About Troop 49
Scouts BSA
Troop 49 is part of the Scouting America's Potawatomi Area Council in the Western Trails District.
Chartered Organization
Troop 49 is chartered by the Delafield American Legion Post 196.
Cost
There is no fee to join Troop 49. Each scout is expected to participate in a minimum level of fundraising.
Each new scout receives a Scout Handbook, a Troop 49 neckerchief, and membership in Scouting America.
Weekly Troop Meetings
Scouts meet at Troop meetings from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Delafield Presbyterian Church. Full troop meetings (all members) are on the second, third and fourth Thursday of each month. If there is a fifth Thursday in a month, it is usually a Cantina Night with a special activity.
Attendance at Troop meetings is highly encouraged but not required as many Scouts are also involved in many other activities.
Patrols
Scouts work together in smaller subunits of the Troop called Patrols. Scouts participate in citizenship, which places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches them how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in small groups where they can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through their elected representatives.
Leadership Meetings
Troop 49 Youth Leadership (also known as the Patrol Leaders Conference, or PLC) meets on the first Thursday of each month from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Delafield Presbyterian Church.
Adult Leadership
Troop 49 Adult Leadership (the Troop Committee) also meets on the first Thursday of each month from 6:30-8:00 pm. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend, share ideas, and hear about the business side of Troop 49. We discuss upcoming activities and from the youth leadership. Adult support and transportation are needed for activities.
Scout-Led Troop
The Scouts Lead & Decide
Troop 49 is a scout-led troop.
- The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) oversees the Troop and leads the troop meetings, accompanied by Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders (ASPLs).
- The scouts are split into Patrols, with each led by a Patrol Leader.
- The scouts in each patrol varies in age and rank.
- New scouts start out in the New Scout Patrol, which facilitates the guidance they need during the early months of scouting.
- The new scouts join one of the other patrols when they reach the rank of First Class or have been in the troop for at least one year.
Troop 49 focuses on the leadership opportunities presented in a scout-led troop.
- The Scoutmaster has goals and expectations for each scout who hold positions of responsibility.
- The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters mentor and challenge each scout to fulfill his or her responsibilities.
- Elections are held and assignments are made for positions of responsibility in Fall and Spring.
Youth positions of responsibility include:
- Senior Patrol Leader,
- Assistant Senior Patrol Leader,
- Patrol Leader,
- Quartermaster,
- Scribe,
- Librarian,
- Chaplain’s Aide,
- Troop Guides,
- Troop Instructor, &
- Den Chief.
Positions of responsibility are required for rank advancement.
Attendance
Each Scout Determines His or Her Own Advancement
Unlike in Cub Scouts, it is up to the scout to take the time to earn new ranks and merit badges.
- Each scouts must get the required work done and seek an adult leader or higher ranking scout who is authorized (Troop Guide) to sign off on rank requirements.
- Adults and Troop Guides are available at Troop meetings to support the scout.
Attendance at meetings is critical to a scout’s success
- Troop 49 recognizes that scouts may have academic and/or sports activities that can affect meeting attendance.
- Troop 49 has a liberal attendance policy (minimum of 12 meetings attended per year).
- If a scout cannot regularly attend meetings or needs a period of time off, he or she can do so.
- The scout should notify the Scoutmaster, the SPL, and his or her Patrol Leader, check in with each on a regular basis, and continue to work on rank advancements, merit badges, and service outside of the troop meetings.
Scout Meetings & Activities
Scouts Plan & Run Meetings, Choose Activities, Organize Events
At Meetings:
- The SPL and ASPL announce and discuss upcoming events.
- Next, scouts go into "Patrol Corners" for further discussion and planning.
- The entire group then gathers for scout-led instruction and games.
A Scout can also work with a Troop Guide on his or her rank advancement requirements.
At Events & Outings:
- For most events and outings, an SPL is selected to run the activity or camp.
- The SPL of the event or outing works with other scouts to plan the food and transportation for the outing.
- Adults guide and support the scouts’ planning endeavors.
- The Adult Event Leader of an activity helps by registering the scouts and coordinating payments.
Adults are encouraged to help the Troop where they can.
Troop Meetings
Be sure to attend our weekly club meetings! We discuss upcoming events, plan new activities, and share our latest accomplishments. Meetings are held every Thursday from 6:30-8:00 pm.
History
Founded in 1978
Troop 49B (a boys-only Troop) was founded in 1978 in Summit, WI, with the Summit Volunteer Fire Department as Chartered Organization. Troop 49B held meetings at the Summit Village Hall.
New Chartered Organization
At the end of 2013, the Summit Volunteer Fire Department merged with the Dousman Fire District and was no longer able to be the Chartered Organization. After reviewing many organizations in search of the one that would best serve the troop and the scouts, the Troop Adult Leadership approached the Delafield American Legion Post 196 to become the new Chartered Organization. At the Post 196 meeting where the decision was made, the Legion Post Commander asked the Legionnaires how many were Boy Scouts growing up, almost every member in attendance raised his hand. Post 196 unanimously agreed to become the Troop 49 Chartered Organization in March 2014. Post 196's members were very happy to step into this role. They are a very active and supportive Chartered Organization. Troop 49 has been there to support Post 196's events and service.
Changing Venues
From 2018 until 2024, we went through several meeting venue changes.
- In March 2018, the Troop could no longer meet at the Village of Summit building as the Village took occupancy of a new building. Aurora Summit Medical Center allowed the Troop to meet in the community room until the start of the pandemic.
- During the first several months of the pandemic, meetings were virtual. When the schools were ready for outside groups in the fall of 2021, the Troop met at the Kettle Moraine Middle School.
- In 2023, Post 196 completed construction of an addition with meeting space. Troop meeting were held here for several months.
- In 2024, Troop meetings moved to the Delafield Presbyterian Church to accommodate Post 196's even schedule. This is where we continue to meet today.
A Boy Scout Troop for Girls
The Boy Scouts of America began allowing troops for girls in 2019. Troop 49G was founded in 2020 as a linked troop. A linked troop means that the units are sponsored by the same Chartered Organization and share much of the adult leadership. From 2020 until 2024, Troops 49B and 49G began and end meetings together, with the boys and girls meeting in their unique patrols during Patrol Corners during the meetings.
A Combined Troop
In 2024, Scouting America (the new name of the Boy Scouts of America) began a pilot program where Troops could have boys and girls together. With the full support of our Chartered Organization and adult leadership, Troop 49 was one of the first applicants. We were selected to be a the combined troop, where the boys and girls are in one Troop, with patrols comprised of boys and girls. We will provide updates here on outcome of the pilot.
