Youth Membership

Any youth–boys and girls–willing to be friendly and helpful can become a member of the Santa Fe BSA Troop 53. The prospective scout must be between the ages of 10 and 17. Cub Scouting is available to youth ages 5 to 10 and is an excellent way to gain experience in scouting. For detailed joining requirements please visit https://www.scouting.org/programs/

Adult Membership

For an adult (18 or older) to become a member of the Troop staff, he or she must first be accepted as a member of BSA. This requires filling out a membership application, passing a background check, taking mandatory youth protection classes, and being approved by our chartering organization. These steps are necessary to ensure the safety of our youth.

Meetings

Troop 53 meets almost every week on Sunday afternoon from 3:00 PM to about 4:30 PM at the Santa Maria De La Paz Church. Sometimes we meet elsewhere depending on our activities, so scouts must pay attention at the meetings and guardians can look for regular emailed updates. You can always contact us to be sure.

Activities

In the last few years, we have camped, hiked, skied, explored caves, and looked at stars. We also built fires, climbed, cooked, pitched tents, rowed, fished and canoed. Our destinations are frequently close, but we have been to Tucson, Colorado, the Guadalupe Mountains and Arches National Park. What will we do in the next twelve months? Why not join us and find out?

Advancement

Scouts don’t stand still. The first rank is Scout, followed by Tenderfoot, Second Class, and then First Class. We’d like everyone to become a First Class Scout as soon as they can, but you set your own pace. After First Class comes Star, then Life, and finally Eagle. If you work at it, and are diligent for a few years, you could be an Eagle too! How cool is that?

Equipment

The Troop has some camping equipment, so you don’t need much to start. A backpack, hiking boots, a sleeping bag, and some outdoor clothing will go a long way. Look in the Scout Handbook for the 10 Outdoor Essentials. This list is a great starting point if you are unsure.

One of the most important things you need is your own Scout Handbook. Be sure to get the latest edition·. This book gives you all the information you need to keep going as a scout. This is where you keep track of your advancement, volunteer work and camping experience. Take it with you to all Troop meetings.

Charter

Troop 53 is chartered by the Santa Maria de La Paz Catholic Community of Santa Fe and receives support from the Knights of Columbus, Santa Fe chapter. The members of the Troop hope that we may serve our chartering partners by assisting them to fulfill their ministry to youth. In turn, Santa Maria De La Paz serves Troop 53 by providing facilities for our meetings, storage for some of our equipment, and general guidance and encouragement to be a successful unit. Some of our youth and adults are members of Santa Maria De La Paz Catholic Community, and some are not. Religious affiliation is in no way a requirement for membership, and our doors are open to all.