History of us.

BSA 25 Tenafly is a dedicated community of Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in Tenafly. Our Troop 25 and Pack 25 offer a range of activities that build leadership skills, encourage teamwork, and promote a love for the great outdoors. Learn more about our mission, our history, and why we're the top choice for scouting in Tenafly. 

Troop 25 History                                  January 18th, 2023

Troop 25 was chartered in February of 1971 with Manny Coplit as the 1st Scoutmaster  and Milton Liberty as Assistant Scoutmaster.  The original committee included Mr. Laskos, Mr. Peter Frangedes, Mr. George Sekas, Mr. Koukoulas and Mr. Nick Karayanis.

Mr. Anthony Triant became scoutmaster in 1972.   Our first 2 Eagle Scouts had their Court of Honor in June of 1974, John Lignos and Anthony Koukoulas.  The troop grew steadily January 2nd , 2016from within the church, with the troop 100 scouts strong at one point.  By the 20th anniversary of the Troop, we had seen 63 scouts attain the rank of Eagle.  But, the troop then took a hiatus for 4 years, and in 1996 was reactivated with Tony Triant again as Scoutmaster and John Lignos as Committee Chairman.

Tony  led  us  for  another  18 years,  36 years  in  total,  until his passing on July 19th, 2008.  Earlier, in January 2008, we fulfilled one of Tony’s goals for us by placing two sleds in 1st and 2nd place in the Klondike Derby.  He was a very proud man that day! May his memory be eternal.

 In 2010, during the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 25 highlights included winning 1st Place at the Klondike and sending  8 of our scouts to the National Jamboree in Virginia. In 2011, we  again started the year with 1st Place at the Klondike and had trips to Bellearye Ski area, Philadelphia/USS NJ Battleship, the EOCS Camporee at St. Basils, we sent  26 Scouts to Summer Camp at Turrell, a Fishing boat trip out of Bronx City Island , campouts at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn , EOCS Religious Retreat at St. Basils, and a tent camping trip in December.  In 2012 where we came away with 1st Place in the Klondike again, for the 3rd year in a row! After Easter we had a backpacking overnight and the EOCS Camporee in April and Whitewater rafting in June and Summer Camp for 26 Scouts at Camp Turrell and 8 Scouts went to rustic Camp Floodwood.  In the fall we went to the EOCS Religious Retreat, the 51st, and then to Camp NoBeBoSco for the Council Camporee where we came back with 1st Place!

2013 Started with our Alpine Cabin Camping and the Klondike. We made the troop participate by Patrols, instead of a “making a super patrol” and they still managed 3rd place.  We continued with our EOCS Camporee in the Spring, Whitewater Rafting, The Opening Flag Ceremony at Met’s Citifield, 20 scouts went to Camp Turrell and 5 more scouts went to the National Jamboree in West Virginia.  In the fall we attended the 52nd Annual EOCS Religious Retreat, followed by a frigid overnight in Lean Toos at Camp Lewis where the scouts participated in the COPE Course.

We opened up 2014 with the Klondike Training Cabin Camping trip and at the Klondike itself we placed 1st.  The Eagle Ceremony in May marked our 100th Eagle Scout! We had numerous Camping trips in 2014, and the largest Group of scouts ever, 27, at summer camp.  Our activities included snow tubing, biking and go kart racing.

2015 opened with a Cabin Camping at NY Alpine and the Klondike, which we got 2nd  Place, losing a tiebreaker for the top spot. We went Climbing twice this year, Snow Tubing, and biking, attended the EOCS Camporee and sent 25 scouts to Camp Turrell.  We had two big trips this year, to Gettysburg in June and to Boston for the 55th Annual EOCS Retreat, where we slept on the soccer field at Hellenic College Holy Cross. The scouts earned Historic Hiking Medals on both trips. 

2016 We place 1st and  3rd in the Klondike Competition, after successful Cabin camping training trips.  We attended the EOCS Camporee, summer camp at Turrell and the EOCS Religious Retreat.

2017 started with our Cabin Camping Trip, followed by the Klondike and a 2nd & 3rd place finish.  After the EOCS Camporee and a 1st place finish in the Round Robin competition we attended the NJ State Police Camporee in Sea Girt, NJ.   Summer Camp at Turrell saw every scout earn the Polar Bear 6:30 am swim award.  In the fall we had the EOCS religious retreat at St. Basils in summer like weather.

2018 we had an Eagle Ceremony for 7 scouts in January.  We had our cabin Camping, Klondike, EOCS Camporee and Retreats   In May at the Northern NJ Eagle Scout Dinner, Nicholas Papas won for Eagle Scout Project of the year for our council.  We attended ScoutFest at Campgaw and did climbing in Northvale

2019 we had an Eagle Ceremony for 3 scouts.  We did our Cabin Trip, Klondike, EOCS camporee and Retreat and Summer Camp.

2020 introduced us to the world of Zoom due to COVID, but we were able to continue online meetings.  This was the first year of no Summer Camp, along with a lot of other cancellations.  Although we got the klondike in just before everything hit.

2021 we started back with activities again, although in different locations. The EOCS Camporee was held at Camp Alpine and we had a small crew at Camp Turrell, but great food.   The EOCS Retreat was held at Baiting Hollow Boy Scout camp in Long Island, with Rifle and Archery added to the menu. We did lots of biking to keep ourselves outdoors.  We did manage an Eagle Ceremony in June for 11 Eagle Scouts!

2022 We had our Cabin Camping Trip but the Klondike was cancelled twice due to weather. We had the EOCS Camporee at Camp Alpine again, followed by the Sports Extreme Weekend up at Camp Turrell.  For Summer Camp we had a near normal size Crew.  We did biking and hiking when we could with Bowling in December.  

2023 started with our Cabin Camping trip in our favorite cabin yet.  We are practicing for the Klondike during January.

 Each year we also participate in various Flag ceremonies and the Greek Independence Day Parade in NYC.

 We are celebrating our 52nd Anniversary as a troop this year. As of today, we have 137 Eagle Scouts from Troop 25, with others working on their Eagle Projects presently.  With the help of active energetic adult leaders, we currently have 22 active boy scouts registered from diverse backgrounds and enthusiastic about being involved in our scouting program.  Troop 25 is ready to be the training ground for tomorrow’s leaders!