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Troop 60 Newsletter: December 2024 / January 2025
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DECEMBER 2024 / JANUARY 2025

Namaste, Scouts & Families!


Following up on our May, August/September, and October/November newsletters, please read on for the highlights so far, plus important updates and volunteer opportunities for the months ahead.



SCOUTMASTER’S CORNER

Farewell Troop 60!

As our family prepares to leave India in early January, we feel blessed to have been part of Troop 60, which has provided us many great experiences, memories, and friendships. Scouting here in India has truly been our greatest source of fun and adventure! From trekking, rafting, camping, service projects, campfires, and award ceremonies, this Troop really does it all and does it well.

It has been exciting to see how many Scouts and adult leaders have joined our ranks over these last few years and how committed this group is to the values that Scouting espouses and to each other. I see the way our Scouts treat each other in line with the Scout Oath and Law, and I know my own family has been enriched by our association with great individuals and families.

I want to express my deep appreciation for all the other adult leaders who have stepped up and made Scouting awesome. Thank you for giving your time and efforts to mold young people into the leaders of tomorrow. I also want to thank all the parents for patiently supporting our program and raising such great kids! Lastly, I want to thank all the awesome boys and girls of Troop 60. Your kindness, happiness, and unity have built a great tradition in New Delhi that will last for many years!

I look forward to hearing about all the great things that Troop 60 will accomplish after we leave, so please keep in contact.

Keep on Scouting!

Mr. Tyler, 60B Scoutmaster


UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

Save the Dates

These are activities involving the full troop, unless otherwise stated. Please check WhatsApp or with your SPL or Scoutmaster for any additional dates that may be more specific to your leadership role or patrol.

Sunday, Dec. 15: Court of Honor

Troop 60 holds a Court of Honor three times a year to formally recognize the Scouts who have moved up in rank and any merit badges earned since the previous COH. This event will include a uniform inspection, so Scouts should make sure they have all their uniform parts and patches sewn and displayed correctly. This is a time for family and friends to come and celebrate our Scouts and enjoy each other’s company. We look forward to celebrating with you! This month’s ceremony will be followed by a potluck meal; please sign up and let us know what dish you plan to share.

Summer 2025: Camps

A week of camping at a BSA Summer Camp is a chance to spend time outdoors with fellow Scouts, make new friends, employ the Patrol Method, earn several merit badges, and try new things. Depending on adult leader availability, Troop 60 is exploring options for sending Scouts to Camp Tifie in Utah again this summer (late June) and the Far East Council’s Camp Thailand (July 20-26). Any adult who may be available to attend either of these camps as a volunteer chaperone, please let the Scoutmasters know! Scouts are encouraged to inquire with their Scoutmasters about options to individually attend other BSA summer camps, too.

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SCOUT LEADER SPOTLIGHT

Josie Eastman,
Nightingale Patrol Leader

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ADULT LEADER SPOTLIGHT

Anthony Hughes,
Assistant Scoutmaster & Incoming Scoutmaster, 60B

 

VOLUNTEER CORNER

Seeking Merit Badge Counselors

Troop 60 helps Scouts earn merit badges throughout the year, including at the Merit Badge Extravaganza on Saturday, April 12. Helping Scouts along their journey to achieving their goals is a rewarding experience, so please take five minutes to click here to explore the various merit badges that Scouting offers our children, and think about which one(s) you can help with. Next to each badge (listed in the left column) is a link to details of what teaching that badge entails.  

Questions? Please contact Jason at +91 7303599477 or jason.morris04@gmail.com.

MONTH IN REVIEW & PHOTO GALLERY

Oct. 12-13: Chattarpur Farms Campout
by Zoraver Sahni, Phoenix Patrol & 60B Historian

On Oct. 12, Troop 60 went to the scenic outlook of Chattarpur Farms in Delhi, a day full of adventure. The wind was alive with eagerness as Scouts from all patrols reached enthusiastically to spend another night of adventure and brotherhood. This campout was geared up to be a mix of vigorous games, campfire entertainment, and overnight camaraderie.

The activities for the day ahead included a game of Capture the Flag led by the Snowy Owls. Scouts were divided into two teams, with everyone strategizing keenly against the other. The grounds of Chattarpur Farms were a perfect battle field, with Scouts darting behind trees, crawling through tall grass and sneaking their way into enemy territory. Spirit was fierce as both groups really played well together, thinking that teamwork and strategy could never be that competitive. Cheering and laughter filled the farm as Scouts sprinted out to secure that flag, capturing the true essence of friendly rivalry.

By dusk, we gathered around the campfire cracking with delightful sparks. Certainly one thing to look forward to in the evening was this. Each patrol had prepared some sort of skit or song to perform, and creativity was released along with humour. From sidesplitting jokes to campfire classics and a few surprising magic tricks, everyone had an entertaining time. This was a night all-around filled with shared joy from Scouts singing together to embracing what makes these camps so special: camaraderie.

We woke up the next morning to the sounds of nature and sweet scents around us from a breakfast meal that was being prepared over a fire. Before lunch, we broke down the tents and reflected over how fun it was and really appreciated the teamwork before saying goodbye to Chattarpur Farms. But before we left, we had a police line to make sure that we left the campsite better than we had found it.

This campout marked another indelible chapter in the story of Troop 60. It was a night of adventure, that laughter and camaraderie makes Scouting so priceless. We left for home taking along the sweet memories, stronger bonds, and a shared anticipation of what the next big adventure was going to be with us.

November 2025: Service Projects
by Nicole Gupte, COR & Newsletter Editor

Troop 60 Scouts earned service hours throughout the month by helping out at the AWA Mela at AES, the Swiss-German Mela at the Embassy of Switzerland, and planting trees in Rishikesh. See below for photos — and keep an eye out in WhatsApp for service hours being planned for January and February! (Including at least one Eagle Project… fingers crossed!)

Nov. 29-Dec. 1: Rishikesh Rafting Adventure
by Zoraver Sahni, Phoenix Patrol & 60B Historian

Troop 60’s recent campout to Rishikesh was an unforgettable experience filled with adventure, camaraderie, and exploration. Departing from Delhi at 4 a.m. on Nov. 29, Scouts and adult leaders reached Rishikesh just before lunchtime, ready to dive into a weekend packed with outdoor activities. After a few days of camping, rafting, and fun, the group returned home on Dec. 1st, stopping for an early dinner at McDonald’s and arriving back in Delhi by 8:45 p.m.

The weather in Rishikesh was perfect for camping and adventure. Cool and sunny days were complemented by chilly nights, ideal for cozying up by the campfire. As Assistant Scoutmaster (ASM) Charlie Parsons described, “Cool and sunny during the day, cold at night — but we brought jackets and zero-degree sleeping bags, and made campfires. No rain.”

Scouts took full advantage of the favorable conditions to engage in a variety of activities, including two-person river kayaking, group whitewater rafting on the Ganges, and hiking to a picturesque waterfall. The adventurous spirit of the troop was on full display, with some even braving the glacier-fed waters for a splash-filled kayak battle.

For many, the highlight of the trip was the rafting experience. As Blackhawks Patrol Leader John Forester put it, “I liked the really big rapid we did with the entire troop.”

For ASM (and incoming Troop 60B Scoutmaster) Anthony Hughes, sleeping under the stars on a beach after a day of rafting was a memorable moment.

Troop 60 also enjoyed quieter activities, such as cooking and sharing meals by the campfire. A favorite dish among many was the classic foil dinner of meat, potatoes, carrots, and onions. Crepes and bananas with chai also earned high praise.

The camaraderie and teamwork among the Scouts stood out throughout the trip. ASM Charlie Parsons shared a fond memory of teaming up with Zoravar during the kayaking splash fight. “We began sneaking up on other kayaks and drenching them with water,” he said. “Pretty soon, an all-out splash fight began between every kayak team.” Even during high-energy moments like these, Scouts demonstrated respect and unity, hallmarks of Troop 60 values.

As Troop 60 reflected on our experience, a common theme emerged: gratitude for the chance to push our limits and connect with nature. Some expressed a wish to tackle a more challenging river next time, while others emphasized the magic of clear skies and clean air.

This trip to Rishikesh wasn’t just a campout — it was a journey that deepened bonds, fostered growth, and created stories to treasure for years to come. Whether rafting rapids, hiking to waterfalls, or simply sharing meals around the campfire, Troop 60 made memories to last a lifetime.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

Don’t be a stranger! Reach out via WhatsApp to anyone mentioned in this newsletter, email scoutmasterboys@bsatroop60.in (Troop 60B) or scoutmastergirls@bsatroop60.in (Troop 60G), or click on these links for helpful information: