Sponsorship: United Church of Penacook is a proud sponsor of Boy Scout Troop 83 which meets weekly on Tuesdays from 7 PM to 8:30 PM in Fellowship Hall at the United Church of Penacook. Currently there are 13 active boy members aged 11 to 17 years and eight registered adult volunteers.

At weekly meetings, the boys work on traditional scout skills and plan monthly outings to work on basic scouting skills, to provide leadership opportunities to the boys, or just to have fun. Events can include an overnight biking trip, the fall jamboree at Gunstock Mountain, swimming at the YMCA, a ski trip, and overnight at a winter cabin.

Increasing Membership: Any boy from age 11 to 17 who is interested in the UCP scouting program, contact Mr. Randy Charity (796-6482) or George Stinson (753-9752), or stop by the weekly meeting to learn more about Troop 83.

Recent and Upcoming Highlights:

• Camping at Hidden Valley Scout Reservation, Gilmanton
• Scout Night August 1 at Fisher Cat Stadium for a game and overnight campout
• Day trip to Mt. Major on August 9
• Camping and biking the trails of Lake Champlain from Shelburne to Burlington VT August 22-24

2008 Activity: Highlights of the 2008 program included

• Took a day trip to Ragged Mountain for skiing and tubing.
• An Eagle Scout Court of Honor and reception were held to recognize Kristopher Hanks.
• The Wannalancit District Klondike Derby was held February 2 at Carter Hill Orchards.
• Scout Sunday was February 10.
• Spent a weekend at Winter Camp at Storer Scout Reservation in Barnstead.

2007 Activity: Highlights of the 2007 program included

• overnight camping and climbing Mt. Monadnock
• overnight snow camping and hiking to Bridal Veil Falls, Franconia
• overnight winter cabin, Storer Scout Reservation, Barnstead
• overnight in the lodge at Ragged Mt. ski trip
• Klondike Derby, Carter Hill Orchard, Concord
• bowling at Boutwell's
• astronomy merit badge workshop at the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium
• "Rocketeers" workshop at the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium
• Spring Camporee, 2 nights camping, Gilmanton
• Battleship Cove, overnight on the Battleship Massachusetts, Fall River, MA with a tour of Old Ironsides in Boston Harbor on the return trip
• Summer camp, Hidden Valley Scout Reservation, Gilmanton
• Eagle Court of Honor for Eagle Scout Jonathan Lambert
• Panning for gold, Lyman, NH
• 15-mile bike trip and overnight camping, Penacook/Salisbury/Boscawen
• 2007 Jamborees, 2 nights camping at Gunstock Recreation Area

Giving Back: The Boy Scouts participate in the annual Scouting for Food and the annual church clean-up. In 2007, they collected over 2,800 items for the program and delivered them to the National Guard Armory. In March, the troop worked at the UCP Soup Kitchen. In April, they completed an outdoor cleanup at the church. During October the troop painted the steps and ADA ramp to Fellowship Hall.