We surely get into some serious adventuring around here.  That means there are some dedicated leaders willing to drive the van and lay down the credit card for campsite reservations when they are called upon.  Meet the 845 adult leader crew:

John FarleyScoutmaster: John Farley aka The Professor, Doctor, FarlsBarkly
The man behind all of this madness.  John is a man dedicated to Scouting.  He started his illustrious career as a Cub and moved on to Boy Scouts, honing his tolerance for the cold in harsh New England weather.

Down here in NC he started on the committee as trip coordinator, then moved to the ranks of ASM and finally was promoted to the job of SM.  He has earned his woodbadge beads and is thinking about powderhorn. He's guided the Northern Tier high adventure and Bahamas Seabase high adventure and is leading a patrol to the National Jamboree this summer.

We have a ton of  young scouts in the troop that love to get up at 6am on camping trips.  This is a huge problem for all the ASMs and all the high school scouts but it doesn't bother John as he likes to get up at some crazy hour in the 4ish range and get a pot of coffee brewing.

 

 

The LegendaryASM: If you have to ask you haven't been paying attention.

If you are active in the district you have to know.  If you are new to scouting simply show up at one meeting and your education will be complete.  He's possibly the most notorious and best known scouter in Orange District.

Big glasses, bigger smile, even bigger appetite.  He goes on trips for the age old reason that they are fun and he always has a fantastic time.  He has been on more outings than anyone can remember and has been to more UNC football and basketball games than anyone in town.  He works crazy hours and often goes to work the midnight shift right after guiding a weekend trip.

There is only one rule with him.  It must be followed at all times, whether or not you are with the troop and even if you aren't on a Scouting function.

'All extra food must go to him.'  It has never been violated and we pray that it never is.....it's probably like crossing the streams.

 

 

Brian BurnhamASM: Brian Burnham

Brian doesn't like to get up early on trips and whines when the dishwashing water is too hot or too cold, making him virtually worthless on trips.  He does however drive the van so the troop is planning on keeping him around at least a bit longer.

Brian earned his Eagle in Charlotte's Troop 12 and has been Scoutmiestering in Chapel Hill now for 9 years.  His passions lie in high adventure and he has thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, biked across the US 4 times, and has 5 of 7 continents under his belt for trekking and climbing. 

For Troop 845 he focuses on the outdoor program and participates in a dozen or so outings a year.  He led Troop 845's cross-country bike trips www.Cycle20Ten.com, the John Muir Trail thru-hike, Habitat for Humanity Guatemala, the 546 mile thru hike of the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and this summer he is leading a Habitat for Humanity trip to Chile followed by some trekking in Patagonia.

 

Bill StonecypherASM: Bill Stonecypher

Bill brings passion and organization to the troop....he also has a sweet Toyota Tundra with a trailer hitch so he brings that on all the trips too.

Bill oversees our first year program at the troop, which makes him a very busy man.  We have an absolute ton of Scouts working towards first class, so week in and week out Bill is teaching, setting up work stations, signing books, and constantly has a line for Scoutmaster Conferences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ben BiddixASM: The Ben Biddix - This is not just any regular Ben, this is The Ben Biddix.  He earned his Eagle in Belmont, NC and was known to rock full camo to school and hand paint his truck camo, that's how they roll in Western Cackalacky. 

He now enjoys all things Scouting but enjoys the cold just a bit less.  He has been known to hang out in his car with the heat on during a snowstorm on a camping trip.  He is guiding on the Camino de Santiago trip to Spain in the summer of 2011, which he's super stoked about, but is less stoked about the promise of lots of cold rain in the Pyrennes.

 

 

Mark McBurneyASM - Mark McBurney - Mark brings the tough Irish culture to the Troop.  In the summer he likes it hot and humid with steep hills and bugs, the winter draws him with cold wet snow, and of course plenty of coffee no matter where or when. 

In the summer you can find Mark out on the Appalachian Trail piecing the southeast together section by section during his ASM career at Troop 845.