Written By Alena Rodriguez, Unionville Press
Dedicated and passionate models of what it means to be an active participant in the community, Scouting America’s Troop 31 brings spirit and a helping hand to the Unionville-Chadds Ford community. The group is composed of fifty-eight scouts between the ages of eleven and eighteen, accompanied by a number of committed adult volunteers. Uniting the community through their enthusiasm and hard work and teaching children both the fun and fundamental skills of the outdoors, Troop 31 is a beacon of positivity.
This ability to participate in such a range of activities is rooted in preparation. The scouting schedule generally follows the school year’s framework, with the troop meeting three out of the four weeks a month during the school year where they discuss future trips and activities. Leaders then meet in the fourth week to discuss the coming month’s events, such as their annual ski trip to Shawnee Mountain in the Poconos and their multi-day outing to the Deleware River where scouts kayak, canoe, and fish in the crystal waters. “We’re always looking for the next great adventure,” says Troop Leader Zach Davis.
The troop is deeply involved in a number of the significant happenings that make Unionville-Chadds Ford the special place it is, supporting events such as Chadds Ford Days, Bike the Brandywine, and Zach’s personal favorite, the Great Pumpkin Carve. On Thursday of that event, Scouts discard the pumpkin guts and assist in lighting the pumpkins once artists finish. Alongside the Chadds Ford Historical Society and families, the following weekend is spent tidying up the area, which is “always a good time”. Service is a key theme throughout the world of scouting; the highest rank a scout can earn is Eagle Scout, which can only be attained by planning a project that makes a positive impact on the locale. However, even for the youngest of scouts, a member is expected to consistently abide by scouting principles of kindness, responsibility, and loyalty as best they can.
The troop’s excellence in administering this fun and constructive environment would not be possible without troop leadership, especially that of Zach Davis. As chief, Zach plays a significant role in managing events, planning trips, and being a facet of communication for both scouts and parents. The scouts look up to him for his unwavering loyalty to the troop and embodiment of all the qualities that make a child a scout. Along with Zach are his fellow leaders, including Ray Coe, who was recently honored at the troop’s Court of Honor for his unmatched devotion to the troop. Scouts remark how “his commitment to Troop 31 has been an inspiration”. Ray has helped one hundred scouts pursue and advance to the rank of Eagle Scout and his patient spirit and incomparable wisdom is something the children, parents, and leaders of Troop 31 deeply value. It’s individuals like him who encourage children to take advantage of their potential and identify the leader within them. To recognize his decades of dedication, the troop established the A. Ray Coe Emerging Leader Award to acknowledge future scouts with similar qualities of commitment.
Scouts of America’s Troop 31 is the very manifestation of positivity in our community. Their assistance in numerous Chadds Ford happenings and devotion to raising future leaders is admired by both parents and general community members alike. The passion of leaders like Zach Davis and Ray Coe is evident in the excitement and laughter of the scouts at every meeting and the communal energy is something difficult to find in another setting. For all they do, the Unionville-Chadds Ford area cannot be more grateful.
