Boy Scouts of America Scouting in Newcastle,Texas
Boy Scouts of America has a motto, “Prepared for Life.” The organization was created in 1910 to provide hands-on learning opportunities to promote growth and self-awareness in life. According to Scouting.org, the Boy Scouts of America remains one of the most prominent youth development programs in the U.S., with more than 2.2 million members between the ages of 5 and 21, according to Scouting.org.
Boy Scouts Troop 763, headquartered in Newcastle, provides adventure and learning avenues for Young County boys. The troop is led by seven adults, including Chris Norris (Scoutmaster), Chad May (Assistant Scoutmaster), Spencer Key (Assistant Scoutmaster), Denise Cyr (Committee Chair and Cubmaster), Michael Cyr (Charter Organization Representative), Catherine Delong (Advancement Coordinator) and Committee Member Emily Norris.
Denise Cyr said she and her husband Michael relocated in 2016 from Fort Worth to Newcastle because Michael is the pastor of Newcastle Methodist Church, where there was a Boy Scouts troop that had just started at the church. “When we first moved here, my son was in Cub Scouts, so we were involved in Graham. A couple of years later, the pack in Olney wasn’t going to have a leader, so we decided to start a pack in Newcastle and bring the children from Olney here to make it a central location. Since then, the troop in Graham has folded, but our Newcastle troop has grown,” Denise said.
Currently, the troop comprises kindergarten through grade 12. Denise explained the ranking level stating that the highest rank is Eagle Scout, which any Boy Scout can earn.
“We just had our first Eagle Scout from Troop 763 in May. We are proud of him,” Denise stated.
The Newcastle troop is always open to getting new members, especially since Troop 763 is the only troop in Young County.
“We have one boy who comes from Bryson and others who come from South Bend and Graham. The members are not just from Newcastle; they are from all over,” said Denise.
The programs are the foundation of the Boy Scouts. Denise touts programming as well-rounded with an emphasis on leadership training and character building.
“The Scouts learn survival skills like hiking, camping, archery, and shooting when they are older. We just returned from summer camp, and my son got to earn his canoeing merit badge. And, and he didn’t even know he could canoe. And then he did it. The purpose of the merit badges is to encourage the boys to explore and learn things,” Denise said.
There are approximately 137 total merit badges that the scouts can work on and earn. Merits include trades such as welding, science, meteorology and STEM-related projects, too. Denise said that while the Scouts work on their badges, they can explore different professions and trades they may be interested in and discover other interests that may lead to a rewarding career.
“My son earned the weather merit badge, and he initially thought it was going to be boring. He later said that he enjoyed it and has learned more about the weather. It was wonderful to see him realize that he had an interest that he didn’t know,” Denise said. “[Boy Scouts] help them discover what they want to do later in life, and that’s great because I’ve seen my son change so much while participating in the program.”
Denise’s son—now 13—has been a Scout since first grade, and her oldest daughter participated in Girl Scouts. “My husband and I were both in Scouts, and naturally, our entire family followed the course. We told our children that we are Scout people, and you’re doing Scouts,” Denise added. “Scouts helped my son to become less shy, boosted his confidence, and helped him to make friends.”
Troop 763 welcomes monetary support and volunteerism. The Scouts need donations to assist with the cost of summer camp, which ranges from $300-$350 per person. Also, donations will help with purchasing equipment, food, events, and the cost of merit badges.
Denise said, “Donations may be made directly to Troop 763 or the Newcastle Methodist Church, and the church will pass along the donation to us. People can also participate in the fundraisers we have every year.”
You will find additional information about Boy Scouts Troop 763 on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community-Organization/Newcastle.... Reach out to Denise to find out how to enroll and provide monetary support.
Troop 763 will be participating in the Olney Chamber of Commerce parade on July 1 beginning at 5 p.m.