Leadership, Outdoor experiences and Community Service are the pillars of Troop 61.  All of our scouts are expected to serve time in a leadership capacity.  Our Patrol Leaders Council meets every summer where, in addition to planning the program year, the scouts learn teamwork and leadership skills.

We camp outdoors 12 months of the year.  Most of the camp outs are two nights, with the exception of a nine-night scout camp and three or four night high adventure trip in July.  In the event of extreme weather, we will sleep out only one night.  Some past camp out activities have included:  12-mile hikes, 50-mile bike rides, quinzee building, rocketry, orienteering, caving, fishing, canoeing, and mountain climbing.  With few exceptions, we do not repeat the same location year to year.

Community Service is a big part of our troop.  We encourage all scouts to become involved with a group of their choice while offering several opportunities organized by the troop:  We spearhead volunteers for the Great Midwest Balloon Festival which raises money for children's charities in the Kansas City area,. twice a year we help clean and maintain the cemetery operated by our chartering organization, we provide color guard services for many local, Jewish agencies and organized events, and we participate in the Johnson County Stream Clean.

With all of these opportunities for Leadership, Outdoor activites and Community service, we say Troop 61 is a LOC!