January 24, 2025
Dear Troop 51 and Families,
On 1 January 2025, with some trepidation and hope, I began my tenure as the next Scoutmaster of Troop 51. I follow modestly in the very large shadow of Mr. Johnson and only hope to mirror his accomplishments. For the last four years Mr. Johnson as Scoutmaster has dedicated his time, energy, and experience to the Troop so that each individual Scout has received the attention they need to be a great Scout. During his tenure the Troop would send two to three high adventure crews every summer to Philmont, Sea Base or Northern Tier. Last summer for the first time the Troop went to Scouting America’s newest high adventure camp at the Summit at Bechtel in West Virginia for summer camp. In addition, the Troop is active in Order of the Arrow and has seen a resurgence in backpacking. Through this effort and his organization insights the Troop is experiencing a resurgence in recruitment. He transitions into the Assistant Scoutmaster Corp where he will continue providing insight and advice to the life of the Troop.
As Mr. Johnson said, a big part of Troop 51’s strength is the number of other dedicated volunteers, council members, and Assistant Scoutmasters that make the Troop function and create a real community. I am grateful that Mrs. Mary Carbaugh (Committee Chair), Mr. Sameer Risbud, Senior ASM and Mulch Director, John Fisher (ASM), Mr. Mark Smith (Eagle Advisor ASM), Brian Doughtery (Chartered Organization Representative) and Ayako Christoffersen (Advancement Chair), Mr. Johnson Guide and Advisor (ASM) and all the other members of the ASM Corp and the Committee who have all agreed to assist me in the transition. As Scoutmaster I want to continue our recruitment drive and expand our inter-Troop relationship with Troop 7. In addition, I want to continue our Troop’s participation in high-adventure activities at Philmont, Sea Base, Northern Tier and Summit Bechtel.
A bit about me and my experience in Scouting. My father set the foundation of my love for camping and outdoor activities. This would eventually lead to me joining Cub Scouts, Webelos and BSA. I am an Eagle Scout, earned the Arrow of Light, and was inducted as a member of Order of the Arrow. I joined Troop 51 in the fall of 2019 and before that I was both an ASM and a Scoutmaster (one year each) for Troop 88 at Yongsan Army Base, in Seoul, South Korea from 2017-2019. Before working in Seoul, international Scouting has always been a big part of my past. My earliest experience overseas was working for the Danish Scout program as an International Exchange Scout at one of the Danish summer camps on the Yutland Peninsula north of Germany. As my own boys have grown, they too joined Cub Scouts in Frankfurt, Germany and later the Cub Scout and Boy Scouts in Seoul South Korea. I grew up in Southern California near Palm Springs where our Troop had the opportunity to camp year-round.
I look forward to working with Scouts and contributing to their growth as individuals and citizens who carry with them the core values of Scouting and the lessons in character and leadership as they grow into young men. (Prepared for Life!)
Yours in Scouting,
Mark Christoffersen
Scoutmaster, Troop 51