Troop 78 was founded more than 50 years ago on the grounds of the U.S.A.F. Academy. Chartered by the Academy’s Association of Graduates. We enjoy a close relationship with the Academy and the Cadets’ Eagles Club.
Since our founding in 1964, over one hundred youth members of Troop 78 have achieved the rank of Eagle. Our program is the same as Lord Baden-Powell’s over a century ago: “A Game with a Purpose”.
Our youth leaders plan outings and activities that are fun, and that teach the Scout skills necessary for advancement. Scouts can hone their skills and earn Merit Badges just by participating in our regular outings.
Adventure-Based
Troop 78 is an active Troop. An overnight event is planned for almost every month of the year (even in the winter, when we participate in the Academy“Freeze-o-Ree” sponsored by the USAFA Cadets’ Eagles Club). We have Troop equipment for both car-camping as well as back-country adventure, and participate in Philmont Winter Adventure and summer treks. We do a high-adventure trek each year, with a Philmont summer trek once every two or three years for Scouts ages 14 years and older. Some past treks have been a Green River (Canyon-lands) 52-mile canoe trip, and a Sea Base adventure in the Florida Keys.
STEM-Focused
The Boy Scouts of America recently created the NOVA program to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) awareness among its youth members.
Troop 78 fully embraces this program, and more than half of our Scouts have completed at least one NOVA Award. One has even earned the Dr. Bernard Harris SuperNOVA Bronze Medal!
In January, we host a “Camp-In”where we work on one of the four BSA NOVA awards. In 2017 the Scouts completed both the Chess Merit Badgeand the “Designed to Crunch” NOVAAward, and in 2018 the NuclearScience Merit Badge and “Start Your Engines!” NOVA Award.