BSA Troop 200 has a New Home

Lebanon Reformed Church in Lebanon is the new Charter Organization of Boy Scout Troop 200. Members of the congregation, including Pastor Thomas E. Jones recently welcomed Troop 200 with a brief welcoming ceremony.

Troop 200, founded in 1955, has deep roots in the Cokesbury/Lebanon area and was chartered by Lebanon Reformed Church for decades, until 2004.

“A new door at Lebanon Reformed Church is opening for our troop and we are excited about the
opportunities in front of us," said Jeff Lutz, Troop 200 Scoutmaster.

"Troop 200, with its dedicated Scouts and Leaders, has a long history of developing the leaders of tomorrow. The Scout program embodies the essence of perseverance, discipline, determination and leadership. We, at the Lebanon Reformed Church, welcome Troop 200 to our community and are confident that they will make their mark in our Borough for decades to come,” said Bob Fodera, Charter Representative.

"The church and its members have been so welcoming," said Ben Valliere, Troop 200 Committee Chair. "For us, it's the right move at the right time and it definitely feels like a homecoming of sorts."

The church property neighbors Holjes-Sheppard Memorial Park, named for Frederick Holjes and Robert Sheppard, two members of the troop who grew up in the Borough and were killed in Vietnam. In fact, Holjes, was the first Cub Scout to advance into Troop 200 and was a life-long member of the Lebanon Reformed Church. Paying homage to its roots, the troop's neckerchief includes the names of Holjes and Sheppard as well as exploding fireworks to represent the town's annual Fourth of July parade.

“Every spring we invite the local community to join us at our flag retirement ceremony at the park,” explained Andrew Bozzi, Senior Patrol Leader. “We are looking forward to making an even bigger impact in the community.”

Troop 200 meets on Monday nights at 7:30 p.m. and conducts many weekend and year-round
adventures. Scouts have the opportunity to meet in person or virtually, depending on what works best for them and their families. Upcoming activities include: a weekend camping trip to Pennsylvania and an orienteering/outdoor cooking challenge at Round Valley. In addition, the troop will be sending two crews to Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico this summer.

New Patrols are forming. For more information, follow BSA Troop 200 on Facebook, Troop 200 NJ on Instagram or reach out via Troop200NJ@gmail.com.