Ted M. Vinson is the Scoutmaster of Troop 204 in Marietta. He brings many years of experience to Troop 204. He earned his Arrow of Light in Cub Pack 305 in Macon and earned his Eagle with 5 Palms in Troop 7. He was elected to the Order of the Arrow and was a member of the Echeconnee Lodge in Central Georgia where he served as Ordeal Master for several years, Lodge Secretary/Treasurer, and Lodge Chief. He received his Vigil Honor in 1970.

As an adult, Ted has served as an Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 7 in Macon (1967-1971) and then in Troop 144 in Marietta from 1971-1973. He maintained his membership in Troop 144 while serving as a MP in Vietnam. In 1974, he became Scoutmaster of Troop 144 at Marietta First Baptist Church and served there until 1993. In 1994, Ted reinstated Troop 204 at Roswell Street Baptist Church. In 2014, Troop 204 changed to its new Chartering Institution, Maple Avenue United Methodist Church. From 1974-2023, 100 young men have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Camping has always been a big part of scouting for Ted. Troop campouts include the bi-annual trips to the Okefenokee Swamp, beach trips to Pensacola and Hunting Island, a few Mother-Son campouts, camping in the spring at DeSoto State Park, the summer at Lake Conasauga, and the fall at Cloudland Canyon. The troop camps 11 months of the year, with a break only in December because of scheduling conflicts. Favorite troop camping places include FDR State Park, Rocky Mountain Recreation Area and various privately owned properties throughout the state. Summers have included week long camps at Bert Adams Scout Camp, Comer Scout Reservation, troop summer camps, and Woodruff Scout Camp.

Training, both personal and the training of adults and scouts, has also been important to Ted. He attended the 92-10 Wood Badge course held at the old Camp J K Orr in 1973. As a member of the Eagle patrol, he completed his ticket shortly before becoming Scoutmaster of Troop 144. In the following years, he has served with Wood Badge staffs for 20 different courses. He was the Course Director for 92-56 in 2007. He has served as a staff advisor and a staff liaison in recent years. He has attended Trainer Development Conferences and Wood Badge Course Director Conferences. Additional training includes NRA certification, ServSafe certification, CPR/Cpro Instructor certification and training at the Philmont Training Center. He is currently National Camp School certified for camp director and as a short term camping administrator. Adults in Troop 204 are encouraged to complete all training for their position and then attend Wood Badge. As for the training of scouts, Troop Leader Training weekends are held and scouts are encouraged to attend the council JYLT courses, in addition to ongoing youth development and training as part of normal troop operations.

Involvement leads to learning. Ted’s participation in a variety of scouting activities outside of the troop activities includes District Camping Committee Chairman and Cobb Camporee Chief (1980) for the Colossal Cobb District, a member at large of the Foothills District for many years, Scouters’ Winter Campout staff (Scoutmaster, 1987) and Silver Claw patrol member, Campout of the Century and succeeding council wide camporees Physical Arrangements Chair (2010, 2013, 2016), a member of the AAC Youth Protection Seminar staff and Annual Program Kickoff staff, National Jamboree Scoutmaster (1985 & 1989) and Assistant Scoutmaster (2010), and National Jamboree Staff (2013 & 2017) and was chosen for the World jamboree staff for 2019. Ted has served on the Bert Adams staff as camp commissioner (2011-2012) and on the Woodruff summer camp staff as operations/business manager (2014-2016). He was the Camp Director for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and is for 2024. He currently serves on the AAC camping committee and has served on the Wood Badge Committee. He also serves on the Wood Badge cook team, the Council cook team, for council events and other events as needed. In addition, he has served on the Southeast Region Camp Assessment team since 2002.

Ted has received the Scouter’s Training Award, Scouter’s Key, District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver, Scoutmaster’s Award of Merit, Foothills Lifetime Achievement Award, and the James E. West Fellowship.

Ted met Donna in 1971 while he was working with Troop 144, and they were married in 1972. They have one daughter, Tammy, who is a graduate of Georgia State University. She works in and calls San Francisco home.

On January 1, 2014, the Troop moved to a new home at Maple Avenue United Methodist Church (MAUMC).

April 1, 2024 marks the start of 51 years of Service as Scoutmaster!

Ted continues to be the Scoutmaster of Troop 204 and firmly believes that “Scouting is Outing!”

Scoutmaster Ted Vinson

Cell (404)473-8015

email: bushwacker204@yahoo.com