How to Join
For Boys and their Parents
We are pleased that you are considering joining Boy Scout Troop 72. It is our hope that you will find your time with Troop 72 a rewarding and, most of all, fun experience in which to continue or begin your Scouting adventure.
We have an active program, attempting to camp one weekend out of each month and to schedule as many varied camping locations and experiences as possible throughout the year. There will be canoeing, backpacking, orienteering, biking, hiking, beach camping, skiing, family fun camping weekends, just to name a few. We encourage attendance at as many activities as you can make. If you miss one camp out you may lose out on an advancement or merit badge opportunity that may not be offered again for some time. Some activities require that you have participated in prior events to gain the knowledge and skills to safely participate in the current activity.
Our Troop Meetings are planned by and for the Scouts, not by the adult leaders. Scouts, this is your Troop and your responsibility to run it as you feel will allow all of you to meet and exceed the Scouting ideals. A Patrol Leader's Council (PLC) made up of Scouts takes the lead in planning and executing our Troop program under the guidance of the Scoutmaster.
We want your parent to be active as well! We have a variety of areas in which we need and would appreciate their participation. We have a Troop Committee made up of parents and other adults that meets monthly to discuss and finalize plans for Scouting events, camp outs, facilitate transportation and fundraising necessary to help our troop go and support the plans made by the Patrol Leader's Council.
All parents are invited to join the Troop Committee. We encourage parents to consider a role in which they can best use their talents and skills (i.e., Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Committee Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Fundraising, Advancement, Activities Coordinators, Transportation, Merit Badge Counselors, or as an assistant to one of these positions). We have found that in most cases the Scouts who have parents who take an active role in the Troop's leadership are the Scouts who make a strong commitment to and get the most of their Scouting experience. Parents, do you feel you don't know what to do, do you feel at a loss as to how you can help? There are training classes to get you started from Fast Start, to Scoutmaster Fundamentals, to more advanced (Woodbadge) training. All of the current adults started out where you are--so just jump right up and ask the Scoutmaster or Committee Chair how you can help. Filling out the Troop Resource Survey and other forms in the registration packet is a good place to start.
Troop Dues and Fees
Scouts Annual Dues: $65.00
Adult Annual Dues: $25.00
The annual dues are collected in October.
Additional Fees:
Scouts and adults pay for the food purchased for camp-outs and direct costs for activities. Troop 72 subsidizes up to $200 towards the cost of camping facilities.
Scouts can earn part of their registration fees and/or summer camp fees through commissions from troop fundraising projects if they sell enough.
Age Requirements
In order to join the Boy Scouts of America, a boy must be 11 years old, or have completed the fifth grade and be at least 10 years old, or have earned the Arrow of Light Award and be at least 10 years old. Prior to this time, the boy can participate in the Cub Scout Program. A boy can remain active in a Boy Scout Troop until his 18th birthday. The Venturing Program is for young men and women age 14 (must have completed 8th grade) through age 20. You DO NOT need any previous Scouting experience to join Troop 72--just the desire to learn, have fun, spend time outdoors, and agree to live by the Scout Oath and Law.
See Joining Requirements.
Application Forms
Official BSA Scout Application
Official BSA Adult Application
We suggest that a prospective Scout visit our Troop Meetings or a Troop Activity before deciding to join the Troop. This will give you and your parents a chance to see how the Troop operates before joining. Once you decide to join us, then you will need to fill out an application form which can be obtained from the Committee Chairman or the Scoutmaster. Once the application form and related paperwork are filled out it needs to be submitted with the applicable fees. Until the application with registration fees is submitted to the Council Office, we can not permit you to attend any campouts or other activities (unless you attend as part of a regular contingent of a Webelos Cub Scout den and are registered with that unit); this is for insurance reasons.
Parents, we encourage you to submit your application at the same time. Our Troop encourages that at least one parent or guardian is registered and active in the Troop. Any contribution - large or small- is welcome.
Please discuss with the Committee Chair or Scoutmaster what talents you have that can assist the Troop. Even if you can only drive on camp outs or do some paperwork, that may be enough.
Uniform
Part of being a Scout is wearing the Scout uniform with pride. Wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Boy Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. Different types of activities require different uniforms.
Class A is a complete uniform:
Scout Shirt with all appropriate insignia, Troop 72 Shoulder strip and numeral, Troop Neckerchief with slide, Scout socks, Scout belt and buckle, and Scout pants or Scout shorts.
Used for: Troop Meetings, Ceremonies, Service Projects not requiring physical work, Scoutmaster Conference, Board of Review.
Class B: Troop "T-Shirt"; clean, neat, well fitting pants or shorts without holes in them.
Used for: Work Parties, Hikes, in camp or other locations when the Class A uniform may become soiled or damaged.
The troop has a uniform bank of outgrown uniform parts for use by troop members.