The Troop was founded in 1954 at the East Whittier United Methodist Church. There were not very many scoutmasters in the troop two of which were Mr. Fretz and Tod Mead. They started this troop because the community needed one because of the tensions between wars. Even though the wars had ended, they decided to build a church for the community to regroup. Along with the church, they decided to start scouting for the people who needed it. Back then, the Troop was scout led. Now, it has still stayed the same. The way the Troop does things like the patrol method. The Troop also does interviews so that scouts can get ready for real life job interviews. It also teach scouts to be confident. Scouting also teaches us to troubleshoot and to multi-task.
Written by Zaiden T. 

Conquering Mount San Jacinto
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Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness is a stunning 14,000-acre playground of natural beauty, offering jaw-dropping vistas and trails for everyone from beginner hikers to seasoned climbers. With over 50 miles of trails, visitors can take a leisurely stroll through pine-scented forests or push themselves on challenging ascents to some seriously epic viewpoints.

Recently, Troop 985 embarked on an unforgettable backpacking trip to Mount San Jacinto. The adventure began with a thrilling ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which whisked them up to the top of the mountain. From there, the scouts backpacked around 2.5 miles to the Monkey Flower campground and set up camp.
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After settling in, a small group of scouts took on the challenge of hiking up to Wellman Divide at an elevation of 9,692 feet. This demanding hike rewarded them with incredible views and the opportunity to explore the area’s diverse wildlife and unique ecosystems.

Three scouts stepped up as camp chefs, each in charge of cooking for their respective groups. They made dinner on the trail, proving that camp food can be both tasty and fun—yes, even if it included boiling spam!
Whether you’re camping high up in the mountains or riding the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Mount San Jacinto offers something for everyone. It’s a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and the perfect spot for scouts to have an adventure.

Special thanks go to Mrs. Dorner for organizing this backpacking trip. Mrs. Dorner and Mr. Marucci, our High Adventure Trained (HAT) leaders, are specially trained to ensure that our scouts can safely embark on such incredible adventures.

Those who made the trip included scouts: Alston, Benjamin, Brent, Daniel, Jack, Nathan, Skyler, Vincent, and Zaiden. Adult leaders accompanying them were Mrs. Dorner, Mr. Marruci, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Denham, and Mr. Yue.

Celebrating Pack 710's Bridging Ceremony
On May 16th, our troop had the pleasure of welcoming four new cub scouts from Pack 710 in Hacienda Heights. Over the past few years, Troop 985 has received more than 20 scouts from this outstanding pack, based at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church. The convenient 10-minute drive over the hill to Whittier makes this transition seamless.
We’re especially excited to share that two of these new scouts are brothers to existing scouts in Troop 985, reinforcing the sense of family and community within our troop.
With these new scouts joining our ranks, we're excited to see our troop returning to its pre-pandemic strength. It's heartening to witness the resurgence of scouting, as it brings together like-minded families to enjoy the great outdoors, develop leadership skills, and, most importantly, have fun.
We’re thrilled to see scouting thriving again and look forward to the adventures and growth that lie ahead. Welcome to all our new scouts – we’re glad to have you on board!

Troop 985’s Court of Honor Ceremony
​Troop 985 recently held our biannual Court of Honor ceremony, a cherished event where we come together to recognize the achievements and progress of our scouts. This time, our new Senior Patrol Leader, Skyler, took on the role of emcee, with valuable assistance from Nathan and Matthew, our Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders.
The evening was a testament to the dedication and hard work of our scouts over the past six months. Scouts who had advanced in their ranks were honored, and those who had completed merit badges received their awards. It was a proud moment for everyone involved, especially our new scouts who got a firsthand look at how our troop celebrates accomplishments.
Following the ceremony, we enjoyed a small potluck where families mingled, shared delicious food, and celebrated the successes of our scouts. It was a wonderful night of recognition, community, and camaraderie. Congratulations to all our scouts on their achievements, and thank you to everyone who helped make this event a memorable one!

Congratulations to our new leadership!

Every six months we have troop elections at our troop. The boys get to vote on their new leadership for the next six months. It is a sort of changing of the guard. This spring-summer term our new leadership is as follows:

Senior Patrol Leader: Skyler A.
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader: Matthew M.
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader: Nathan C.

Troop Guide: Brent D.
Troop Scribe: Landon D.
Quartermasters: Benjamin D., Kenneth Y., and Jack O.
Chaplin’s Aid: Julian L.

Patrol Leaders:
Cowboys: Willam Y
Timbersharks: Zachary L
Vikings: Samuel C
Leadership Core: Caden H.

Next month we will be heading to our Spring Camporee, a big competition between other troops in our district with our new leadership boys. We are all behind you guys. Let’s do this!

This weekend, our troop went to Big Dalton Wilderness Area for Advancement Weekend. There, older boys in the troop helped newer scouts learn basic scouting skills. Among these included how to use knives and fire safely, and they also learned how to identify signs of wildlife while on hikes and around the campsite. Once the day was nearly over, we had a campfire, filled with funny skits and hilarious jokes. Overall, everyone had a great time this weekend.

Left: Scouts ready to go the the campsite
Right: Loading up the trailer with gear that we will be bringing

Rushing to set up camp so we can all go to bed earlier

Timbersharks patrol cooking breakfast for the troop

Leadership core teaches younger scouts on different topics, including knots, first aid, and knife safety

Mr. Marucci teaches the scouts how to sharpen their knives while also reiterating on knife safety

Benjamin teaches the scouts different methods to build and light a fire

Scouts practice building and lighting fires

The scouts prepare for the hike by checking their bags and finding the trail they will be taking

During the hike, scouts spotted several signs of wildlife, including tracks and burrows. They also came across poison oak

Mathew and Jack grilling chicken dinner for the troop

At night, we had our campfire program, featuring skits from the patrols and songs led by the adults

The next day, we had a Scouts' Own service

Taking down camp, as it was time to head home

We are happy to welcome boys from Pack 438 into Troop 985!
​This weekend, we held the bridging ceremony for the new boys, officially welcoming them to the troop. During the ceremony, each boy was given a new hat and neckerchief to match the uniform of the troop.

​We all hope that they have a great time in the Troop!

Last weekend, our troop visited the USS Iowa. There, we received a tour of a few of the numerous rooms aboard the ship. Among some of those we visited were the war room, where strategic decisions would be made, the kitchen and mess, and the room President Franklin D. Roosevelt resided in while being transported to a conference between the United States, United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. We even got to see the bathtub that was installed to accommodate Roosevelt during his journey.

After the tour, we went back to the mess for dinner and got to sleep in the bunks used by the sailors throughout the many years that this ship has been in service. Visiting this historic battleship was an unforgettable experience that not only provided us with a glimpse into the lives of those who served aboard this ship but also allowed us to have fun while doing so.​