Frequently Asked Questions when joining Troop 155:

1.

Does a boy have to have been in Cub Scouts to join Boy Scouts?
No. He must be 11 years old, or have completed the fifth grade or earned the Arrow of
Light Award and be at least 10 years old, but not yet 18 years old.
How old is too old to join Scouts and be able to make Eagle?
16 years and 4 months old.

2.

How big is Troop 155 and how old is it?

Our Troop size has varied over the past 15 years from 6 15 boys. At one time we had
48 boys in the troop. We currently have 8 boys, all of them active. Our troop was
founded in 1931 by Fr. Joseph Patterson of Saints Peter and Paul Church. We have twice
been inactive over the years. We reactivated the troop in 1998 and are proud to be
sponsored by Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

3.

Who is in charge?
The boys run the troop. Christopher Kaufmann is our Senior Patrol Leader. He is a Life
Scout and a sophomore at Salpointe Catholic High School.
The adult leaders support, mentor, train and ensure safety, the boys run the troop.

4.

5.

How often do you meet?

Frequency:

The troop has regular meetings on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every
month except the 4th Tuesday in December due to family Christmas
vacation.

Time:

6:30 pm 8:00 pm

Location:

Expert Plumbing Office 3253 N. Flanwill Blvd, Tucson

(vicinity Ft. Lowell Road/Country Club)

How much does scouting cost?

Membership: $24.00 a year
Boys Life Magazine: Troop covers cost of annual subscription
Dues: None, Boys calculate cost of each outing and split up appropriately. Payment due
at next meeting after costs are calculated. Usually is about $5.00 for a weekend. When
you eat as a large group, food is cheap but we eat lots and we eat well. The cooking merit
badge is required for Eagle and we frequently have Iron Chef cooking competitions for
the boys.

Uniforms: At a minimum, boys will need a class-A shirt and a BSA Handbook, which
can be purchased for under $50.
Class-B Troop T-Shirt: $15.00
Camping Equipment: None. The Troop has tents and backpacks to loan the scouts. After
trying out the troop equipment, however, most boys elect to purchase their own personal
tent, backpack and stove etc. We have boys with gear purchased at garage sales, Army
Surplus stores like Millers, Wal-Mart, Sports Authority, and high end camping stores like
Summit Hut, REI, Bass Pro, and Cabelas.
Other Equipment: We require all our boys to carry a whistle ($2.99) on hikes and
campouts for safety reasons. We also require our boys to carry a compass. A basic Silva
compass is fine. A water bottle/canteen/hydration pack is required for hikes.
6.

Where can I buy the scout uniform?

At the Catalina Scout Shop - 5049 E. Broadway Blvd. Suite # 200, Tucson, AZ 85711.
520-750-9877. M-F: 9:00 am to 5:30pm, SAT 10:00am to 3:00pm

7.

How often does the troop go camping?

We camp overnight at least once a month, usually on the 3rd weekend. We camp out an
average 20 nights a year, including a week-long summer camp at Camp Lawton and a
troop level week-long backpack outing at a dispersed camping location usually in a
National Forest. Our campouts run the gamut from Taj Mahal to outback rugged. We
camp at dispersed locations with no water, toilets or cell phone coverage. We also camp
at State Parks and National Parks that have excellent facilities like flush toilets, showers,
electric hook-ups and country stores.

8.

Do you do other activities besides camping?

Absolutely! Not all outings are overnight campouts. We do day hikes and other
activities that do not involve overnight camping. We go to Dback and Padres baseball
games; we visit museums; we go on day trips, hikes, canoeing, fishing; we have visited
the telescopes on Kitt Peak, the Titan Missile Museum, and the old radar site on Mt.
Lemmon. We have visited old Ghost towns in Arizona. We have taken behind-thescenes tours of the Reid Park Zoo. We have toured the Military Museums at Ft.
Huachuca, Ft. Whipple, and the Mineral Museum in Phoenix. We attended the
dedication of the gun barrels from the USS Arizona and USS Missouri at the state capitol
in Phoenix in 2013. We have attended the DMAFB Air Show and watched the USAF
Thunderbirds and the Navys Blue Angels, the Golden Knights Parachute Team and the
Navy Leap Frog Parachute Demonstration Team. We have toured the Bombardier
Aircraft and Lear Jet plants here at the Tucson Airport. In 2008, we provided the color
guard for the Dbacks home game. We have visited historic battle sites like Picacho Peak

and the Battle of the Big Dry Wash. We have participated in an orienteering meet with
the Tucson Orienteering Club and have set up our own 12 point 4 mile orienteering
course. We do lots of things but we like to keep the outing in Scouting. This helps the
boys earn their Eagle Required Camping and Cooking Merit Badges.
9.

Is the troop diverse?

We have had boys from Vail, Three Points, Catalina, and from all over Tucson. We have
had a Senior Patrol leader who is Asian. We have several boys of Hispanic origin and
one of our committee members is black. We are ALL Americans. Our troop adult
leaders range in age from 18 65. We have had LDS, Catholic and Protestants in our
troop. We all follow the Scout Law and are here to learn and have FUN! We have had
boys from Catalina HS, Salpointe HS, St. Augustine HS, Immaculate Heart HS,
Rincon/University HS, and Amphi HS to name a few. Our middle school age scouts
came from Saints Peter and Paul, Amphi, and Immaculate Heart.

10.

Are your leaders experienced?

James has been our scoutmaster since 2006. He is a Corrections Lieutenant with the
Arizona Department of Corrections. His son is an Eagle Scout from our troop. Mark has
been our Committee Chair since 2005, he is a retired USAF Master Sergeant who speaks
five languages and is currently a supervisor with the Arizona Department of Economic
Security helping Veterans. His son is an Eagle Scout from our troop. Rick is a retired
US Army Officer an Airborne Ranger - who has been with the troop since 2006. His
son is an Eagle Scout from our troop. Two assistant scoutmasters earned their Eagle
Scout Rank in our troop and are currently students at the University of Arizona. Four of
our adult leaders are Knights of Columbus.
We are fortunate indeed to have dedicated caring leaders with a vast array of experience,
talent and connections. We also have a good number of dads who, though not registered
BSA leaders, participate in our activities and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience
to our troop.

11.

What do I have to do as a parent?

Hopefully, you are asking what CAN I do as a parent. Your most important role is to
support your scout. Help him get the uniform and camping gear he needs. Encourage
him, help him get to meetings and outings on time. Unlike cub scouts where parental
participation was required for most activities, as a Boy Scout, you do not have to
accompany your son. You are welcome however to attend any troop activity. You will
need to complete Youth Protection Training before interacting with the scouts. This can
be done on-line in less than 30 minutes. If you are unable to drop your son off at the
scout shop to go on a campout, he can catch a ride with one of the other parents. We
dont want any of our boys to miss out on an outing. Their friends will miss them and
they will miss their friends.

12.

Can moms attend troop activities?

You bet! We have had moms teaching our boys how to cook stew over a campfire.
Moms have gone with us on 50 mile bike rides and 5 mile hikes. They have helped us
explore caves. YES, moms are welcome but will need to complete Youth Protection
Training before interacting with the scouts. This can be done on-line.

13.

What is the best way to contact troop leaders?

Email or phone. The troop maintains a contact list of all members.

14.

How many scouts have earned Eagle in the past few years and how many are still
active in the troop?
Because we are a small troop we have averaged one Eagle Scout a year since 2008. We
currently have four former Eagle Scouts still active with our troop as adult leaders. One
of our Eagle Scouts graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2013 and is an officer
leading Marines. Another graduated from the USAF Academy in 2014. Two are in
training as Marine Officer Candidates and two are students at UA. Another is employed
as an accountant in Denver. We have two Eagle Scouts who are both seniors and will
graduate in May 2016 from Rincon/University High School.

15.

How are the patrols organized?

Because of our small size, the troop is organized into a single patrol The Desert
Hawks. When we had 15 boys, we were organized into two patrols.

16.

What goes on in troop meetings?

Since the boys run the troop, sometimes it appears disorganized, but thats how they
learn. The boys plan troop outings, bike rides, hikes, campouts etc. They plan service
projects and flag ceremonies. They train younger scouts in rank advancement tasks and
merit badge requirements. They conduct after action reviews of outings and plan for
District/Council level events and competitions. They decide the menu, where and how
far they hike. They decide which lake they will canoe/fish. They plan our Courts of
Honor awards ceremonies. The boys run the troop!

17.

Has Troop 155 won any awards?

We try to participate in District Level Camporees every other year. In 2008, we had the
top troop and top patrol at the Council Camporee. We entered two patrols that year. In
2011, out of 15 events, we placed in the top 3 seven times. Three times we have won
Best Campsite award at Camp Lawton. We also won first place in the Camp Lawton
photo contest, cardboard boat race, scoutmaster belly-flop contest and campfire skit.

18.

What service projects does the troop do?

Service is a key part of scouting. Every year we clean up the scout shop and yard. We have
helped build tent platforms and cut and move downed trees and improve trails and
campsites at Camp Lawton. We help twice a year cleaning the church (Saints Peter and
Paul). We have helped unload girl scout cookie boxes and assisted in building the haunted
house for the Saints Peter and Paul annual Fun Day and Devon Gable Health Center
Halloween Party. On top of that, our troop prides itself with a 90% participation rate in our
Eagle Projects and we often help with Eagle Projects in other Troops.

19.

How is the rank advancement managed?

Boys advance at their own pace. We encourage and assist but do not push boys to earn
rank. The boys help each other and we have plenty of adult leaders, particularly our former
Eagle Scouts to assist.

20.

How are Merit Badges managed?

The BSA merit badge program is intended for scouts to seek out and complete merit badges
that interest them, as well as 13 required badges for Eagle rank. Several of our adult
leaders are Merit Badge Counselors. We encourage our new boys to earn their 1st Aid
Merit Badge early for safety reasons. Like rank advancement, boys earn Merit Badges at
their own pace. Several of our troop outings lend themselves to working on the merit
badge together mostly because it is more fun that way. These badges include the Cycling
Merit Badge, the Canoeing Merit Badge, and the Cooking and Camping Merit Badges, and
the Orienteering Merit Badge.

21.

What fundraising does the troop do?

Our boys participate in the annual Council level popcorn sales. Funds from this effort have
been sufficient to keep the troop operating since food and fuel costs on outings are divided
evenly among participants.

22.

Can my son be in Boy Scouts and still play school sports?

YES! It is possible. We have had boys do all that, stay on the honor roll and still have
time for a girlfriend. We have had past Senior Patrol Leaders on their varsity high school
soccer team and the honor roll. As a student at Saints Peter and Paul, three of our former
Eagle Scouts and now Assistant Scoutmasters played Volleyball, Basketball and ran Track
for 4 years in 5th thru 8th grade and missed only two troop outings in all those years. They
had to show up late to a few outings which caused the troop to make additional
transportation plans, but since there were three boys in the troop playing sports at the
school, it was not a big problem. In high school these three and other boys were active in
cross country, track and field, wrestling, swimming and the debate team. They were

successful in juggling sports, school and Boy Scout activities. As a parent you dont want
your son to bite off more than he can chew but with your encouragement and support,
youd be surprised at what he can do. Our troop has experience with boys wanting to play
sports AND attend troop outings. We are very flexible.
23.

What can I do to help my son get started?

Read the Parents Guide in the front of the BSA Handbook. Review the Membership
Requirements (inside front cover) and encourage your son to start memorizing the Scout
Law, Scout Oath, Scout Motto, Scout Slogan etc. Encourage him to participate in scout
meetings. New scouts often bring fresh exciting ideas to the troop. Encourage him to wear
his scout uniform with pride.

24.

Is more information available on-line?

Yes, the Catalina Council Web site is http://www.catalinacouncil.org
meritbadge.org and scouting.org are two other websites loaded with scouting info.
Info on summer camp at Camp Lawton is at www.catalinacouncil.org/outdoors/camp-lawtonsummer-camp/

One of our scouts has created and maintains the troop web site at:
t155.weebly.com
25.

Who can I contact for more information?

Troop 155 Scoutmaster:

James Wiseley 628-7218

Troop 155 Troop Committee:

Rick Riess 887-5269