Troop 531 History

Timeline

Our Troop has accomplished many things, and we continue to become stronger as we learn and grow. Take a look at some of the major events in our past below.

Monday, October 7, 2019:
First Meeting

At the Delfin-Lara's home.

Attending: Scouts: Matt Siebert; Kaden Rankin; Caleb C.; Caydon C.; Wyatt D.-L.; Scoutmaster Jess Rankin; Committee Chair Isael “Coco” Delfin-Lara; ASM Dave Siebert; ASM Justin Crowder; Mr Cowell

October 18-20, 2019: First Troop Camping Trip

At Powell Springs Campground in Dewey, AZ with Pack 531 Arrow of Light and Webelos I.

Monday, October 21, 2019: First Troop Meeting at Ridgeline Academy

Monday, November 4, 2019: First New Recruit, Jack F., Attended Troop Meeting

Thursday, November 7, 2019: Official Charter Date

Saturday, December 7, 2019:
Pack 531 Crossover

At Anthem Veterans Memorial – first Crossover Scouts to Troop 531 including: Blake R., Trevor L., Ian C., Isaiah N., Brecken M., Max O., James F. and Matt H.

January 2020:
First Patrols established - Tank Patrol and Skull Patrol

February 9, 2020: First Troop 531 Scout Sunday

Monday, March 23, 2020: First Online Troop Meeting due to Covid-19 concerns

April 3-4, 2020:
First One-night Virtual Campout

Scouts logged in and setup tents in their backyards or inside their home and cooked online while on camera; Lights out (logoff) at 9:30pm and Wake-up and cook breakfast (login) at 7:00am

May 1-3, 2020: Second One-night Virtual Campout

Scout Games!: Kahoot and Astronomy Scavenger Hunt; Fireside Chat, logged in on Saturday to participate in BSA’s National Camp-In, Troop 531 members submitted recorded skits for virtual campfire (Jack and Dean stole the show.)

May 16, 2020: First Totin’ Chip Training at Pioneer Living History Museum – in person

June 26-28, 2020: Kayaking camping trip at Blue Ridge Reservoir (but actually Lake Mary)

We went to Lake Mary because Blue Ridge limited the number of people who could be on the lake due to Covid-19 concerns

June 29, 2020: First Court of Honor at Rose Garden Chapel; Blake R. was Master of Ceremonies

December 29, 2020: Pack 531 Crossover and first-ever Legends Ceremony

March 22, 2021: Troop 531 First Elections for SPL

June 2021: Troop 531 attends Camp Geronimo for the first time

We earned the Big “G’ Gold award; Scouts evacuated on Friday evening due to the Backbone Fire (ashes were dropping fromthe sky in camp and Scouts got a real live emergency preparedness experience!)

October 1-3, 2021: Troop 531 staffs and helps operate first-ever R-BOO-C at R-C Scout Ranch

January 14-17, 2022: San Diego Sailing Weekend

Awards

Troop 531 has been honored several times over the years. Here are some of our Troop Awards.

2020: Troop of the Year, Pinnacle Peak District, Grand Canyon Council

June 2021: Big “G” Gold, Camp Geronimo (20 Scouts)

2022: Troop of the Year, Pinnacle Peak District, Grand Canyon Council

June 2022: Big “G” Gold, Camp Geronimo (29 Scouts)

June 2023: Big “G” Gold, Camp Geronimo (41 Scouts)

June 2024: Big “G” Gold, Camp Geronimo (41 Scouts)

Senior Patrol Leaders

The SPL is the leader of our troop, and directs the activities and goals of our scouts. Here are the SPLs of our past.

Kaden Rankin: October 2019 – July 2020

Caleb C.: August 2020 – September 2021

Ryan O.: October 2021 – March 2022

Isaiah N.: April 2022 – September 2022

Blake R.: October 2022 – March 2023

Cameron D.: April 2023 – September 2023

Zane J.: October 2023 - March 2024

Ajishveera J.: April 2024 - September 2024

Austin B.: October 2024 - present

Scoutmasters

The Scoutmaster is the support system to the troop and the SPL. While the troop is Scout-led, the Scoutmaster is often necessary to achieve the goals chosen by Scouts.

Jess Rankin: 2019 – 2024

Seth Wilson: 2024 – present

Committee

The Committee handles anything that scouts cannot and the Scoutmaster would be swamped if it were all his responsibility. Below are the chairs of our committee from our beginning to the present.

Isael Delfin-Lara: 2019 - 2022

Jen Drew: 2022 – 2024

Tylissa Wagner 2024 - present

In the news

We made the papers! View below some of the articles written about us in our history.

March 2020: Grand Canyon Connection

article highlighting Troop 531 combining Scouting For Food with Scout Sunday with other Troops and Packs (pgs 30 & 36): https://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/march2020_newsletter.pdf

May 23, 2020: Hour of Honor on “Good Morning Arizona”

TV Channel 3 at Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Arizona - https://youtu.be/Ok-DeKKOrmA?si=7xT3YYL1u5AJZg6G

August 2022: ABC TV Channel 15 does story on Troop 531

entrepreneur and Scout Zane J. gets guidance on owning a detailing business with Bob Moses Ceramic Coating -https://youtu.be/Ok-DeKKOrmA?si=7xT3YYL1u5AJZg6G

August 2022: Grand Canyon Connection

article about R-BOO-C (pg 28): https://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-August-Newsletter.pdf

August 2022: Grand Canyon Connection

article about Zane J. from Troop 531 (pg 29): https://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-August-Newsletter.pdf

September 2022: Grand Canyon Connection

article about Troop 531 Chartered Organization Rep George Chartier (with incorrect photo in the article on pg 7!) : https://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-September-Newsletter.pdf

October 2022: Grand Canyon Connection

article about Troop 531 ASM Justin Crowder (pg 7): https://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-October-Newsletter.pdf

December 2022: Grand Canyon Connection

article about Troop 531 ASM Seth Wilson (pg 9): https://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-December-Newsletter.pdf

February 15, 2023: Foothills Focus article

on City of Phoenix Adopt-A-Street quarterly service project - https://www.thefoothillsfocus.com/news/troop-531-believes-in-community-service/article_6e83d45e-ac8f-11ed-8c51-234e4b575705.html

February 2023: Grand Canyon Connection

article about Troop 531 earning Troop of the Year (pg 17): https://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023-February-Newsletter.pdf

July 2023: Grand Canyon Council Instagram post

volunteers from Troop 531 help collect thousands of flags and organize them at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2ikFefKKMK/?img_index=1

August 2023: Grand Canyon Connection

article about Troop 531 serving and leading R-BOO-C (pg 16): https://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023-August-Newsletter.pdf

October 2023: Grand Canyon Council blog and social media posts

Troop 531 serves and leads 400+ people at R-BOO-C: https://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/2023/10/13/r-boo-c-halloween-family-fun-camp-where-scouting-meets-spooktacular-fun/

January 2024: Grand Canyon Council blog and social media posts

Pack 531 Crossover and Troop 531’s Crossover Camp: https://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/2024/01/25/troop-531s-unique-approach-to-welcoming-new-scouts/

January 2024: Grand Canyon Connection

article about Pack 531 Crossover and Troop 531’s Crossover Camp (pg 17): https://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-January-Newsletter.pdf

January 2024: Grand Canyon Council Instagram post

Court of Honor Mc's

Every six months we have a ceremony to award rank advancement and merit badges among other things. This event is planned and organized by someone different each time, and this task is part of the Communications merit badge. Here is the list of our Masters of Ceremonies of the Troop 531 Court of Honor.

June 29, 2020: Blake R.

January 8, 2021: Ian C.

April 19, 2021: Isaiah N.

September 11, 2021: Sam Grumeretz

January 28, 2022: Trevor L.

May 13, 2022: Connor J.W.

September 19, 2022: Brayden H.

January 30, 2023: Ajishveera J.

May 15, 2023: Rowan S.

September 18, 2023: Cameron D.

January 29, 2024: Patrick S.

May 6, 2024: Prajith P.

September 9, 2024: Arshvir A.