1) No matter what we do, Troops 158 strives to include the element of fun.
2) We presently have 16 enrolled Boy Scouts. Perhaps it is our fun element which influenced almost all
who are still working on merit badges to come to summer camp this year.
3) We have 18 active adult leaders, several of whom have had many years of experience.
4) Costs: Our dues for January – December, 2023 are $109 per Scout, and another $15 if you want the
magazine subscription. First time Scouts must add $25 for additional national processing and $30 to
cover the cost of Scout handbook and bolo tie unless they have these already. We keep these amounts
as low as possible and collect fees on an activity-by-activity basis. Most campouts cost about
$20. Some activities like a submarine sleepover or skiing/tubing will cost more.
5) Fundraising: Youth get a percentage of what they earn. It is not unusual for a Scout who has actively
fundraised to have earned half of their summer camp or high adventure experience costs.
6) During the school year, we meet on Mondays from 7 – 8:30 PM unless there is no school. Attendance
is not mandatory, but meetings are fun, so Scouts look forward to attending. We understand that they
are sometimes busy with conflicting activities, so we don’t make an issue of absences.
7) Schools: We presently have members who attend three different area high schools and three middle
schools.
8) We have outings every month. If there are scheduling conflicts we might modify an activity, but as a
rule we prefer not to cancel, which would penalize the Scouts who can attend.
9) We go to Summer Camp every year, usually less than 200 miles from home.
10) We have restarted offering a High Adventure activity every year. We’ve attended Philmont and other
BSA High Adventure camps, but the last few experiences have been low cost (under $500) and in the
Midwest.
11) Uniform requirements for Troop meetings are the tan Scouts BSA shirt, tucked in. We wear bolos
instead of neckerchiefs, and one is provided along with a Scout handbook upon crossing over into
Troops 158.
12) We don’t consider ourselves to be a “Merit Badge Factory” or “Eagle Factory”, but we have enough
adult participation to provide the right amount of guidance and motivation, producing over 130 Eagle
Scouts. We work on some badges as troop activities and at meetings, but participation is optional.
Scouts work at their own pace.
13) Over 90% of our Life Scouts will achieve Eagle before aging out because of the adult guidance that we
provide.
14) A Religious Emblem Program is available through our Charter Organization.
15) The Scouts make the majority of the decisions for the Troop, so we are thus “youth-led”. Adults will
suggest activities, but the Scouts will make final decisions. They plan all the Troop meeting contents
every three months.