Boy Scout Troop 153
Woodstock, IL
In 1927, Grace Lutheran Church, Mr. Kaufman, Peteit, Beatty (MC), Ray (SM), and Graves (ASM) applied for and received a charter to form Troop #2. In 1945, our Troop number changed to Troop 11153. In 1980, Grace Lutheran, Blanche Stebbins, Robert Wienke, and Bruce Anderson re-organized Troop 153 after a brief period of dormancy.
Over the years, Scouts from our Troop have participated in the National Scout Jamboree at Valley Forge, PA In 1957, Philmont Scout Ranch In New Mexico, and Sea Base in the Florida Keys. Closer to home, scouts have attended Napowan Adventure Base, camp O Rees, and Triathlons, cycled the Elroy Sparta Bike trail, and canoed many local rivers and attended Air Camp held at Rockford Airport.
Scouts may participate In Junior Leader Training, and National Youth Leader Training. Most of Troop 153's scouts have taken CPR, First Aid classes, and have practiced Life Saving skills. A few, have gone on to achieve Merit Badges in Emergency Preparedness, Wilderness Survival, Disability Awareness, and completed their Life Guard Certification.
More recently, we have had Scouts complete the Horsemanship Merit Badge, the Scuba Diving Merit Badge and PADI certification. Other scouts have completed Merit Badges In Nuclear Science, Space Exploration, Snow Sports, Photography, Genealogy, Engineering, and Dentistry, just to name a few.
Service Is a large component of Scout Life in Troop 153. Over the years, Scouts have participated in "Getting out the Vote Campaign•, the annual Scouting for Food drive, flag raising ceremonies, and many Eagle Projects. Service Is also available through Scouting's Order of the Arrow, an Honor Society, promoting camping and service.