History

The Troop was established in 1993 by Tom Popiella and Nick Ward.  Tom Started the Troop with Webelos Scouts from Pack 550.  Troop 561 was established with 6 to 7 Scouts.  In the following years, the Troop grew to 12 Scouts, then to 15 to 18 Scouts, at one point the Troop had grown to 50 plus Scouts. 

The Troop number 561 originated, the number 5 was the Scout district the Troop was in and the number 61 was from the year Sputnik was launched.  Tom Popiella was science oriented.

The first meeting was held at Lake Hills Fire Department, moved to Koliling Elementary School, a short time Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church then to Zion United Church of Christ.

The first troop trailer was a fiberglass trailer donated to the Troop with no brakes and few working lights.  It wasn’t pretty but it worked. 

The first summer camp was at Camp Tamarack in Jones Michigan then later on came Fermi National Accelerator Science Lab, winter cabin camping at Camp Betz.

The first Eagle Scouts were Matt Wiarda and Adam Walker.  Adam Walker was the first scout from the Troop to attend the National Jamboree held at Fort A.P. Hill Virginia and the High Adventure Base at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico.  He also worked on staff at Camp Monroe, Indiana.

First Scout leaders were Tom Popiella and Nick Wiarda, followed by Pam Stanberry and Jan Rozich, Dave Staples and Monty Walker, Dennis Miklazewski, Tim Banaszak, Kris Sorrenson, Warren Woods, Frank Revoir, Erik Tuftedal,