Catholic scouting

A few years ago, the Troops of St. George (TSG) went on the adventure of a lifetime.
            
“We did our North Unit trip, and the trails were particularly difficult to hike due to heavy rainfall the few days before,” said Jeremy Vidmar, Captain of TSG Troop 777. “It was a muddy mess most of the way. The eight-mile hike took a full eight hours and there were many moments that were more than a little nerve-racking.”
            
Ultimately, Vidmar says it was a character-building experience that won't easily be forgotten.
            
“It was so very memorable because the boys had to persevere through it,” he said. “They did a great job! They helped each other through the difficult times and enjoyed the filth with each other. Many of them still talk about that year and say that it is the best trip they have ever been on.”
            
The Troops of Saint George is a fraternal Catholic nonprofit apostolate for priests, grown men and young men looking for a life of adventure coupled with virtue. According to its mission statement: “The Troops of Saint George apostolate aims to use the outdoors as our canvas and the sacraments as our path to light the way for the formation of Holy Catholic men and boys. Whether called to the vocation of the priesthood, the religious life, or that of holy fatherhood, our fathers and sons will take a prayerful pilgrimage together to fulfill Christ’s desire.”
            
Initially founded in 2013, the organization has become a collection of troops that do the following and more: experience reverent and beautiful Masses on mountaintop vistas, pray the rosary with other men around fire pits in the freezing cold, catch a Friday fish meal by fly fishing for trout and teach our sons archery, rock-climbing, marksmanship, fishing, survival skills and Catholic virtues. The group also fosters a love for the priesthood and a reverence for the sacrament of matrimony, and support our local parishes, priests, bishops and community by being available for works of mercy and service.
             
Within our diocese, TSG Troop 777 was founded in 2015 and currently has 75 members; 26 of them are fathers and 12 serve as leaders. The boys in the troop are ages five through 18. “When a young man reaches the age of 18, they technically ‘age out’ but can still participate if they have younger siblings,” Vidmar said. “Further, many of the fathers have a number of younger children who will be coming in the troops in the next few years.”
            
Troop 777 does not have regular, sit-down meetings in one location. Instead, all their events are ‘on location,’ with about one scheduled event during each month of the year, except for December. During the colder months, the troop usually holds events indoors, such as lock-ins or in a cabin or yurt (at Cross Ranch State Park). Most of their events involve sleeping in a tent and hiking in natural areas.
            
In recent years, the troop did a 14-mile canoe trip after a primitive, overnight camping experience on the Missouri River. They have also enjoyed helping with several service opportunities and outreach activities. This September, they went on a two-night camping and hiking trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota. 
            
No matter what they are up to, Troop 777 is ready to live life to the fullest. 
            
“Our very popular lock-in includes an epic Nerf gun battle and dads’ basketball game (usually one or two of the dads is unable to move the next day)!” Vidmar said. “Also, my favorite trip every year is the back country camping/hiking trip to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Many good memories have been made there, not to mention excursions that the mothers would certainly be nervous about. The boys love it!”
            
When asked why he chose to join the Troops of St. George, Vidmar explained, “Young men need a place to encounter nature so they may grow in relationship with the Lord and in virtue. That is the primary reason why I enjoy being in the Troops. I also wanted to join because I already knew so many of the families that were in it, and it felt like a great community to be part of—good men, good fathers and good kids. In a time when finding other men and families that are seeking the Lord in their day-to-day life is difficult, it is great to be a part of the TSG. As fathers, we are able to connect during our outings in order to support each other as disciples living out Catholic family life.” 
            
As it usually goes, when one gives, they are blessed abundantly in return. According to Vidmar, helping with the TSG has been a spiritually edifying and uplifting experience in countless ways.
            
“At the end of every event, we ask the boys what they learned during it,” he said. “The answers we hear are often humorous and inspiring. It has been great to hear about things like how the older (senior cadets) helped the younger cadets to get through a difficult hike or how the boys learned how to start a fire.” 
            
A couple of years ago, Fr. Dustin Johns, Parochial Vicar at Ascension Parish in Bismarck and instructor at St. Mary's Central High School, joined the TSG as its chaplain. 
            
“Father Johns has been a great addition to the troop,” Vidmar said. “He is always eager to come to our events and offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for us as well as other sacraments, such as confession. This has upped the level of Christ's presence during our trips.”
            
Fr. Johns also offers the Liturgy of the Hours and prays the rosary along with the troop members. 
        
“I enjoy working with the Troops of St. George because it is a great organization that allows boys to be boys doing boy things, while growing in their faith and deepening their relationship with Our Lord,” Fr. Johns said. “I am present at events and offer spiritual guidance and partake in the activities. It is great to see how curious the boys are about their faith by all the questions they ask. It is also good to see how willing they are to serve at Mass.”
            
When asked why he would encourage more boys to join this amazing organization, Fr. Johns responded, “The Troops of St. George is an adventure-based centered organization that is structured after the Boy Scouts. It forms boys in becoming virtuous men who love Jesus and their country. Every one of its events is very Christ-centered and special in its own unique way.”
 
For more information about Troop 777, contact Jeremy Vidmar, Captain of TSG Troop 777, at [email protected].