Scouting America logo

Athens Troop 1

Northeast Georgia Council • Scouting America

Serving Athens since 1936

About Athens Troop 1

Athens Troop 1

Athens Troop 1 is a historic, all-boys Scouts BSA troop that was founded in 1936. We are proudly chartered by Athens First United Methodist Church in downtown Athens and are part of the Northeast Georgia Council.

Meetings & Location

Troop meetings are held 3:00–4:00 PM on most Sundays.

Troop Committee meetings are held the last Tuesday of most months at 6:30 PM in the Scout Room.

Athens First United Methodist Church
327 N Lumpkin St., Athens, GA 30601
Scouting Room (3rd floor)
Email to Visit

Our Values

Scout Oath

"On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."

Scout Law

"A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent."

What We Do

Athens Troop 1 runs a year-round program built around real trips. Our trip history shows a mix of campouts, paddling weekends, hiking trips, summer camps, camporees, and day trips across Georgia and the Southeast.

On The Water

Canoeing, kayaking, tubing, fishing, and whitewater show up again and again in the troop calendar.

Trail Time

Backpacking and hiking trips range from easy overnights to longer trail weekends and mountain outings.

Troop Traditions

Summer camp, camporees, Klondike-style events, and family camp weekends remain part of the regular rhythm.

Trip History Highlights

The troop history includes trips to Victoria Bryant State Park, Lake Chapman, Helen, Broad River Outpost, Hunting Island, Springer Mountain, Providence Canyon, Cloudland Canyon, Fort Yargo, Magnolia Springs, Mistletoe State Park, the Okefenokee, Cumberland Island, and Columbus whitewater.

Camping, Hiking, and Backpacking

Trip history shows regular campouts and trail weekends, including trips centered on Springer Mountain, Providence Canyon, Cloudland Canyon, Fort Yargo, Lake Russell, and Cumberland Island. These trips give scouts repeated practice with camp setup, cooking, navigation, and trail self-reliance.

  • Mountain and canyon weekends
  • Introductory backpacking trips
  • State park campouts with hiking built in
Paddling, Fishing, and Water Adventure

The troop history is full of water-based outings: canoeing at Lake Chapman and the Okefenokee, kayaking through Broad River Outpost, tubing in Helen, fishing at Victoria Bryant and Hunting Island, and whitewater trips in Columbus.

  • Canoeing and kayaking weekends
  • Fishing and waterfront campouts
  • Whitewater and tubing day trips
Camporees, Klondikes, and Troop Events

The trip record includes spring camporees, Scoutland Klondikes, field days at Sandy Creek Park, and other troop competitions that put scouting skills to work in a fun setting.

  • Patrol competition and camporee weekends
  • Cold-weather Klondike events
  • Field days, games, and troop challenges
Summer Camp and Specialty Trips

Beyond weekend campouts, the troop history includes summer camp at Camp Daniel Boone and Camp Rainey, family camp weekends, Camp Kiwanis programs, and specialty outings like an aviation merit badge trip to Warner Robins and an Atlanta day trip.

  • Resident summer camp and family camp
  • Merit badge and museum-based trips
  • Outdoor programs at council and regional camps
Where Trip History Takes Us

What stands out in the history is variety: local overnights, state park campouts, mountain weekends, swamp canoe trips, island outings, and practical day trips that keep the program active all year.

Advancement

Troop 1 gives scouts a clear path to grow through rank advancement and merit badge work. Those resources now live on their own pages so they are easier to browse on desktop and mobile.

Scouting America Ranks

See the full path from Scout through Eagle, with rank descriptions and badge images.

Merit Badges

Explore merit badge information, including the current Eagle-required badges and official Scouting America links.

Contact

Key 3 for Troop 1

In Scouting, the Key 3 are the three primary adult leaders who help guide and support the troop: the Scoutmaster, the Committee Chair, and the Chartered Organization Representative. Together they coordinate program, administration, and the troop’s connection to its chartered organization.

Kerry Nave

Scoutmaster

scoutmaster@troop1athens.org

Kevin Jones

Committee Chair

committeechair@troop1athens.org

John Graham

Chartered Organization Representative

john@troop1athens.org

Troop Leadership

Athens Troop 1 is a boy-led troop, meaning that Scouts themselves take the lead in planning activities, running meetings, and making decisions. Our patrol system gives each Scout the opportunity to develop leadership skills in a supportive environment. The troop is guided by elected youth leaders including the Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders, who are supported by a dedicated team of adult volunteers. Our Troop Committee handles the administrative and logistical needs of the troop, while adult leaders provide mentorship, training, and oversight to ensure a safe and rewarding program for all our Scouts.

Senior Patrol Leader

Leads the troop, runs meetings, and helps set the direction for the youth leadership team.

Assistant Senior Patrol Leader

Supports the SPL, keeps troop operations moving, and steps in whenever extra leadership is needed.

Patrol Leader

Guides a patrol, helps younger scouts succeed, and keeps the patrol organized on meetings and trips.

Guide

Mentors newer scouts, teaches skills, and helps them learn how troop life and camping routines work.

Scribe

Keeps records, tracks notes, and helps the troop communicate and stay organized.

Quartermaster

Manages troop gear, helps organize equipment for trips, and makes sure patrols have what they need.

Junior Assistant Scoutmaster

Provides experienced youth leadership, supports younger leaders, and helps connect the scout-led troop with adult guidance.

Other Positions

Additional youth roles help cover instruction, service, chaplain support, bugling, and other troop needs.

Our Affiliated Organizations

Athens Troop 1 is proud to be part of a larger Scouting community and grateful for the support of our charter organization.

Athens First United Methodist Church

Our charter organization, providing us with a meeting space and ongoing support since 1936.

Northeast Georgia Council

Our local Scouting council, supporting troops throughout Northeast Georgia with programs, camps, and resources.

Scouting America

The national organization that provides the Scouting program and maintains standards for youth development across the country.

Cub Scouts Pack 1

Our feeder pack for younger scouts (grades K-5).