Are you ready to join the Boy Scouts?

Do you like to camp and enjoy the great outdoors? Scouting offers you the chance to learn skills like hiking, camping and learn about nature. You'll meet other scouts like yourself that may be in your school or church. You'll learn how to help others in your community. The fun starts now - the values last a lifetime.

A boy can join the Boy Scouts if he is 11 years old, or has completed the 5th grade, or the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, but is not yet 18 years old.

Troop 236 meets the first 3 Mondays of the month at Saint Marks the Evangelists Church from 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM. We camp at least once a month. We hope that you will join us.

For more information please contact our membership coordinator at membership@troop236bsa.org

What do Boy Scouts do?

Boy Scouting is a boy run program and is designed to build and foster lifetime skills. Boy Scouting is a year-round program for boys 11 through 17 designed to achieve the aims of Scouting through a vigorous outdoor program and peer group leadership with the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster. (Boys also may become Boy Scouts if they have earned the Cub Scouting Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old or have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10 years old).

Together, the boys and adults form a Troop. Within the troop are several patrols. These patrols represent individual teams of scouts that work, hike and camp together. A boy immediately learns that his fellow Scouts are trying to live by a unique set of rules; rules that stress trustworthiness, loyalty, and honesty. Scouts also learn many specific outdoor skills including building campfires, hiking, first aid, swimming, canoeing, etc..

Among the activities offered are: more than 120 hobby and career skills available through the Merit Badge program, year-round camping and outside activities, an honor camping society, recognition, leadership training, service projects and special events. (More details on camping below).

What Does Scouting Cost?

Some of the initial costs to join Boy Scouting are:

  • Annual Registration and Insurance Fee. All Scouts pay this fee that goes directly to the BSA national office.
  • Scouts also have the option of purchasing a subscription to Boys' Life Magazine.
  • Scouts will also need to purchase a Scout hand book and a Boy Scout Field book during their first year that will be used for all of their scouting years.
    • These books are available at any of our Scout Shops. You may contact John Olejar (details below) for information on specific fees.

Camping and Outdoor Programs

Our troop runs camping events year round. We host a week long summer camping event at Camp Somers located in the Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation with options for the Winnebago Scout Reservation (Rockaway) or the Sabattis Adventure Camp (Adirondacks of Long Lake, New York). These camps offer Scouts an opportunity to experience sailing, swimming, rifle and shotgun shooting, archery, ecology, fishing and much more. There are many other local and state parks that the troop will visit including Round Valley, Watkins Glen, Casperson, Pine Barrens, Ten Mile River, and many more.

The troop tries to run two events each month and gear one of them for the more experienced scouts. This is aimed at maintaining interest for all levels of scouting. High Adventure trips have age and skill requirements for things like white water rafting, scuba diving or sailing, etc. For more information about our camping programs click here.

Why join Scouting?

  • Maybe because you are interested in community service projects like tree planting..
  • Maybe because you're an achiever and want to become an Eagle Scout..
  • Or if you love camping, love to travel to new places or can't wait for high adventure trips

If you are a Webelos 2 Scout?

  • We encourage you to attend a troop meeting to see what it is about. Our meetings are run on the first three Mondays of each month. View our calendar (insert link to calendar) to verify that a meeting was planned on that date. It's recommended to contact us in advance; we can add something to our agenda to make your visit more meaningful.
  • Attend the Long Valley Camporee annually run by all three BSA Troops in town during the month of September.
  • Come to our Vasa Park cabin camping and Court of Honor event in January. It is a free event for Webelos and their parents. Just contact us or your Den Leader in advance.
  • Read the following link that summarizes the Webelos to Boy Scout Transition.

Scouting Age requirements:

  • Be a boy who is 11 years old, or one who has completed the fifth grade or earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, but is not yet 18 years old.
  • Prior Cub Scout experience is not required as long as you have the proper age requirements.

For Membership Information Contact our membership coordinator at membership@troop236bsa.org