Troop 211 Main Page

Troop Neckerchief Patch

Catalina Council - Tucson, Arizona

Troop 211 is sponsored by St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church located at 750 West Chapala Drive in Tucson, Arizona. The Troop meets Tuesday nights from 7:10 to 8:30 in the Fellowship Hall at the church. The scouts and leaders of the Troop would like to thank the congregation for their support. For information about Troop 211 that is not conveyed by this website contact the Scout Master Roger Dahlgran. We feel we offer a high quality program and are eager to share it with the youth in our neighborhood!

History & Traditions

Troop 211 was originally chartered as Troop 116 in March of 1950 to serve the youth of the north side of Tucson. Boyd M. Gillespie was the first Scoutmaster and held that position until the Troop was disbanded in August of 1958. The charter was held by the 'Dad's Committee' during 1950 and it then moved to the First Christian Church near the University of Arizona in 1951. In 1956 the charter was again moved to St. James Methodist Church. During the nine years of his tenure as Scoutmaster, Mr. Gillespie saw three of the boys in Troop reach the rank of Eagle.

In November of 1960, the Winifred Harelson Elementary School PTA began its' sponsorship of the Troop. Mr. Peter Gorrell held the position as Scoutmaster. The Troop lost its charter for several weeks in early 1962, after which time Mr. George J. Renwick assumed the Committee Chairmanship. During 1964, the Troop had three Scoutmasters in quick succession. They were William F. Pinneo, Robert E. Jacobs, and C. F. King. One boy attained the rank of Eagle during this transition period. Late in 1964, Mr. George J. Renwick took the position as Scoutmaster and Mr. Emory Zurlinden assumed the Committee Chairmanship. It is said by their sons, that these men flipped a coin to see who would take the position as Scoutmaster.

In early 1965, during a realignment of district boundaries within the Catalina Council, the Troop assumed the number 211.

Mr. Renwick remained the Scoutmaster until he retired in 1977. During his tenure as Scoutmaster, Marie Renwick, his wife, participated as an unofficial Assistant Scoutmaster and at times ran the Troop in George's absence. Most of the boys of the Troop remember her as the Troop's mom during those years. While George Renwick was Scoutmaster, 55 boys in the Troop attained the rank of Eagle.

Mr. Maurice J. Saroni assumed the position as Scoutmaster in 1977. It was during Mr. Saroni's tenure as Scoutmaster, that the Troop took the color yellow with green highlights as the Troop colors. It was also during this time that the A & W Root Beer Company sponsored the Troop on its' trip to the National Jamboree. Our neckerchief patch and Troop logo are a result of this trek. While Mo Saroni was Scoutmaster, 40 boys in the Troop attained the rank of Eagle

Mr. Michael E.George began his tenure as Scoutmaster in 1988. In 1989, due to school district budgetary cuts, the Troop was required to changed its' sponsor from the Harelson PTA to St Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Mr. George retired as Scoutmaster in 1996. While Mike George was Scoutmaster, 21 boys in the Troop attained the rank of Eagle

Mr. Van Newville assumed the position of Scoutmaster in January 1996. During 1996, five boys in the Troop attained the rank of Eagle.

Policies & Guidelines Troop 211 has as its basic premise, that the aims of Scouting can only be accomplish through a boy designed and operated program that is based on troop spirit, the outdoor program, service, recognition, and leadership. These aims are best accomplished through the Patrol Method.

Boy Leadership Troop 211 is a "Boy Run" troop meaning that the program is designed and carried out by the youth leadership. Our troop roster currently caotains over 50 boys. Adults are used as program facilitators and arbitors in cases of health and safety concerns.

Adult Leadership The Silver Fox Patrol is comprised of all registered adults in the Troop. To allow the troop to operate as a "Boy Run" organization, the adults camp, cook, and eat together on troop outings.

Monthly Outings The troop's annual program compiled by the youth in August of each year. Its structure is based upon an activity outline that has proven effective.

Troop 211 has always been a strong supporter of the Order of the Arrow. During the 1967 National Order of the Arrow Conference, the Papago Dance Team, made up primarily of Troop 211 members, thrilled the crowds with the Hopi Snake Dance using live bull snakes. This performance eventually lead to the national prohibition against using live animals in Order of the Arrow Dances and Ceremonies.

Roll Call of Eagles During the last 36 years of Troop 211's continuous charter, we have had 122 boys gain the rank of Eagle. Our Troop philosophy has been to allow each boy to progress towards the Eagle rank at his own pace, but to give him so many opportunities for adventure and leadership that he does not earn the rank before he is mature enough to realize what he has accomplished. Since 1960, our Eagle Scouts have averaged just over seventeen years of age on the date of their Board of Review.

Magee Trail Service Project Troop 211 has for years participated in the Tucson Clean and Beautiful Adopt-a-Park program. Each month, a service patrol cleans the parking lot and trailhead of the Magee Trail entrance to Pima Canyon in the Catalina Mountains.

Cookbook The troop has compiled a Dutch Oven Cookbook. It was prepared primarily as a menu guide for the scouts to improve their cooking skills. Additionally, we have used the cookbook sales as a fundraiser for camperships for scouts' summer camp attendance.

High Adventure & Where to go Camping in Arizona The Papago Lodge of the Order of the Arrow has prepared a camping guide which covers most of the state of Arizona as well as some great high adventure treks in New Mexico, Utah, and California.

The information presented here is not an official document of the Boy Scouts of America.
It is the work of Jeff Babis, Troop 211 Assistant Scoutmaster.