HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT Troop 2 came into being shortly after World War II when, in 1946, a group of parents asked Keith Monroe to become Scoutmaster of a Boy Scout Troop in Santa Monica, California. Troop 2's first meeting took place in 1947 at Franklin Elementary School. The School's PTA became its sponsor and continued to be the sponsor until Keith Monroe retired from the position of Scoutmaster over forty years later. Troop 2 is now co-chartered by the Santa Monica Rotary Club and the RAND Corporation. During the second year of Troop 2, Bill Tobias, a water safety instructor, met Keith Monroe while they were both renewing their water safety instructor's certificates. Keith Monroe told him about Troop 2 and Bill Tobias joined him and remained for the next 40 years. Both of these men were outstanding lifeguard trainers at the time, and Keith Monroe, who was then a script writer for United States Presidents, had the time to devote to planning a program for Troop 2. The program consisted of: 1) Advancement; 2) Physical Training; 3) Camping; and 4) Swimming. They had added swimming to their program because not only were both these men were excellent swimmers, they enjoyed teaching others. Over the years Troop 2 has always had four or five boys on school water polo teams. Several went on to the Olympic Swim Team, and one, Bruce Kennedy, became captain of the Navy Swim team. Troop 2 emphasized the High Sierras for camping, Santa Catalina Island's Emerald Bay for swimming and the Jamboree for competition among other troops. When Troop 2 attended the 1954 Jamboree, Troop 2 won all the competitive events. Other troops were so discouraged that they wanted to ban Troop 2 from any further Jamboree competitions. The next year at Catalina's Emerald Bay, Troop 2 again won all the events. Canoe expertise and competition also became a part of Troop 2. In 1981 Troop 2 attended the National Jamboree, and took 7 of the top 10 places in the two-man English Gates canoeing competition, including first place. A Troop 2 patrol also won their regional volleyball championship, then challenged any patrol at the Jamboree to beat them. No one else could. Emphasizing advancement became a part of Troop 2, and boys began to learn that if you joined Troop 2, you would accomplish a lot through hard work and discipline. Emphasizing first aid, emergency preparedness and lifesaving also became a part of Troop 2. All boys in the troop became good swimmers and knowledgeable in first aid. Troop 2 scouts and former scouts have saved at least one life for every year Troop 2 has been in existence. Troop 2 scouts have stepped in to help people during many emergencies, and their presence has helped to keep many accidents from becoming disasters. Five Troop 2 scouts and four Assistant Scoutmasters have been awarded the rare Medal of Heroism. When a boy joined Troop 2 whose father was an expert handcrafter, Keith was told that the troop could build its own canoes. Troop 2 now has 13 of its own canoes, built in the late 60's and maintained by skilled parents and scouts. The year after building the canoes, while at Emerald Bay, Keith Monroe was watching the troop practice with the Emerald Bay large war canoes. He conceived the idea of canoeing around Santa Catalina Island. It had never been attempted before, and some people thought Keith was crazy to attempt this feat. Troop 2 rose to the challenge, accomplished the circumnavigation in three days, and Troop 2 has been canoeing around Catalina ever since. Some alumni still come from as far as New York for the circumnavigation, and two have completed it all ten times it has been attempted (one of whom is Assistant Scoutmaster Ken Stahlman.) In 1989, our current Scoutmaster, Dr. Steve Marcy, became only the second Scoutmaster in Troop 2's 55-year history. In addition to being Scoutmaster, he teaches math at Lincoln Middle School and publishes math workbooks. His son was a scout in Troop 2 when Dr. Marcy became scoutmaster and is now a Troop 2 Eagle Scout. Troop 2 searches out isolated areas with springs or lakes for canoeing, camping, mountain backpacking, and competition. Usually for Summer Camp the troop will attend an organized scout camp for the first week, then do some sort of high adventure in smaller groups, such as canoeing or backpacking. In a search for High Sierras camping, Troop 2 has been to Shaver Lake, Huntington Lake, Jackass Meadows and Twin Lakes. In recent years, Troop 2 hiked the Teton Range in Wyoming, the Collegiate Peaks in Colorado, and Haleakala Crater in Maui. The scouts have also canoed the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota and the Klamath River in northern California, and rafted the Salmon River in Idaho. Many of the parents of Troop 2 scouts have special abilities or training. They are encouraged to contribute their expertise to help the troop. For example, the biannual Bloody Monday event is usually organized by parents who are doctors or have other emergency training. Some parents continue to work with Troop 2 even after their sons have graduated. Several Troop 2 scouts have returned with their sons, a testament to their rewarding experiences as Boy Scouts. All parents are encouraged to volunteer. There are many requirements in keeping Troop 2 strong, and many life-long friendships have developed from the parents working together. As a new scout, you will have the opportunity and the duty to keep the traditions alive and to create an even more impressive history of Troop 2. You CAN DO It!