Join Us
When a Scout joins Troop 505, they are formally welcomed at a troop meeting and introduced to their patrol. They receive a Troop 505 neckerchief and slide as a symbol of belonging and membership in the troop. New Scouts also receive their Scouts BSA Handbook, which becomes their guide for learning skills, tracking advancement, and understanding the Scout Oath and Law.
Each new Scout is placed into a mixed-age patrol, where older Scouts help teach skills, explain troop routines, and provide day-to-day support. A Troop Guide works alongside patrol leadership to help new Scouts feel comfortable and get started.
New Scouts begin working on early rank requirements through Troop 505’s Trail to First Class program. Skill instruction is built directly into regular troop meetings and campouts, and the troop also offers monthly Trail to First Class sessions held before a regular Monday meeting. These sessions give new Scouts extra time to practice skills and work on Scout through First Class requirements with guidance from older Scouts and adult mentors.
From the start, Scouts are encouraged to participate in meetings, campouts, and activities. They learn by doing, build friendships, and begin developing leadership skills right away, supported by Scouts who have already walked the same path.