About Troop 185
Troop 185 in Stratham has been around for generations. We are a member of Scouts BSA and are part of the Historic District in New Hampshire’s Daniel Webster Council. Our chartering organization is the Stratham Volunteer Fire Department Association. Troop 185 welcomes new members who are in grades 6 and up (ages 11-17.)
Stratham Troop 185 has both a boy and a girl Troop. Troop185B has 25-30 members each year. Troop 185G currently has 6 members but we expect more soon. Boys and girls participate separately in Troop meetings but enjoy many activities together, including camping, hiking, and volunteering in community service projects.
Each group participates in many fun and educational events in ways that help them grow in character and learn how to care for the environment and be productive in the community. Scouting provides opportunities for boys and girls to camp, hike, and learn about dozens of Merit Badge skills while instilling life-long Leadership, Character, Personal Fitness, and Citizenship qualities.
Scouting has been an integral part of American culture since 1910. By integrating lifetime values into fun and educational activities, scouting helps parents teach their sons and daughters how to make good decisions throughout their lives, and give them the confidence to succeed as they become the adult leaders of tomorrow. The mission of Scouts BSA is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
Troop Meetings
Troop meetings are held twice per month on Sunday evenings at the Stratham Fire Station from 6:30-8 pm. Scouts plan and lead the meetings, with guidance from adult leaders. At Troop meetings, scouts engage in skills activities, play games, work on advancement, and plan and prepare for Scout camp outs and other activities. The Boy and Girl Troop is each led by an elected Scout called the Senior Patrol Leader, a position that rotates every six months.
Patrol Meetings
The Boy and Girl Troop is each broken down into Patrols with a scout serving as patrol leader for each group. First year scouts are placed in a Patrol with their age group and are led by two older scouts. After the first year, Patrols are arranged by Patrol Leaders and are mixed age groups. The Troop holds elections every 6 months and the scouts may run for and vote on all scout leadership positions. Holding a leadership position becomes a requirement as scouts continue to rank up.
Advancement
Scouts earn rank advancement by completing the requirements, then meeting with a Board of Review (Troop 185 adult leaders) and by participating in a Scoutmaster Conference. All these steps are designed to teach boys and girls leadership and independence. Advancements are recognized four times per year at a Troop Meeting called a Court of Honor (COH.) Families are invited to participate in a potluck dinner for each COH.
About Scouts BSA
For the first time in its 100+ year history, the iconic program of the Boy Scouts of America is open to both young men and young women, all of whom will have the chance to earn Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout.
Scouts BSA is a year-round program for boys and girls in fifth grade through high school that provides fun, adventure, learning, challenge, and responsibility to help them become the best version of themselves. In Scouts BSA, young men and women go places, test themselves, and have one-of-a-kind adventures that can’t be found anywhere else. Scouts BSA is single gender – all girl troops or all boy troops. This unique approach allows the organization to maintain the integrity of the single-gender model while also meeting the needs of today’s families.
