- January 23, 2025
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For Andrew Whitlow, 23, the environment of Troop 50's 70th anniversary celebration at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church was as if little time had passed.
“I walked in here and I've seen people that I haven't seen in over half a decade,” he said. “The relationships are all the same. Everyone grew up doing the same thing.”
As the longest continuously running Boy Scout troop in Sarasota County, Troop 50 has been supported by the church since its founding in 1954.
The celebration, held Jan. 19, included a recognition of the troop during the church service, followed by a short outdoor ceremony and the unveiling of the Troop 50 Eagle Wall of Honor inside the Don Collins Scout House.
Since the Boy Scouts of America program was founded in 1911, only 5% of Scouts have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and throughout Troop 50's existence, 135 Scouts have attained that rank.
“That’s huge,” said Scoutmaster Alister Munroe.
According to Assistant Scout Master Bill Morris, the program's longevity comes down to two important factors.
He wrote that the troop enjoys "an active and fun outdoor program and second, the amazing support of our parents, adult leaders and our friends at Pine Shore Presbyterian Church."
Munroe called the group "a big family," and said it activities continue “with all the trials and tribulations, all the hurricanes, all the flooding."
"A lot of people in this community, members of mine, of our troops, have been affected by all those recent storms, but they're still here," he said.
Munroe has been Scouting for about 15 years, and part of the troop for nine years, with his son Alister Munroe III, who recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and serves as a leader in the tourist district of the Southwest Florida Council.
“I'm very outdoorsy," said Munroe. "I grew up in (Grenada). I want him to have the kind of same experience."
He said he can also see the impacts of his son's experiences.
"I think the biggest thing for him is knowing that he's so committed to others and helping people. His leadership just shines through, and we absolutely love it.”
Munroe also said he himself was inspired, by the values of Scouting, to become an engineering and technology teacher at Brookside Middle School, where he has been able to attract students to the program, including Michael Pote, 13, who joined three years ago.
“It originated with Mr. Monroe giving me a little pamphlet, because he saw the potential that I had, and then I came here, and I agreed with him; it's really fun, and it's kind of just like a second life,” Pote said.
Pastor Alex Evangelista, who joined Pine Shores Presbyterian Church last year, said he was eager for the chance to support the troop.
“It was so exciting to hear, not only does Pine Shores support and collaborate with the longest running Scout troop in the county... but of course, even partnering with them and giving them the Scout house, I think, is a testament to how much they really believe in the mission of what the Scouts do for the community... I'm really excited that we can continue this partnership to empower the work that they do and to see where that can take us together in the future.”
The wide range of activities the group practices include boy-led campouts, cave spelunking, backpacking, target axe throwing, canoe trips, surfing on the East Coast, fishing, trips at High Adventure Bases, and many others. The organization also promotes opportunities for community service, leadership training, speaker forums, merit badge experiences and more.
Morris, whose son Tommy Morris, an Eagle Scout, is majoring in aerospace engineering at University of Central Florida, said the importance of Boy Scouts is the ability to get back to a way of life in the outdoors and "reset the biological clock, especially for the adults, the parents, the dads."
“I think parents need a resource that they can go to for their kids, kind of ground them again, back to some of the values that were instilled in our lives... by putting down the phones and the electronics and being able to go outside and engage and have relationships and friendships," he said. "These friendships, they last a lifetime."
The pinnacle of achievements, of course, is to become an Eagle Scout.
Samuel Dorrill, 17, said after he joined Troop 50 about 10 years ago, he was inspired to attain the rank by his father Alan Dorrill, who was also an Eagle Scout with another troop.
However, the environment of the troop itself also played a role.
“You do have a ton of kids … that I'm seeing constantly get Eagle Scout, that are constantly successful through the program, to where it seemed realistic for me to achieve it myself," he said.
Morris says that many of the organization's Eagle Scouts go on to become soldiers, first responders, engineers, lawyers, doctors and Ivy League students.
"I get to see all these young men that I've seen over the years grow up to be men," Munroe said. "They're Eagle Scouts, and they're pillars in their community, and they're doing great things. It’s just great.”
Pote said he was surprised by the turnout at the celebration.
“I'm happy and also surprised, because I don't know a single other troop that's actually lasted this long, and I'm just happy that I get to be a part of it."
Tony McGrath, 14, said he is ready to continue the troop's tradition of commitment.
“It's been an adventure, honestly — had a ton of camp outs, been on one high adventure, and I'm ready to get my Eagle."
