Helena Scouts Launch Annual Christmas Tree Sale Supporting Local Programs

About 15 Scouts and their leaders fanned out early on Saturday morning, November 23, to cut roughly 180 trees donated by local landowners, marking the start of the Helena area Boy Scouts annual Christmas tree sale. The Prickly Pear District has organized a tree lot in Helena for more than 50 years, and the funds raised are put toward troop activities and programs that serve local youth.

After cutting, the troops transported the trees to the Helena Indian Alliance where they set up the lot. Volunteers unloaded the shipment in less than 30 minutes from four trucks and two small trailers, then measured and organized each tree by size. The efficiency of the operation allowed the Scouts to prepare quickly for sales that opened the same day.

Fourteen year old Isaac Penner and eleven year old Nicholes McRae, both from Troop 207, were among those who helped harvest the trees. Isaac said he enjoyed the experience, noting it was his first time cutting trees even though he had sold at the lot in previous years. He said, "I have been in the troop for three years, so I have sold for a while at the tree lot, but it’s my first time being out cutting trees. It’s actually pretty fun, so for my first time, I’d say it’s fun." Nicholes, who does not have the use of a left hand, described adapting to the work and his appreciation for the landscape, saying, "When you just look out with no trees in the way, it’s just a beautiful sight." He also described improvising to move a tall tree, saying, "There was a tree that was tall, and I couldn’t move it with my other hand, so I just kicked it with my right foot, and it actually worked."

Prickly Pear chairman LeRoy Wosoba said about 40 Scouts between the ages of 11 and 16 will participate this year in sales, deliveries, assembly of stands, and flocking to create a snow covered appearance. He emphasized customer relations, saying, "What we really try to stress is customer service." The Scouts will continue to cut donated trees over the next several weekends and will place three larger trees at Anchor Park under a new agreement with the Helena Business Improvement District.

For residents, the sale offers a local source for holiday trees, supports youth programs, and reinforces civic partnerships between nonprofit youth organizations and downtown business interests. The lot opened on November 23 and will likely remain open through the last Sunday before Christmas, providing seasonal work for Scouts and a predictable fundraising channel for troop activities.