Past Events

During a momentous solar eclipse that occurred during the school day, scouts later shared their observations of this celestial event using various safety devices and creative techniques. Some scouts and leaders used welding helmets, while others employed solar eclipse glasses to capture the stunning sight. Even normal sunglasses were used to capture a picture but not view as that would be unsafe. The Scoutmaster innovatively took a “sundog selfie,” reflecting the eclipse on his face. Parents participated by engaging others on how to view the eclipse safely through a kitchen strainer and other methods known as the pinhole method. This collective effort made the eclipse viewing a memorable educational experience for everyone involved and many scouts earned a special eclipse patch.

Boy Scout Troop 653 held a carwash fundraiser, and it was a big success. The scouts worked hard, washing dozens of cars and making them shine. Lots of people from the community came out to support them, and they raised money to help support their scouting adventures. Everyone had fun, and the troop worked together to achieve their fundraising goal. We are appreciative of the community support and our faithful local organization that hosts our car wash yearly. 

Boy Scouts and leaders from Troop 653 embarked on an exhilarating mountain bike ride, culminating in an overnight campout under the stars at McDowell Mountain Park. After a day of challenging trails and scenic views, the scouts divided into patrols to cook a hearty dinner. As night fell, we gathered around a crackling campfire sharing stories of the biking adventure. The next morning, they enjoyed a quick breakfast before packing up. It’s always great to share in physical activity, night’s rest and the shared experience of nature and friendship.

The scouts hiked on a challenging 24-mile backpacking trip through the Superstition Mountains. Along the way, they learned to purify water using chlorine tablets, ensuring they had safe drinking water. The experience taught them the importance of planning and timing, as many prime camping spots were already occupied when they arrived. Despite this, they adapted by finding different sites and setting up camp fast. The trip was an amazing time for everyone they got to learn many things and it was great for testing endurance.

The scouts went camping at Usery Moutain. They stayed overnight and packed up in the morning to go hiking. Scouts prepared for Philmont by taking all their stuff and hiked to Wind Cave. They learned how to plan for what trails to take along with how long it would be until they made it back. Overall it was a great time and the scouts had lots of fun

The Boy Scout troop sang Christmas carols at a home for elderly people, bringing smiles and memories to everyone. The elderly residents were happy to hear the cheerful songs and see the Scouts. The visit made everyone feel the holiday spirit and showed the importance of kindness.

The Boy Scout troop went on a fun urban bike ride through the city, going through parks and taking a quiet path. They stopped halfway to take a break and enjoy some donuts and orange juice. Then they rode back to where they began and ate an amazing lunch.

The scouts went on a tour of the Museum for the Aviation badge. They learned about different types of engines and the medical Helicopters.

The scouts went up to Maverick. It was a lot of fun! They split up into patrols and played some games. One station was tying knots. Then, they went to do a good turn by helping with the service project, which was clearing out the trees After a long day of work, they went back to a delicious meal with pie, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and a turkey cooked in a box. It is a tradition to cook a turkey in a box every Maverick.

This was an amazing campout. The scouts had so much fun swinging from tree to tree. Flag-X is a climbing course with zip lines, rope courses, and so much more. At Flag-X there are 5 different courses that connect to each other. Black is the hardest of them all and we had a lot of people finish it! After a long day in the trees, we went back to our campsite and relaxed and reflected on the amazing time we had