About

Boy Scout Troop 533 - A Scout Led Unit!

The Mission of the Boy Scouts of America...

To prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

The Aims of the Scouting Program....

To help youth in their Character Development, Citizenship Training, Personal Fitness, and Leadership Development.

Scouts BSA: Scouting.org
BSA Council: Greater St Louis Area Council (GSLAC)
GSLAC District: Boone Trails
BSA Troop 533: BSATroop533.org
Charter Organization: Harvester Lions Club, St. Charles, MO
4835 Central School Rd., Saint Charles, MO 63304. 314-926-2350

Troop 533 Established

Troop 533 is a Scout led, Boy Scout Troop centered in St. Charles County, Missouri. The troop is proudly chartered by the Lions Club of Harvester. We are incredibly proud of and congratulate all young men who earn the rank of Eagle Scout!

In 1981, Castlio Elementary School opened. Cub Scout Pack 530 was formed soon after. Two dens of graduating Webelos Scouts combined to form Troop 533, originally chartered by Castlio PTO in 1982. In 2006, Cub Scouts from Pack 989 at Independence Elementary School began to join the troop in their crossover (a time when cub scouts transition to boy scouts). With many years of growth, learning, and seeing Eagles Fly.... the troop transferred its' charter to Harvester Lions Club in 2007, in whom we have a great relationship with today.

Troop 533 continues to work closely with Pack 530, Pack 628 and Pack 989. As we welcome boys from all Cub Scout Packs, Troop 533 supports these primary cub scout packs at district camping events and with crossover ceremonies as boys continue their adventures into BSA Boy Scouting.

Our 'Sister' Troop 911, also sponsored by Lions Club of Harvester, effective 2020, serves girls in the Scouting Program. If you are a girl, or parent of, who wish to join the Scouting Program, please visit their website at www.scoutsbsatroop911.org.

Troop Philosophy

Troop 533 is a value-based, Scout-led unit, with dedicated and encouraging community adult leaders and parents. We foster and train engaged citizen leaders amidst an exciting atmosphere of fun and outdoor adventure!

Our Scouters provide tireless support for boys seeking self-reliance and a love for learning in the confines of the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout Motto, and Scout Slogan. We strive for Scouts to ultimately be ready and prepared to be morally straight, mentally challenged, and in doing their very best wherever they are a their stage of life physically.

The Scouts of Troop 533 advance at their own pace. While we strive to insure that Scouts advance as quickly as their initiative, skills, and understanding allow, our Scouts learn and earn their skills, awards, and ranks. The Scout Handbook is the key advancement guide and is to be brought to every meeting and event.

Scouts progress within an encouraging, supportive structure. Whenever possible and feasible, Scouts teach fellow scouts - benefiting both as a teacher and learner. Adult leaders and parents are to help guide, with teaching and achievement support as needed.

We benefit with the incredible support and service of a diverse background of experienced, skilled, and committed Scouts and Scouting Leaders. Our program provides young men with a tremendous array of scouting advancement and leadership growth opportunities, friendship building, and outdoor adventures. Our focus is to build on past successes, ensuring every Scout has an opportunity to learn, grow, and advance to their fullest potential.

Troop Communication

Troop Communication is conducted through this Troop 533 website, GroupMe, and/or email for Troop 533 Members registered in SCOUTBOOK. Periodically, group text messages may be used for select leadership needs. Only parents may add their son's email to SCOUTBOOK - Please email our Troop Secretary for help, or our Troop Activities Chair for access to the GroupMe account.

Scouts

- Scouts work with their Patrol leadership for questions, help needed, rank advancement, ideas for day events, campouts & adventures, and more.
- Troop 533 is a boy lead organization, with Patrol Leaders working with Senior Patrol Leadership, who coordinate requests with the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, and Troop Committee.
- Scout youth communication is best achieved in-person at Troop meetings and activities. Many Scouts also communicate with each other through youth and school activities and through electronic means, as they wish to exchange.
- Scouts may receive communication via www.scoutbook.com. In order to have an account, a scout's parent must invite the scout via the scout's profile page on Scoutbook. Communication may include special announcements of Troop activities from Troop Leadership, automated calendar reminders, etc.

Adult Leaders & Parents

- As a troop, communication is very important. We ask that all parents and adult leaders register at www.scoutbook.com to create your account. Please email our Troop Secretary (secretary@bsatroop533.org) to request to be added to our Troop 533 Scoutbook Account for email communication or help to manage your scouts email account and oversee/assist your scout's advancement.
- Our troop uses GroupMe to send quick, group 'text' messages when fast communication is needed. To sign up, please go to the "Sign up today" GroupMe page to create your account, and then send a request to activities@bsatroop533.org to be invited to the Troop 533 GroupMe. Please include your and other's cell phone number(s) to be added.
- Our Troop secretary emails information such as updated calendar and newsletter – both of which are also maintained on this website. Emails are pulled from registered Scoutbook parent/adult accounts, and for youth whom their parents have added the youth's email. ONLY the youth's parents may add a scout's email to Scoutbook.
- Troop Adult Leadership contact information and organization is available on the Adult Leaders page.
- Your Leadership structure and names are available on our Members Only page accessible from the bottom-right of any page, with general information on our Youth Leaders page.

Troop Meetings & Campouts/Outings

Weekly Scout Meetings

Attendance and Troop event participation is required for advancement, with both Scouts and Parents invited to attend all troop meetings. Latest status/information on Troop meetings, events and activities are provided at weekly scout meetings, this website, and both youth and adult announcements. Weekly communication flow down from our Troop Secretary is sent to all registered Adult Leaders, Parents, and Scouts via Scoutbook.
Meetings are held in one of two locations: Outside at the Lions Club of Harvester on Central School Road, just past the Home Depot on Mid Rivers Mall Drive, during Spring & Summer (Far right in picture below) or during Fall and Winter, meetings are held indoors at Saeger Middle School (Far Left in picture below). Special circumstances may adjust times/locations - Please read the troop Newsletter, talk with Patrol Leaders, and view the Troop calendar for current plans. Meeting times/locations may vary, and follow non-meeting times tied to the Francis Howell School District school schedule.
Scout led meetings are held every Monday (when Francis Howell School District is in session) from 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM, with the first Meeting of the month reserved for Patrol Leadership Council (PLC) scouts only. Cancelled Troop Meetings are announced in advance, and will follow the Francis Howell School District’s ‘off school’ calendar or notifications. PLC Leadership Development is held from 7:00-7:45pm, with PLC Coordination/Planning from 7:45-8:15 PM.
Prompt/Early arrival ensures that opening flag ceremony is not interrupted. Scouts are encouraged to arrive early to allow for socialization and coordination before the meeting begins. Scouts may meet with their Patrol Leaders and/or Scout Master / Assistant Scout Masters for Rank/Advancement reviews - please see the Advancement page for more details.

Camping & Weekend Activities

Adult Leaders meet annually with the current PLC and Youth Troop Leadership in August to develop a plan of activities and overnight campouts the youth wish to do in the coming school year.
1. - ALL scouts should provide their input to their Patrol Leaders / SPL, and Scoutmaster prior to August. If adults have ideas or items scouts may wish to consider, please provide those by email to our SM, ASMs, Committee Chair. Our Troop supports annual BSA events through the Council/District, with special Troop events that may arise throughout the year.
Additional information such as basic camping packing list, and more, is available on the Youth Scouts page.
All Adults attending Troop 533 overnight Camping must be a registered BSA Adult Leaders (link). or registered Merit Badge Counselor. We respectfully request that all Adults attending overnight camping/adventures greater than 72 hours be registered Troop 533 Adult Leaders. We invite all adults to join your scouts in participating with the BSA Scouting program. Non-scouts interested in learning more about the scouting program may be invited to participate with some events.

Adult Committee Meetings

Committee Meetings are held Monthly - please see information about these meetings under Adult Leadership.

Troop 533 Scoutmaster Hall of Fame

The Scoutmaster is central in working with all Scouts, Adult Leaders, and Parents, in helping to inspire young boys as they lead and grow into young men. Through the fulfillment and promise of the Scout Oath & Law, the Scoutmaster dedicates themselves in helping the growth of boys' good behaviors as they becoming great men. We honor and thank these tireless leaders of the unit, along with all Adult Leaders of Troop 533, who give of their time, talents and all which has been given them.

Dennis Johnson: 1982 - ??
Bill Combs: ?? - ??
Don Dupree: ?? - 2003
Charlie ??: 2003 - 2004
Tom Szepanski: 2005 - 2008
Rick Kruse: 2008 - 2012
Roger Brisso: 2013 - 2017
Dave Spies: Jan 2018 - Dec 2023
Harley Galloway: Jan 2024 - Present

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