Wellesley Boy Scouts

Troop 185 offers boys the opportunity to experience Boy Scouting and learn leadership skills that help them grow into well rounded young men.

Founded in 1972, our troop has a long history of producing scouts who are grounded in the responsibilities of citizenship, leadership and outdoor skills for which scouting is known worldwide.

Our troop is chartered by Saint John the Evangelist Church of Wellesley, and is comprised of a diverse group of boys from many backgrounds and interests.

Troop 185 welcomes any interested boy of Scout age (minimum age 10 and either have completed 5^th grade OR have earned the Arrow of Light OR be 11 years old, whichever occurs first). A boy does NOT have to graduate from Cub Scouts or Webelos to join.

Boys can join any time during the year, but most enter in late winter or early Spring. Going to summer camp soon after joining is important, and it helps to have a couple of months in the troop before his first camp.

“A game with a purpose” is how Baden Powell first described the aims of scouting nearly a century ago. The activities and lessons of scouting build confidence, teamwork and leadership. Developing leadership and cooperation are just two of our goals. Troop 185 is a boy-run troop, because this is the best way to teach leadership. That means, our boys plan the program, run the activities and follow the patrol method to the best of their ability. Each patrol is an important part of our troop and leadership and cooperation are learned starting at the patrol level.

Unlike Cub Scouts, where adults provide all the planning and leadership, our boys, with adult guidance, provide the planning and leadership for meetings, advancement of rank and outings. This takes some getting used to, especially when we adults think we can run things more efficiently than the boys can. But remember, it takes practice to learn anything, including leadership. Your son will help elect his patrol leaders, and later, will hold some of these offices himself because leadership service is a requirement for advancement beyond First Class rank.

We meet on Monday nights from 7:30-9:00 PM from September through June (except holidays). Troop meetings are held at Saint John's School hall. We ask that boys be on time or a little early to help set up. You can reach our scoutmaster, John Fortini, at 781-237-0107

We expect each of our scouts to be active, to advance regularly, to wear his full Scout uniform when appropriate, to practice good manners and behavior, and to do his best to live up to the Ideals of Scouting as expressed in the Scout Oath and Laws. The troop may suspend Scouts for poor behavior in accord with our Code of Conduct.

The key to successful Scouting is the outdoor program, and only active Scouts can reap the full benefits. We expect our Scouts to attend overnight campouts year-round, and to make every effort to attend our vital week at summer camp.

We also expect parents to be actively involved with their son in Scouting, since boys with involved parents gain the greatest benefits from Scouting. This will range from helping at troop meetings and campouts, serving on the troop committee, merit badge counseling or in many other capacities.

Just as a sports uniform identifies a boy with a team, the Scout uniform identifies a boy with the largest youth movement in the world. The Scout uniform tends to diminish the importance of a person’s financial, social, and ethnic background, while clearly showing each individual’s Scouting accomplishments.

Scout shirt (short sleeves are more practical)
Troop 185 neckerchief with slide (provided to new scouts)
Merit badge sash (for formal occasions)

red shoulder loops (troop provides)
Badge of rank and Arrow of Light (if earned) on left pocket
nametag above right pocket flap (troop provides)
Knox Trail Council shoulder patch on upper left sleeve
Troop 185 numerals and 30 yr patch (troop provides)
American flag & patrol patch on upper right sleeve
World Scout crest (above left pocket, 3” below shoulder seam

For summer camp, a full Class-A uniform is needed. This means in addition to the standard troop uniform above, please add scout shorts and belt with buckle, and red-top scout socks.

The troop gives each Scout a troop tee shirt which is used at summer camp as well as for all warm weather outings and trips. Additional shirts can be purchased. We also give the scouts a troop ball cap with logo upon reaching First Class rank.

The Scout handbook (provided to new Scouts) has full-size sewing templates on the inside front and back covers and a printout is included here as well.

The nearest source for Scout supplies is the New England Scout Shop, at 23 Turnpike Rd (Rt 9W), Southborough. 508-229-2396

We believe our troop functions should be activities where all Scouts can feel physically and emotionally secure. To accomplish this, we expect all Scouts (and adults) to set a positive example and do their best to live by the Scout Promise and Law; to refuse to tolerate put-downs, name-calling, physical intimidation, or hazing; to communicate acceptance of all others through positive feedback and by showing appreciation whenever possible; and by creating an environment based on learning and fun, seeking the best from all members and striving to help them achieve it.

Throughout all our activities, the importance of safety is paramount. Therefore, great care is taken when organizing everything from troop meetings to more complex outings involving elements of risk. Such events may include bicycle trips, hiking and climbing, canoeing and swimming, winter camping, and wilderness trekking. In any event, attention is given to the level of physical fitness required, as well as the need for adequate training before a Scout is allowed to participate.

For many high-adventure activities, the minimum age will be 13, and a further requirement is that a Scout have achieved First Class rank to ensure he has the basic camping skills mastered. While these are guidelines for activities, it is also recognized that some Scouts are ready sooner than others, and the ultimate decision to participate rests with the Scoutmaster.

In Scouting, we make constant use of the “Buddy System”. This means that no Scout will go anywhere alone. There will always be at least two boys together ... swimming, hiking, in a tent or even a public bathroom. Buddy’s look out for each other, and are able to get help if the other is injured. This does not, however, preclude the need for qualified adult supervision. We will always require that there be at least two adults on hand for all activities, one of them over the age of 21.

We also make a very serious issue of training Scouts in First Aid, and handling emergency situations. Basic First Aid skills are required for each of the first three Scout ranks. Our attention to safety does not stop there. We will always encourage youth and adult members of the troop to certify in First Aid, CPR and water safety instruction. Scouts and adults wear bike helmets and life jackets when needed—with no exceptions.