How to Join Troop 66

Joining our Scouts BSA troop is very easy! There's an application form you need to fill out for your daughter, you must pay a registration fee, and then she is a member! We'll supply her with her Scouts BSA Handbook and a Troop 66 neckerchief.

There are a few other things you probably want to know...

Come Visit Us!

We meet on Monday evenings from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM. You should really stop by and visit! The boys' troop meets at the same time and in the same building.

We meet at the St. Bernard's Parish Center, which is on the southwest corner of Rice Street and Rose Avenue in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Rose Avenue is a block south of Maryland Avenue, and you enter the parking lot from Rose Avenue. Be wary of mapping apps, they tend to direct you to the church itself, which is on Woodbridge, a block south of where you want to be.

What Does It Cost?

The fee to register is $50 per scout [note: we are reviewing this in light of price increases from the council; 21-Feb-2020], but if this would be a financial hardship, let us know and we should be able to work something out.

When we have weekend camping activities, they usually cost $20 to $25 per person to cover the fees of reserving a space, and the cost of buying food.

Special camping activities, like Snow Base and Tomahawk, often require a $25 deposit paid well in advance.

Other activities, such as a bowling night, may have their own costs.

What About the Uniform?

The uniform is one of the methods of Scouting, and your daughter should wear the shirt, at least. The idea of the uniform is to provide some equality in clothing. However, no scout will be turned away for not having a uniform.

Buying it new is not inexpensive, but there is a Uniform Exchange through the Northern Star Council where you can get an "experienced" shirt for less than $10. If even that would be a hardship, let us know, we may have an "experienced" shirt in our storage room which might fit.

There are some patches that should be on the uniform, at a minimum:

• The Northern Star Council strip on the wearer's left shoulder.
• The unit number, 66, centered below the council strip.
• The purple World Scouting Crest on the wearer's left collarbone, centered above the left pocket on the front of the uniform.

It is a good idea to write your daughter's name on the tail of the shirt using a laundry marker or other permanent ink.

If you can afford to, you may get the whole uniform package:

• Shirt with Patches. The polyester microfiber is quick-drying, which can be useful in all sorts of weather.
• Pants. The polyester microfiber "convertible" pants let you unzip and remove the lower legs, so you have shorts, too.
• Official Belt.
• Official Socks.
• Official Hat. The advantage to wearing Boy Scouts of America branded hats is that you can keep them on during a flag ceremony!
• Merit Badge Sash. You can wait until you start earning your merit badges; you can wear up to six on the sleeve of a long-sleeved uniform shirt.

Patches and uniforms and other Scouts BSA stuff can be purchased at one of our council's Scout Shops.

Do We Have to Buy the Handbook?

The troop will supply your daughter with her first handbook. If she loses it, you will have to replace it at your own expense. Sometimes, the Boy Scouts of America issues new revisions of the handbook. Usually, scouts who joined with the older revision can continue using it, but sometimes you must use the new requirements for future advancement; in that case, you will have to get a new handbook on your own.

Will It Be Fun?

Of course! Do you like going camping, making food, constructing things using poles and rope lashings, and taking hikes? Then you'll have fun.

If you think the troop should do something, tell the girl leaders, such as your Patrol Leader or the Senior Patrol Leader. They are part of the Patrol Leaders' Council which decides what the troop will do. If you want to have a movie night with a pizza party, tell them about how you think it will work, and when it should happen. Be outspoken about it. Talk to other scouts in the troop to encourage their support.

If you want it to be fun, you can help make sure it is fun.

This page last updated on Thursday, January 31, 2019.