After seven years as Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 79, Philip "Flip" Fisher is stepping down. He was honored at a Court of Honor Sept. 26, as he passed the troop flag to the new Scoutmaster, Phil Weinhofer.

Fisher has collected plenty of special memories during his tenure at the helm of the Catasauqua troop.

"As much as Scouting is about the boys, I have found the friendships and camaraderie with the other adult leaders to be an unexpected personal benefit," Fisher told The Press last week. "But the most memorable experiences are seeing, first hand, the young scouts grow to mature young adults."

Among the activities that were particularly memorable for Fisher were camping on the beach at Assateague Island, staying aboard the naval ship the USS Salem and attending several World Brotherhood Camporee events in Morrisburg, Ontario.

Also at the Court of Honor, Scouts received rank advancements and awards earned in the last few months.

Six Scouts in the troop have attained the coveted Eagle rank during Fisher's years as Scoutmaster.

"Obtaining the rank of Eagle is the goal of many Scouts but less than 4 percent nationwide actually achieve that goal," Fisher said. "It's really the journey to Eagle that is the most important component in keeping the vitality of the troop. Everyone in the troop, whether attaining attain Eagle or not, participates in that journey."

Fisher himself, now 50, did not achieve the Eagle rank when he was a young Boy Scout. As an adult, he was a Cub Scout pack leader beginning in 2001, and then moved up to the Boy Scout troop as his son, Max, made the move. In 2013, Max achieved the rank of Eagle.

Fisher says Scouting today is very much the same as when he was a youth.

"The focus remains on character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness," he said. "The methods by which the goals are achieved via outdoor programs, rank advancement and personal growth through experience remain as relevant today as they were when I was younger."

It takes some flexibility on the part of troop leadership to maintain an active membership "There are so many opportunities for kids outside of scouting," he said. "It's very important to give the Scouts the opportunity to balance participating in Scouting with the multitude of activities available to them. Our adult leadership has made a commitment to supporting boys who have multiple interests, making it possible for Scouts to pursue Scouting at the same time they pursue athletics, fire fighting, band and other interests."

As a way of thanking Fisher for his years of leadership the Scouts and adult leaders presented him with a framed picture.

Fisher is happy to note there is a strong sense of legacy in the troop, as with many former Scouts join in during highlight activities each year. He also says the support St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, where the troop meets, has been a strong asset.

Fisher, a senior director for Partner Solutions Strategy with Dun & Bradstreet, Inc., resides in Catasauqua with his wife, Dawn, a Catasauqua School District teacher and Troop 94 treasurer, and with son Max, a senior at Moravian Academy, and daughter Katie, a Catasauqua Middle School student and an avid dancer.

Stepping down from Scoutmaster to assistant Scoutmaster will allow him more time to focus on supporting his daughter's interests. It's good for the troop, too, he says.

"It's time for some fresh energy at the Scoutmaster level," he says. "I'm not leaving the troop. I'm changing roles.