Troop 563 being one of the oldest troops in Marion County was started over 20 years ago.  For the past 15+ years Ludvig Olson III has been the Scoutmaster with his wife Janie filling the Treasurers title for almost as many years.
Many of the leaders have been in their capacity of leadership
for 8-12 years.

     Troop 563 spends its weekends never standing still.  The standard schedule for this troop is to be camping with the scouts once a month, 9 months out of 12. Three months a year the troop is backpacking. Three months a year the troop is canoeing. Three months a year the troop is Base Camping and every summer during the 3 month time off from school the troop attends one of the many week long summer camps.

     Weekly meeting are held at the Sparr Scout Shack located on Old Jacksonville Rd across from the old Sparr Building and Hardware Supply “lumber yard”. Meetings are at 7:00 PM on Tuesday night. Meetings are normally over by 8:45 PM.  During that time scouts train for advancement, learn camping skills, life long friendship, learn to cook for themselves and generally learn many life’s skills

     Troop 563 is sponsored by the Sparr United Methodist Church located ½ a block away just past the intersection. Troop 563 currently has 30 active scouts, 8 active leaders and 2 Eagle Scouts leaders all in attendance weekly.

     To become a Boy Scout a youngster must be either in 5^th grade and at least 10 years old or be 11 years old.  A child can remain a Boy Scout until his 18^th birthday at which time he either becomes a Junior Leader or a Senior Leader.
Below is the information to contact us.

Scoutmaster:  Ludvig Olson III
13225 Ne 32^nd Ave                  
Anthony, FL 32607
PH: 352-629-3747

     Troop 563 in the past many years has had 11 of its many scouts reach the ultimate advancement, the prestigious Eagle Scout rank.  Only 2 percent of all scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout and this troop has 11. 

That’s quite an achievement if you ask us.

Some of the activities Troop 563 has done are the past are listed as follows:

Summer Camps attended:

1. Camp Rainy Mountain         in Georgia
2. Camp Sydney Due              in Georgia
3. Camp Shands                     in Marion County, FL
4. Camp Daniel Boone
5. Camp Winochee                  in Florida

Waterways the troop have enjoyed canoeing and exploring:

1. Suwannee River
2. Withlacoochee River
3. Ocklawaha River

The troop has backpacked practically every inch of the Florida Trail and accumulated several hundred miles of backpacking. Of course that is 5-10 miles at a time. We don’t torture the scouts, they love it! Look forward to seeing you soon. It's a lot of fun.