North Seattle’s Boy Scout Troop 100 has started their annual tree sale at St. Alphonsus Church in Ballard, continuing a tradition that goes back over 60 years in the Ballard community. In fact, this fall Troop 100 will be celebrating their 75th year as a troop in Ballard.

The sale is their sole fundraiser for the year.The fundraiser raises money for their many adventures in the wilderness and to pay for summer camps. Once a month from September to June the scouts have an outing and the funds go toward paying for those trips. Also, every year scouts have a special extended summer trip where they go backcountry and hone their skills. Last year the troop went canoeing down the Pend Oreille River near Spokane and 45 kids went to Camp Meriwether in Oregon.

Ballardites should hurry to claim their trees because they are going fast. This year the troop has everything from Norway Spruce, Noble Fir, Grand Fir and Fraser. Wreaths and garland are also offered.

Even the local Firefighters from Station 35 in Crown Hill ornamented their fire engine with a wreath from the scouts. Firefighter John Stone supervised the lot for four years while his son was in the scouts. Stone said that these days he comes down to support the troop when he can. Stone and a crew from Station 35 bought a wreath and pinned it to the front of their fire engine.

Ballardite Dave Hansen has a son and daughter involved in the scouts. Hansen was volunteering at the tree lot when the Ballard News-Tribune stopped by last week.

“I couldn’t think of a better fundraiser for us to do. Scouts love the outdoors, so to raise money working with trees makes a lot of sense – you’re smelling the trees and outside working,” said Hansen. ”We’ve been blessed that every year we can send the scouts out to do something they all enjoy.”

The tree sale started just after Thanksgiving and will continue until the trees are gone or December 20th.

For more information visit http://troop100seattle.com