Welcome to the “Harvard” of scouting!  In our community, city, state and across the country, Troop 647 Scouts are making a difference. 

Scouts learn skills that will last a lifetime, including basic outdoor skills, first aid, citizenship, leadership, and how to get along with others.  For over a century, Scouting has installed in young men the values and knowledge that they will need to become leaders in their communities and country.

The leadership committee of Troop 647 hope you will find everything you desire in your scouting career.

This site is available in an effort to enhance your scouting experience. Refer to it often as a reference for troop and Scouting information.

And always, remember to do your best!


Yours In Scouting,

Troop 647 Committee

What Is Scouting? 

Scouting is unlike anything your son has ever experienced before.

Unlike school, organized sports, or perhaps even in the home setting, in a Boy Scout troop the youth are the ones who are in charge.  It is boy led.  Their desires become our agenda.  Their ideas for adventure, fun, and excitement are what the adults guide them to bring into reality.  In Scouting, They speak and the adults listen.

By practicing representative democracy, they pick their own leaders who form the "Patrol Leader Council" that creates the yearly agenda.  Scouts work together on every issue, from what to eat at camp, deciding who will wash dishes and shop for food, they learn and put into practice communication, public speaking, teamwork, conflict resolution, and leadership.

By taking advantage of any of the 120+ possible merit badges, they gain exposure to area of interest ranging from Reading to Nuclear Science, Small Boat Sailing to Aviation, Arts to Outdoors.  Statistically, the Merit Badge program often leads to life-long hobbies and even career choices.  At a minimum, Merit Badges help a young man try things he may never have had a chance to do if not for the Scouting experience, such as Personal Management, archery, sailing, or camping.

While boys are busy "being Scouts" and having fun, they start to embody the vitures of Scouting defined in the Scout Oath and Law.

What is Scouting?  It is "fun with a purpose".

What Do You Mean By "Boy Led"?

A Boy Scout troop leads itself.   Adults are present to guide and ensure safety & compliance exists, but it is the YOUTH who make key decisions.  The primary role of the Scoutmaster is to teach the Senior Patrol Leader how to run/lead his troop.

The Scouting program using The Patrol Method means the Troop members ELECT their own leaders; individual Patrol Leaders and a Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) who takes on "ownership" and hold the actual leadership position within the Troop.  The SPL appoints an assistant scout (Assistant Senior Patrol Leader - ASPL) and various other leadership positions, all of whom serve at the Scoutmaster's discretion.

While serving as Senior Leaders, the SPL and ASPL cease to be members of their respective patrols and function as peers with the adult leadership. The SPL and ASP execute Program decisions, lead the meetings, plan agendas, pick camping destinations, and LEAD BY EXAMPLE when executing the agenda that the boys themselves created and agreed to follow.

Patrol Leaders are responsible for the well being and actions of their individual patrol and will REPRESENT their patrol in the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC).

At the PLC meeting (chaired by the SPL and monitored by the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster), Patrol Leaders plan future trips and troop meetings.  Through a model of Representative Government, they CHOOSE the trips and activities THEY want to do, and appoint other scouts to serve as skill instructors, or lead games or other activities.  Adult leadership keeps them on track with suggestions and advice, but the decisions are ultimately left to THE BOYS.

Once the future meetings/camping trips are planned, the SPL and Scoutmaster present the PLC's plans to the Troop Committee for review. The agenda is checked for issues such as necessary fund raising, unique equipment/skills, camp ground reservations, and is given an over-all inspection to confirm that trips are aligned with the purpose of the Scouting Program.   If the plans are approved, and the weekly meetings are lead by the boys (as designed) unless the skill instruction needed is currently beyond the skill set of the Scouts, or relates to merit badge requirements, then adults will render assistance.

ADULTS are a RESOURCE for guidance and ensuring that things are done the "BSA way" for safety, youth development and general direction setting.

"Boy Leadership" really means the Troop is doing the things the BOYS THEMSELVES want to do, and in doing so, will develop the leadership, communication, problem resolution, and organizational skills that underscore why Scouts excel in all other areas of their lives.

If Scouting Is "Boy Led" Why Have Adult Leaders?

A Boy Scout troop is "Boy Led", and the functioning boss is one of the Boy Scouts who serves as the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL).  He's elected to that position by all the Scouts in the troop and typically serves for a 6 month term (he is allowed to run for re-election).

However, just because a patch is sewn on your sleeve designating you as the "leader", it doesn't mean that you actually know HOW to lead.  That's where the adults come in.     

The Scoutmaster's job is to teach the boys how to lead their own unit.   That seems to be more of a "journey" than a "destination" because in 6 months, a new election is held.  The next Scout to be elected as the SPL may have strong leadership skills, or may be be starting to develop them for the first time so getting to a "100% boy run" status is difficult.

Sometimes we're able to be more "out of the way" than others, but our goal is to let the youth leaders "lead" and only step in when necessary, even if that means letting them make a few mistakes along the way.

1. Are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit.

2. Have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage and resourcefulness.

3. Have personal and stable values firmly based on religious concepts.

4. Have a desire and the skills to help others.

5. Understand the principles of the American social,  economic, and governmental systems.

6. Are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand America's role in the world.

7. Have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people.

8. Are prepared to fulfill the varied responsibilities of participating in and giving leadership to American society and in other forums of the world.

Boy Scouts of America Aims & Methods of the Scouting Program:

The Scouting program has three specific objectives, commonly referred to as "Aims of Scouting".  They are character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.

Boy Scout Oath:
On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty, to God and my Country, and to obey the scout law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong; mentally awake; and morally straight.

Boy Scout Law:
A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent

Scouting and Religion:
Per the 12th point of the Scout Law, "a Scout is Reverent".

Scouting's founder, Lord Baden Powell, believed that it was crucial to the development of the "whole person" that we have a belief in, and love for, God and that we should live by and embody His laws and teachings.

Scouting does not promote any 1 denomination above another and works with organized religions to offer awards (officially known as the Religious Emblem Program) to any boys choosing to further explore their religious faith, whatever that faith may be.   Scouting proves it is SUPPORTIVE of diversity and religious differences.

As a Private organization, it is the right of the BSA to set a code or ethics and morals for its members to follow.  Having a belief in God, is one of those criteria.  Those professing NO belief in God may find they would be better served in a different youth program than the BSA.

As we believe that "being reverent" is such a critical part of the Scouting program, we openly pray during meals, at meetings, and during non-denominational "Scouts' Own" services which are held while we are away at camp.  The troop maintains a youth member in the leadership position of Chaplain's Aid who will lead us in prayer and various services.  

Service:
The Hartford Scouting program has a tradition of service.  Annually in November, we participate in the Scouting for Food Drive to supply dry and canned food to area food banks.  Additionally, we have supported a shelter for women and their children, Meals on Wheels, Rouge Park Rescue, and a local school's landscaping project to name a few.  For boys in high school, this helps them earn their required work and service hours for graduation.

Camping:
On average, we have four camping trips a year.  Dues cover three of those camps.  Summer camp is at an additional cost because it is a week-long activity where Scouts can earn several merit badges and put to practice Scout skills.

Fundraising:

We have two primary fundraisers a year.  In the fall, just after school starts, we sell popcorn. (50% of the profit from popcorn goes toward dues after a minimum sale of 15 items)

In the spring, the last Tuesday in June, we have our annual family skating party at Northland Skating Rink.

Membership:
- Cub Scouts: Boys in the 1st through 5th grade.
- Boy Scouts: Boys who are 11 years old, or one who has completed the 5th grade or earned the Arrow of Light award and is a least 10 years old, but is not yet 18 years old.

Meeting Attendance:

We certainly won't send the "Scout Police" out to find you if you don't show up, but you miss out on a big part of the BSA Program if you don't attend regularly.

Scouting is NOT just playtime, or "David's weekend fun" away from his kid sister.   Scouting is a carefully crafted character-development program.  Each boy is a member of a PATROL, and as such, is part of a smaller group (as compared to the whole Troop of boys) where he is given AMPLE opportunity to play an active and valuable "hands on" role in the patrol's success. 

A boy who shows up sporadically DEPRIVES himself of the chance to make key decisions within his patrol; choose trip ideas and destinations, make menu selections, divy out workload, and build close friendships.  Every meeting includes a period of valuable skill instruction and fun interpatrol competitions that relate to the upcoming camping trip. If a boys misses a meeting, he will find himself less prepared for the upcoming activities.  The troop meetings are where we "learn", but the camping trip is where we reinforce the skills by putting them into practical use.

Scouts should make every effort to attend meetings on a regular basis.   Those who don't are missing out on the full experience of their limited Scouting years, and are causing their patrol members to do the same.

- 2nd & 4th Saturday Each Month (September thru June).
- 1:00 - 4:00P.M.

Hartford Memorial Baptist Church
18700 James Couzens Freeway
Detroit, Michigan  48235
- Cub Scouts: Youth Lounge.
- Boy Scouts: Room 304.

Cub Scouts:
- $60 per boy.  Bring a brother and get a family discount ($60 for first boy, $45 each additional brother).