Welcome to the exciting world of Scouting with Troop 1539 

Troop 1539 is part of the Sunset District of the Great Lakes Field Service Council of the Michigan Crossroads Council.

Our charter organization is:  VFW Post 6695 1426 South Mill Street, Plymouth, MI 48170

Troop Meetings: Tuesdays from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at:

Celebration Lutheran Church, 39375 Joy Rd, in Westland, 48185

Our troop is over 30 years old and we are very proud of the number of scouts who have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.  Each year we are fortunate to have 25-30 actively participating boys and 25-30 active, registered adults. Several of our registered adults are the troop’s founding parents and make themselves available to share stories and experiences! 

Boy-Led Program

Boy Scouting is a boy-led, boy-run program.  Adult role models in scouting provide an ideal learning experience for all youth, creating a safe environment where boys can learn, grow, explore, play, and take on responsibilities.  They learn that it is OK to fail, then get up and try again to achieve success at the task or badge they are learning. The role of the troop adult volunteers is to assist in your son in his journey.  

 As adult leaders of the troop, we believe these ideas are essential to your son’s growth and scout experience: 

• Not only the food on the campout, but that the boys planned and cooked it.
• Not only a sharp-looking flag ceremony, but that the boys put it together.
• Not who would make the best patrol leader, but that the boys elect one.
• Not only that your son learns first aid, but that another scout teaches him.
• Not that we cover everything on the meeting agenda, but that the senior patrol leader is in charge of the meeting. 

Our goal as adult troop leaders: 

Our goal is not to get things done, but to create a safe and healthy environment, providing training and resources that Scouts need, and then let them do it.  It is up to the boys to get things done. (Excerpted and paraphrased from "Orientation for New Boy Scout Parents (10-118),"  www.scouting.org.) 

The Troop Committee: 

Our troop committee is comprised of interested adults (parents), who help provide guidance and support so that scouts are able to accomplish the activities they have chosen.  The activities are usually: camping, trips, rank advancement, and leadership opportunities. 

Meetings 

Weekly meetings: Troop 1539 meets at Celebration Lutheran Church in Westland from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday’s during the school year.  The church is located on the south side of Joy, between Hix and I-275. Adults are allowed to stay for the meetings but should stay in the background and not interfere with the meeting.

Monthly meetings: Once a month, boy leaders of the troop (Patrol Leaders Council) meet with the Scoutmaster to plan upcoming meetings and events. The times for these meetings can vary, so details about them are usually told a week or two in advance.

Information on Activites, Trips, and Events

The troop calendar is posted on the main page of the troop public website: Located Here

Dates of scheduled meetings, outings, committee meetings, Patrol Leader Council meetings, and other events are posted for convenience on the website calendar. Outing permission slips are available on the website, under the details of each outing event. Registration for events is handeled entirely on TroopTrack.

Activities

Troop outings are scheduled 11 months of the year with August being the off month.  We camp in tents in September, October, April / May, June, and at summer camp.  We stay in heated cabins or shelters the other months of the year. We attend a one week Summer Camp in July. Most recently, we have attended Pioneer Scout Reservation in Ohio. However, we have also attended Cole Canoe Base in years past.

Summer Camp

Summer Camp is the highlight of the scout yea. During the week, scouts will earn merit badges and work on rank advancement. They will also learn to bond with the troop and make new friends with scouts of other troops. The week is full of many activities, and plenty of events for scouts to enjoy! Parents are welcome to spend the week with the troop, but not required. We highly recommend that scouts attend summer camp, as it provides a great experience for scouts of all ages!

High Adventure

Our troop is committed to providing High Adventure Opportunities as often as there is demand by the scouts. High Adventure is limited to Scouts that are at least 14 years of age and have attained the rank of 1^st class.

In the past, we have visited Philmont Scout Ranch, Florida Sea Base, Summit Bechtel Reserve, and Northern Tier. The troop is always trying to plan more High Adventure Opportunities, so be on the look out for announcement about those!

Handbook

A Boy Scout Handbook (14th edition) is the first item that is needed for the new scout.  This is used for rank advancement, and holds many resources that a scout will find helpful during their scouting experience. They can be purchased at any scout store. For more information on where to purchase, please visit the Uniform page.

Uniform

Each scout is expected to wear the complete uniform at all scouting functions.  The Field uniform includes: shirt, pants, socks, belt, neckerchief and slide.  A complete uniform includes all patches.  (A patch with the troop number is available from the Troop for a nominal fee.)  We understand that uniforms are expensive, so you may start with a shirt and gradually add pieces.  By March of the following year, a scout should have a full uniform.  The troop also has a uniform exchange that can be checked.  The Activity uniform replaces the official scout shirt with a t-shirt, sweat shirt, or hoodie that has the troop logo on it. For more information on where to purchase uniform parts, please visit the Uniform page. 

Advancement 

Every boy is expected to earn the Scout Badge within the first few months of being in the Troop.  Boys who cross over from Webelos should already know the information required for the Scout Badge.  For boys who have not finished the Webelos program, older scouts and Assistant Scoutmasters are willing to help the new scout to learn the required information.  

Boy Scout Trail

The next steps in the Boy Scout Trail are Tenderfoot, 2^nd Class, and 1^st Class.  Typically, most boys will achieve these ranks within the first year or two. The April campout is focused on the new Scouts and is where they will learn outdoor skills and other requirements to complete the rank of Tenderfoot.  This is the start of their trail and prepares them for summer camp.

Next in line are the rank of Star, Life and EAGLE. These ranks rely heavily on obtaining Merit Badges. There are over 130 merit badges available (21 merit badges are required to attain the rank of EAGLE).

Unlike Cub Scouts, each scout advances at his own pace.  There is no race or competition.  A scout may approach any Assistant Scoutmaster, the Senior Patrol Leader, or the Scoutmaster for help in learning and testing for any rank requirement.  After all requirements for a rank are completed, the scout will request a Scoutmaster Conference, where Scout Spirit will be discussed. Upon completion of the Scoutmaster Conference, the scout will request the Advancement Chairperson to schedule a Board of Review.  The Board of Review is conducted by several adults, (committee members and/or interested parents, excluding the scout’s parents and Assistant Scoutmasters), who will review with the scout how he is getting along in the troop and the rank requirements to ensure they have been met.  The scout is immediately recognized for his advancement that night, at the Troop meeting closing ceremony, and presented with his new badge.  He is formally recognized at the next Court of Honor in front of his parents and the families of the troop. 

Merit Badges

After obtaining 1^st Class, the scout is ready to earn merit badges (a scout may earn a merit badge before 1^st Class, but it is encouraged to wait until after attaining 1^st Class). Prior to beginning to work on any merit badge, the scout asks the Scoutmaster for a merit badge blue card, (application).  The Scoutmaster may choose not to give out a merit badge blue card if the scout has not attained the rank of 1^st Class or has too many merit badges started.  The scout then works with a Merit Badge Counselor to complete the badge requirements.  Merit Badge Counselors are people in the troop or the district that have expertise in the merit badge subject.  In scouting one adult is never alone with one scout.  Two scouts, two adults, or a scout’s parent need to be present when the scout is working with the Merit Badge Counselor.  After the merit badge is completed, the scout turns the blue card into the Scoutmaster.  The merit badge will be presented at the next Troop Court of Honor, which is held in September, February and June. A complete list of merit badges can be found here.

Registration, Health Form, and Cost

Each scout is required to present to the Troop a completed Youth Application Form, Youth Member Transfer Form if transferring, and a Annual Health and Medical Record. Parts A and B are required for all events, and Part C is required for Summer Camp or outings that are 72 hours or more in duration. 

The registration fees are as follows:

For a boy registered with BSA transferring from another scouting unit
 (such as Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts or Ventures)

For a boy new to Scouting:

Each scout is responsible for the $15 monthly dues for September – May.  The troop treasurer is at troop meetings to collect dues and outings payments.  Dues cover patches and re-registration costs for subsequent years.  Scouts pay to go on campouts and the cost is typically $15-$30 for tent camping and $35-$50 for cabin camping.  A week of summer camp is approximately $335 per boy and $125 per adult.  Fundraising opportunities are available for each scout. 

Fundraisers

Fundraisers are available for scouts to earn money to be used for all their Scouting related expenses, (i.e. outings, uniforms, scout books and etc). The Troop treasurer keeps a Scout Fund for each scout to track his funds. (If a Scout leaves the Troop and joins another Troop all funds in his account will be transferred to the new Troop. If a Scout does not join another Troop any funds in his account will be designated to the Troop general fund).

Fundraising opportunities include POPCORN and WREATHS in the fall and FLOWERS in the spring. All monies earned from these fundraisers will go directly into the Scout’s scout fund. Occasionally the Troop will have a special fundraiser to buy equipment or for special needs.

Adult Opportunities

How can you as a parent get involved to help your son with his success?  Volunteer as a Committee Member, Assistant Scoutmaster, or a Merit Badge Counselor.  Some parents are unable to become a registered leader; however, they still come to many meetings and/or go on outings.  Remember, this is a boy led troop, but they do need adult guidance and support.  Watch out, you just might have some fun too!

Yours in Scouting,

John Buford
Scoutmaster Troop 1539
Scoutmaster@troop1539.org 

Feel free to contact Mr. Buford with any questions about the Troop.

For more information about the troop, check out our information packet here. We try to keep it updated as much as possible, but sometimes information may be outdated (as Scouting is always changing!).

Troop 1539 New Member Checklist

• Provide a completed BSA Youth Application, including email addresses and phone numbers, to the Membership Chair.
• If transferring from another BSA unit, provide a completed BSA Youth Member Transfer Form to the Membership Chair.
• Provide a completed BSA Annual Health and Medical Record, Parts A and B to the Health Advisor.  Part C is required for Summer Camp.
• Pay the application fee to the Troop Treasurer: $33 for transfers, $48 for new Scouts.
• Wear your Class A uniform to Troop Meetings.  A regulation BSA scout shirt with required patches and epaulets, and the neckerchief that is included in the application fee is the minimum Class A uniform for the first year.  Required patches include U.S. flag, World Crest, Troop number and 30-year Veteran Unit Bar (available from Scoutmaster), and Council Strip.
• Bring your Boy Scout Handbook with the completed Pamphlet on Youth Protection in the front of the Handbook signed by your parent/guardian.  This is required to earn the “Scout” badge.

Additional Parent Information

BSA Parents' and New Leaders Guide to a Boy-Led-Troop

Parent Resource Survey

Revised March 18th, 2021