Troop 159 is the oldest continuously chartered* Boy Scout Troop in the USA, having been chartered by the First United Methodist Church of Woodstock, IL prior to 1916

The Troop has a long history of lots of activities: biking, canoeing, hiking, caving, climbing, and we have great scouts and volunteers. Though currently small in size, (about 27 boys) we are still a very active troop and have a high ratio of registered volunteers (23) to boys (32), giving us a well rounded program. The troop does about a campout a month, participates in a number of day trips, summer camp (2 camps in 2002 & 2003!) & service projects, as well as district activities and training events. We meet on Monday nights from 7 pm to 8:30 at the Church thru the school year, and on Monday nights (same time) in Emricson Park throughout the summer.

* The Church burned to the ground in 1923, and the district also had a fire in its early years, destroying the original troop records- so we don't have the actual original charter of the troop. The first charter we have is from 1916 so that's what the council records as our original charter date. Though we are positive from other records that it was chartered in 1911 when Boy Scouting first came to America. There was no local council in the early years and we were chartered to the National Organization directly. The troop even existed prior to that, as there were many 'free-lance' scouting organizations. Our troop was actually started in the church around 1907. There may be other troops that are recognised by National as being older than Troop 159 Woodstock, but their chartered organization sponsorship has changed one or more times, or the troop # has been inactive for a few years. Troop 159 Woodstock has been continuously active under the sponsorship of the First United Methodist Church of Woodstock for over 99 years, in many different forms - and still going strong!

Out Of 100 Scouts...

Of any one hundred boys who become scouts, it must be confessed that thirty will drop out in their first year. Perhaps this may be regarded as a failure, but in later life they will remember that they were in scouting.

Of one hundred, only rarely will one ever appear before a juvenile court judge. Twelve of that one hundred will be brought into contact with church and continue to be active members. Six of the one hundred will become clergy.

Each of the one hundred will learn something from scouting. Almost all will develop hobbies that will add interest throughout the rest of their lives.

Approximately one-half will serve in the military and in varying degrees profit from their scout training. At least one will use what they learn in scouts to save another person's life and many will credit it with saving their own.

Two of the one hundred will become Eagle Scouts, and one will later say that he valued his Eagle above his college degree. Many will find their future vocation through merit badge work and scouting contacts.

Seventeen of the hundred boyswill later become scout leaders and will give leadership to additional boys.

Only one in four boys in America will become Scouts, but of the leaders in the nation in business, religion, and politics, three out of four were Scouts.