Join the troop

Interested in joining?

Who can join?

Troop 156 welcomes boys entering 6th grade through age 17, whether they're new to Scouting or continuing on from Cub Scouts.

How do I join?

Show up to a meeting with a parent, and we'll welcome you in as a new scout immediately while having your parent do the boring paperwork to get you in officially.  We meet almost every Wednesday during the school year from 7:00-8:30pm, usually in the Gideon-Welles cafeteria. To be sure, check out our calendar or contact us via the form.

If you just want to check out a few meetings without committing, that's great too.

What happens at a troop meeting?

Scouts learn skills from other scouts ranging from knots to outdoor cooking to first aid and a variety of other skills.  If there's a planned campout soon, we'll break into patrols and plan the meals and sleeping arrangements.  We may break into groups that are working toward merit badges, or we might gather to learn something all scouts should know.  Finally we try to end each meeting with an active, fun game.

What should I expect at a campout?

Campouts are a great adventure, whether we're hiking the Appalachian Trail, canoeing down the Farmington River,  biking around Block Island, or just ranking-up at a local camp out in Camp Neipsic. First, your patrol should have already planned your meals for the weekend, including who's buying the food.  If you have tent then you're welcome to bring it, otherwise the troop has plenty of extras available.  Regardless, you should bring your own mess kit (small plate/bowl, fork, spoon, table knife), sleeping bag, pillow if you want it, and sleeping pad.  Please don't bring a metal knife until you've earned your Totin' Chip or fire-starting equipment unless you've earned your Firemen Chit. (Both of which other scouts will be able to help you earn on your first campouts.)  You'll be bunking with somebody your age, or if you'd like, alone in your own tent or camping hammock.  Patrols cook and eat together, and most other activities are done as a troop. When evening starts, on Saturday nights, we'll start the campfire program with skits, stories, jokes, and songs from anybody attending.

What are the expectations of a scout?

A scout is expected to abide by the Scout Oath and Scout Law. We understand that scouting isn't everything and many scouts take weeks or even months off from scouting to participate in sports.  This is perfectly fine.  We encourage our scouts to have outside interests.

What are the expectations of a scout's parents?

Not much.  Get your scout to meetings, pick them up in a timely fashion, help them prepare for the campouts when they are still inexperienced, and be supportive.

That being said, the adults in the troop can always use an extra adult hand to lead merit badge courses, call camps to make reservations, be an adult leader/driver on campouts, or just be part of the committee.