlin Boy Scout Troop 61 meets weekly, tent camps monthly, and is chartered by the Frank H. Arnold American Legion Post #348. All boys, ages 11-17, are welcome to check out the "fun with a purpose" at our Wednesday, 6:30 to 8 p.m. meetings, and the wide variety of opportunities on our 2023 calendar of activities found on our website www.Troop61NewBerlin.com and/or our Facebook page “New Berlin Boy Scout, Troop 61”.

 

NEW BERLIN SCOUTS CELEBRATE SCOUT SUNDAY
Published: February 23rd, 2023 (Evening Sun and New Berlin Gazette)

New Berlin Boy Scout Troop 61 Scoutmaster Kevin Phillips presents Troop Member Liam Hoag with the 2022 "Scout of the Year" award during Scout Sunday on Sunday, February 19. (Submitted photo)

 

NEW BERLIN — On Sunday, February 19 the First United Methodist Church of New Berlin hosted Scout Troop 61 for Scout Sunday in celebration of Scouting's 113th anniversary. Monti and Liam were the readers for the worship service.

The weekend of events began with an overnight camp out. 18-degree temperatures greeted the troop Saturday morning as they emerged from their tents in Pittsfield. Saturday evening, the scouts and their families "had a blast" at the Colgate Hockey game.

At the first meeting of 2023, New Berlin Boy Scout Troop 61 celebrated their achievements of 2022. Liam was recognized with a plaque as the 2022 Troop 61 "Scout of the Year."

Each youth and adult member received the Gold "Journey to Excellence" Award. The troop completed goals in 10 of the 11 categories measured nationally while supporting other troops in the area by hosting the Millbrook Encampment in May, the Soap Box Derby in June, and the Bowl-a-Thon in November.

"It takes a village," says Scoutmaster Kevin Phillips. He went on to thank the many people involved and especially the American Legion, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, the Town and Village of New Berlin, the Masons, U.V.C.S., NBT Bank, Golden Artist Colors, Norwich Dodge, Bill Rapp Subaru, Oneonta Ford, the New Berlin Youth Center, the New Berlin Library, Lake Street Lanes, NY Pizzeria, Morris Troop 3, and Sherburne Troop 66.

"I enjoyed an idyllic childhood while growing up in New Berlin during the 1970s. 50 years later, New Berlin is still a great place to raise a family. When we combine our resources as a community, I truly believe we can provide excellence in opportunities for families who want the best for their children," said Phillips.

The troop is especially proud of the service projects completed at Hyde Park, Millbrook Recreation Area, the New Berlin Food Pantry, and the New Berlin Cemetery in 2021 and 2022.

Meetings in March will focus on first aid training with the New Berlin Ambulance Corps.

New Berlin Boy Scout Troop 61 meets weekly, tent camps monthly, and is chartered by the Frank H. Arnold American Legion Post #348. All boys, age 11 to 17, are welcome to check out the "fun with a purpose" at our 6:30 to 8 p.m. meetings every Wednesday, and the wide variety of opportunities on our 2023 calendar of activities at troop61newberlin.com.

 

  Troop 61
  New Berlin, NY