The next most important job we have is to help instill good values in our Scouts.

These values are found in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Along the way, we teach teamwork, citizenship, help them understand the importance to his religious duties, an appreciation for the importance of community service, and basic leadership skills.

We do all of this in a program that's fun for the Scouts. As mentioned above, we teach outdoors skills, first aid, citizenship, and more importantly, we provide our Scouts with what, for many, are unique experiences that they otherwise might never enjoy.

This troop is flexible and tuned to the boys' needs.

As Scoutmaster, I'm extremely pleased with the way our troop reaches out to offer many things that other groups (church, school, sports, music) cannot match.  Scouting provides opportunities to learn new skills, advance in rank, receive recognition and do things they might not ordinarily do.

Our adult leaders have an unofficial motto of "semper gumby" (forever flexible).  We are very pliable in our approach to Scouting, and realize we need to adapt quickly to meet the needs of the troop ... and sometimes, a single boy.

Parents should know our troop is not regimented, not focused on the minutiae of proper uniforming, not bogged down in strict rules, nor burdensome bureaucracy.  We focus on the boys - they are the "why" we do what we do.

One might ask then, "Does this mean we operate without limits?"  The answer is not at all. We just choose to focus on what's truly important - and concerned far less in making sure the patches are precisely sewn on the uniform.

I believe our troop's approach comes pretty close to what Scouting's founder - Lord Baden-Powell - said at the beginning of the movement  ... "Scouting is not a science to be solemnly studied, nor is it a collection of doctrines and texts.  Nor again is it a military code for drilling discipline into boys and repressing their individuality and initiative.  No -- it is a jolly game in the out of doors, where boy-men and boys can go adventuring together as older and younger brother, picking up health and happiness, handicraft and helpfulness".

We are parents too - and realists when it comes to your time schedule.

All of us are parents so that means we are also realists when it comes to your time schedule - recognizing that school, music, theatre, sports and church - are all important and we really try to flexible in our scheduling.  We encourage anyone considering Troop 702 to talk to any of our Scouts and their parents to get a feel for what we do, how we do it, and what they and their sons think of our program.

We recognize academic achievement outside of Scouting.

Troop 702 recognizes the value of education, and every year, in June, we honor Scouts who have excelled in their school work. 


We adhere to the Scouting motto of “Be Prepared.”

While we train year round, our annual November campout is focused on basic life saving skills, such as first aid exercises, and orienteering using a compass. In 2003, we put on a mock rescue of “lost and injured” people with the help of Boone County Fire department, and members of Missouri Task Force 1.

Why do that? It marks the anniversary of a real life rescue in which leaders and Scouts of Troop 702 helped rescue a woman who fell from a cliff as we camped nearby. In fact, since 2000, leaders and Scouts of Troop 702 have been part of 5 real world rescue events – ranging from finding a lost child in Boone County, to helping save struggling swimmers from drowning.

To stay ready, we want and need the participation of adults to help us give the best possible Scouting experience to our kids.

Troop 702 isn't run by magic, or by magicians: it's run by parents like you, and like me.

Our Troop is only as good as we, working together, make it for our sons. We ask at least one adult member of each family to volunteer to help in some way. How you ask?  A few ways include:

- helping with a Court of Honor
- organizing our participation in the annual Scouting for Food drive
- becoming a uniformed adult leader
- helping with the newsletter
- help keep our gear organized
- share your skills by serving as a merit badge counselor
- organizing an outing
- just coming along on an outing
- serving on the Troop Committee
- identifying community need projects
- helping with refreshments at a troop party
- serving on a Board of Review
- helping drive the Scouts to/from events