Join Us
How to Join Troop 23
- Be aged 11 to 17 with a sincere desire to live by the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Membership is also open to 10-year-olds in fifth grade who have either earned their Arrow of Light Award or join after March 1.
- Visit a Troop Meeting with your parent or guardian to experience firsthand what it’s like to be a Troop 23 Scout, and talk with our Scoutmaster, adult leaders and fellow Scouts. Troop 23 meets Monday nights during the school year from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 715 North Carlton Ave. in Wheaton. Enter on the south side of the building and come to the lower level. Meetings take place in the Church’s gym (a.k.a. Ministry Center) and the area immediately outside the gym’s doors. Be sure to visit the Advancement/Registration Table to receive your Introduction to Troop 23 Folder and a New Scout Registration Packet.
- Work with your parent/guardian to complete the Troop 23 New Scout Registration Packet. which includes a Youth Application, Health Forms, a Troop Consent Form, a Scout Information Form, and an Adult Information Form.
- All parents are strongly encouraged to take the online Scouting America Youth Protection Training. It is required if you want to participate in troop activities, even as a parent. Please note that camping overnight requires adults to be registered (the Troop pays adult registration fees).
- Turn in completed forms and your annual dues payment. At the new Scout’s first Troop Meeting, he and his parents should present themselves at the Advancement/Registration Table with the necessary forms and fees. Plan to show up prior to the 7:00 p.m. start time of the meeting so that your Scout will be ready to start when the meeting starts.
- Attend your first Troop Meeting as an official Troop 23 Scout. At this meeting after the opening flag ceremony, the new Scout will be introduced to the Troop. He will be assigned a patrol to visit for the first few Troop Meetings. Within about a month, a permanent patrol assignment will be made with input of the new Scout, the Patrol Leaders (PL), the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and his staff, the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters.