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Friends of Troop 257

Scouting is a fun and rewarding activity that we believe is critical to the development of character in our youth. However, since Scouting adventures often require substantial travel, equipment, and activity fees, it can be a significant financial burden on Scout families – unfortunately, more than some families can bear.

Friends of Troop 257, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose purpose is to provide financial support to Troop 257, Venturing Crew 2257, Pack 3375, and other area units affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America.

Friends provides support in the form of scholarships to deserving Scouts for large expenses such as summer camping at Bartle Scout Reservation and High Adventure camping at Philmont Scout Ranch, as well as providing primary equipment such as tents and trailers to Scouting units. We believe this support is critical because we want all our Scouts to benefit from this long-term camping experience.

By providing equipment to Scouting units, Friends allows those Scouts to have the best experience possible and helps defray the fees for all Scouts in those units. More importantly, the scholarships we provide to Scouts in need enable those Scouts to be able to attend an activity such as Bartle or Philmont that may turn out to be a life-changing event. We do not want any Scout to miss these experiences due to financial need!

Friends was formed as a Kansas corporation on October 5, 2005, and has been qualified as a public charity that is exempt under Section 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Service on July 5, 2006.  That makes all your support of Friends fully tax deductible.

 

Friends in Action

Friends of Troop 257 has provided support to Troop 257, Venture Crew 2257, and Pack 3375 since 2006. Over the years, Friends has regularly provided scholarships for Boy Scout summer camping at H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation and for High Adventure camping at Philmont Scout Ranch.

Friends also has supported Troop 257 with equipment purchases over the years. For example, in 2012, Friends purchased a new trailer and tents for the troop.

 

How You Can Help

All parents, Scouts, and families, past and present, who have been involved in Scouting units supported by Friends of Troop 257 are invited to be members. The following membership levels are available:

  • Individual – $25
  • Family – $50
  • Lifetime – $1000

Your membership contributions to Friends are a key element of our funding. They help fund the many scholarships and equipment purchases we provide to the Scouts and Scouting units we support.

 

Resources

The Friends of Troop 257 Wiki

From 2007 through 2010, Friends of Troop 257 maintained a wiki containing information about itself and Troop 257. The Friends wiki was eventually replaced by this website.