MN Troop 100 Needs Bus Repairs

Scout BSA Troop 100 has contributed much to generations of youth and the Hmong American community in the Twin Cities area for more than 40 years. Today, we still continue to have a strong youth program and continue to remain one of the largest scout troops within the Northern Star Council. Over the years, we have been able to provide a safe and nurturing environment for young Hmong men to acquire not only Scouting skills, but also lifelong leadership abilities, thanks to the continued support and generosity of many individuals in the community. And since 2018, we have welcomed and shared this same high level scouting program to many girls as well.

Today, our most critical and immediate need is to repair our Troop Bus. Sadly, on a recent camping trip to the North Shore of Minnesota, The Transmission unexpectantly gave out, leaving us stranded on the side of the road 4 hours away from home. Repair estimates are over $10,000. We need your help. We ask for your kind donations to help us repair our Bus so that we may continue to go on camping trips and other troop activities.

The most important aspect of running Scout Troop 100 has been and still is transportation. Our Troop bus have been crucial in bringing our 50+ scouts from all areas of the Twin Cities to do the following:

- Monthly camping trips

- Annual spring break trip to Utah

- Annual leadership trip to Washington DC

- Transportation for regular community service projects and activities

Aside from being used for the Scout Troop during the school year, The Bus is also the main transportation method used for shuttling over 300 Camp Ajawah campers each year to many of their destinations and activities during Summer Camp. Without the bus, both troop 100 and camp ajawah will be affected with the loss of this essential part of our programs.

A Brief History of Hmong Boy Scout Troop 100

In 1981, long time Minneapolis Public Schools history teacher and Scoutmaster Dave Moore invited Hmong refugee students at Edison High School for a lesson in Boy Scouts. It was an opportunity to teach the newly arrived refugees about the outdoors. Trapped in the busy life of a strange new home in the inner city, many young Hmong students yearned for the familiarity which they found in the Scouting tradition of outdoor adventure. Hence, the birth of Hmong Boy Scout Troop 100.

Within a short time, Troop 100 became one of the most competitive, accomplished, and storied organizations of the Boy Scouts of America, which was featured in the National Geographic magazine in 1988 and subsequently in many editions of the Boy Scouts of America publications, as well as the St.Paul Pioneer Press, Mpls Star and Tribune, and the Skyway News. To date, Hmong Boy Scout Troop 100 has produced 159 Eagle Scouts, the highest rank in the Scouting movement. A dozen Troop 100 Scouts have been chosen to attend National and World Scout Jamborees. Two of our Scouts have presented the National Annual Report of Scouting to Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and to Congress. Today, our Hmong Boy Scout Troop 100 alumns are proud and accomplished educators, business owners, authors, legislators, dentists, police and conservation officers, physicians, dentists, pharmacists, US servicemen, community advocates and leaders, attorneys, federal, state, and local officials, scientists, engineers, entertainers, and the list continues.

Your contributions in any amount is greatly appreciated. Thank you!