Troop 840 History From First Eagle to Record Breaking Year
The history of Troop 840 was built at campouts, carried in flags, marked by Eagle scouts, and remembered by the people who were there. Troop 840’s story has all of that.
From its start in 1973 to today, Troop 840 has built a history of accomplishment, leadership, and service. The milestones tell a clear story. This is a troop that did more than attend events. It hosted them. It built places for others to use. It won awards. It developed leaders. Most of all, it helped Scouts grow.
The record includes big public moments, like flag ceremonies and district events, and lasting achievements, like the building of the Nature Lodge at Tanah-Keeta in memory of Fred O’Toole. Together, they show how Troop 840 became a troop with deep roots and a long reach.
The beginning in 1973 set the course
Troop 840 began in 1973. In those early years, the troop quickly became part of the wider community. By 1974, Troop 840 participated in a flag ceremony for the dedication of the Capt. Alex Memorial. That moment showed an early pattern that would continue for decades. Troop 840 did not keep its Scouting experience inside the meeting place. It showed up for community remembrance, civic events, and meaningful ceremonies.
That kind of presence matters. A troop learns discipline when it carries flags. It learns respect when it stands in silence. It learns citizenship when Scouts see that service is not only a requirement for rank, but a way to belong to something larger.
The first major individual milestone came in 1979, when Dan Van Minnen became Troop 840’s first Eagle Scout. Every troop remembers its first Eagle. It proves the program is working. It gives younger Scouts a real example to follow. It also sets a standard for leadership, service, and perseverance.
Dan Van Minnen’s achievement began a long line of Eagle Scouts who would shape the troop’s identity for the next several decades.
The 1980s brought awards, hosting, and hands-on service
The 1980s were a major growth period for Troop 840. The troop became known not only for participating, but for competing well, hosting district activities, and taking on service projects that left something permanent behind.
In 1980, Troop 840 placed third overall at the Scoutmaster’s Camporee in Fort Lauderdale, an event that included 92 troops. That same year, Troop 840 hosted the District Camporee and saw the first district flag accepted by Paul Klett.
Those milestones point to a troop that was trusted by the district and respected among its peers. Hosting a camporee takes planning, youth leadership, adult support, and follow-through. Placing near the top in a large field shows skill and preparation.
In 1981, Troop 840 received the National Camping Award. Camping has always been one of the strongest measures of a troop’s health. A troop that camps regularly gives Scouts the chance to learn self-reliance, cooking, navigation, teamwork, and problem solving in real conditions.
By 1984, Troop 840 had earned the National Model Troop Award, another sign that its program had matured. The troop was not only active. It was being recognized for the quality of its program.
The Nature Lodge became a lasting tribute
One of the most meaningful entries in Troop 840’s history came in 1985, when the troop built the Nature Lodge at Tanah-Keeta in memory of Fred O’Toole.
Awards are important, but a project like this carries a different kind of weight. It becomes part of camp life. It serves Scouts who may never know the people who built it. It gives a name and a memory a physical place.
That same year, Troop 840 hosted the Fall District Camporee. The combination of building a lodge and hosting a district event says a lot about the troop’s energy during this period. It had the skills to serve, the organization to lead, and the commitment to leave camp better than it found it.
The next year, 1986, brought more distinction. Troop 840 won first place gateway at the Scoutmaster’s Camporee in Fort Lauderdale, where 97 troops took part. A gateway is more than decoration at a campsite. It reflects planning, knots, lashings, patrol pride, and the ability to turn raw materials into a strong entrance that represents the troop.
Also in 1986, Troop 840 became the first troop in the Sailfish District to have a female Assistant Scoutmaster, Charron. That milestone matters because adult leadership shapes the experience of every Scout. A broader leadership team can strengthen a troop, bring new skills, and show Scouts that service and mentorship belong to everyone with the commitment to lead.
The late 1980s showed skill and public presence
Troop 840 continued to lead in 1987, hosting a District Camporee focused on pioneering. Pioneering is one of Scouting’s classic hands-on skills. It asks Scouts to understand knots, spars, lashings, safety, and teamwork. A pioneering camporee also gives a troop the chance to teach by doing, building towers, bridges, gateways, and other structures that require careful planning.
That same year, Troop 840 took part in a flag ceremony for the completion of I-95 on the Treasure Coast. Like the 1974 memorial ceremony, this was a public moment. It placed the troop in the middle of regional history and showed Scouts taking part in a civic milestone.
In 1988, Troop 840 won first place for site inspection at the Scoutmaster’s Camporee in Fort Lauderdale, which included 103 troops. Site inspection rewards the basics done well. Clean camp. Safe setup. Good organization. Proper food storage. Tools put away. Patrol areas maintained.
Those details are easy to overlook, but they are the foundation of a strong outdoor program. A troop that wins site inspection has discipline in daily habits, not just in big moments.
The 1990s expanded the troop’s leadership role
The 1990s continued the pattern of hosting, competing, and building traditions.
In 1990, Troop 840 hosted another District Camporee. That same year, Scott McAfee won the patch design for the Scoutmaster’s Camporee in Fort Lauderdale. Patch design may seem small compared with a major construction project or district event, but patches become the memory people keep. They go on uniforms, blankets, and collections. They mark the year in a way Scouts can hold onto.
In 1992, Troop 840 hosted the Days of Discovery District Camporee and again won the National Model Troop Award. Winning that award a second time showed consistency. The troop’s strength was not limited to one good year or one strong group of leaders. It carried across time.
Then came one of the troop’s most lasting event traditions.
In 1995, the Klondike Derby was started by Troop 840. The troop also hosted the Klondike Derby that year, then hosted it again in 1996. Klondike Derby events are built around patrol competition, outdoor problem solving, and practical skills. A troop that starts such an event gives other Scouts a chance to test themselves and have fun while learning.
Also in 1996, Troop 840 held its first Show and Do. The name says a lot. This was not just a show-and-tell. It was about demonstration, participation, and active learning. It fit the best parts of Scouting, where skills are learned by doing, teaching, trying, and trying again.
A timeline of Troop 840 milestones
The full record shows how active Troop 840 has been across five decades. Some years brought awards. Others brought service projects, camporees, firsts, and Eagle milestones.
Year | Milestone |
1973 | Troop 840 began |
1974 | Flag ceremony for the dedication of the Capt. Alex Memorial |
1979 | Dan Van Minnen became the troop’s first Eagle Scout |
1980 | Third place overall at the Scoutmaster’s Camporee in Fort Lauderdale, with 92 troops |
1980 | Hosted the District Camporee |
1980 | First district flag accepted by Paul Klett |
1981 | Received the National Camping Award |
1984 | Won the National Model Troop Award |
1985 | Hosted the Fall District Camporee |
1985 | Built the Nature Lodge at Tanah-Keeta in memory of Fred O’Toole |
1986 | Won first place gateway at the Scoutmaster’s Camporee in Fort Lauderdale, with 97 troops |
1986 | First troop in the Sailfish District to have a female Assistant Scoutmaster, Charron |
1987 | Hosted the Pioneering District Camporee |
1987 | Flag ceremony for the completion of I-95 on the Treasure Coast |
1988 | Won first place for site inspection at the Scoutmaster’s Camporee in Fort Lauderdale, with 103 troops |
1990 | Hosted the District Camporee |
1990 | Scott McAfee won the patch design for the Scoutmaster’s Camporee in Fort Lauderdale |
1992 | Hosted the Days of Discovery District Camporee |
1992 | Won the National Model Troop Award |
1995 | Troop 840 started the Klondike Derby |
1995 | Hosted the Klondike Derby |
1996 | Hosted the Klondike Derby |
1996 | Held the first Show and Do |
2004 | Five Troop 840 members served on Wood Badge staff, the most from any troop to date |
2005 | Hosted the Klondike Derby |
2006 | Hosted the Klondike Derby |
2017 | Michael F. Difederico became Troop 840’s 100th Eagle Scout |
2023 | Troop 840 produced 10 Eagle Scouts in one year, a troop record |
Wood Badge leadership strengthened the troop’s foundation
In 2004, Troop 840 reached another leadership milestone when five members served on Wood Badge staff, the most from any troop to date.
Wood Badge is one of Scouting’s best-known adult leadership training programs. Serving on staff reflects a high level of trust, experience, and commitment. It also shows that Troop 840’s influence extended beyond its own youth members. Its adults helped train and support other leaders, which in turn strengthened Scouting beyond the troop.
That kind of adult leadership often appears behind the scenes. Scouts may remember the campouts, the games, the meals, and the high-adventure moments. But behind all of that are trained leaders who know how to keep the program safe, meaningful, and youth-led.
Troop 840’s Wood Badge milestone is a reminder that a troop’s history belongs to both the Scouts who advance and the adults who guide without taking over.
The Eagle Scout legacy reached 100 and then broke a record
The Eagle Scout trail has been part of Troop 840’s story since Dan Van Minnen became the first Eagle in 1979. Nearly four decades later, that legacy reached a major milestone.
In 2017, Michael F. Difederico became Troop 840’s 100th Eagle Scout.
That number represents far more than 100 ceremonies. Each Eagle Scout completed leadership, service, merit badges, outdoor requirements, and a major Eagle project. Each one also had help from patrol members, mentors, family, Scoutmasters, committee members, and the community.
Then, in 2023, Troop 840 set a new troop record by producing 10 Eagle Scouts in one year.
That achievement is remarkable because Eagle rank takes time. It cannot be rushed at the last minute. A 10-Eagle year reflects years of camping, advancement, leadership opportunities, mentoring, and personal effort. It also shows that the troop had a strong group of Scouts moving through the program with purpose.
What Troop 840’s history says about the troop
A timeline can list dates, but the pattern behind the dates tells the deeper story. Troop 840’s history points to several lasting strengths.
The troop values outdoor skill.
Awards for camping, gateways, site inspection, and pioneering all come from hands-on Scouting. These are the skills that turn a group of Scouts into a capable patrol.
The troop shows up for the community.
Flag ceremonies in 1974 and 1987 connect Troop 840 to moments of remembrance and regional history. Service has been part of the troop’s identity from early on.
The troop builds traditions.
Starting the Klondike Derby and hosting it across multiple years gave other Scouts a shared challenge and a lasting event.
The troop develops leaders.
From Eagle Scouts to Wood Badge staff, Troop 840 has produced youth and adult leaders who carry lessons forward.
The troop leaves things better.
The Nature Lodge at Tanah-Keeta stands out as a clear example. Some service projects last for a day. This one became part of camp life.
A legacy still being written
Troop 840 began in 1973 with the same basic promise every good troop makes: help young people grow through service, leadership, skill, and adventure.
The years since have added proof. A first Eagle in 1979. Camporee success through the 1980s. A lodge built in memory of Fred O’Toole. District events hosted again and again. A Klondike Derby started. Five members on Wood Badge staff. A 100th Eagle Scout in 2017. A record 10 Eagle Scouts in 2023.
That is the heart of Troop 840 History From First Eagle to Record Breaking Year. It is not one achievement. It is the steady work of generations.
The next milestone is still ahead. If the past is any guide, Troop 840 will meet it the same way it met the others: together, prepared, and ready to serve.
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