Troop 5 presently has 52 Scouts, mostly from Jordan and JLS Middle Schools and Palo Alto and Gunn High Schools, plus several private schools. Most Scouts live in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, and Mountain View, California.

Former Cub Scouts come from Pack 6, Pack 14, and Pack 52, among others. New Scouts, including graduating Cubs (Arrow of Light), are accepted year round. If a new Scout has gone on two or more overnight trips with the Troop, he may join the Troop at summer camp (traditionally at Camp Oljato, at beautiful Huntington Lake in the Sierra above Fresno). Parents and boys interested in learning more about Troop 5, visiting a meeting, and meeting the Scouts should contact jamie@bayareakidfun.com for additonal information.

Boy Scouting is intended to aid a boy in the process of developing into a young man. The major purposes of Scouting are the development of character (personal qualities, values, and outlook), citizenship (relationship and obligations to other people, society, and government), and fitness (physical, emotional, and moral). The Principles of Scouting are stated in the Scout Oath, 12 points of the Scout Law, Motto, and Slogan.

Troop 5, like most Boy Scout Troops, is run primarily by the Scouts, with guidance from the adult leaders. Scouts in the Troop elect the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), who heads the Patrol Leaders' Council (PLC). The SPL, with the help and advice of the Scoutmaster and elected Patrol Leaders, appoints one or more Assistant SPLs, Quartermaster, Instructors, Troop Guides, Scribe, and other Troop Officers. These officers, along with the Patrol Leaders, make up the PLC.

The Troop is made up of smaller groups of 5 to 9 Scouts, called Patrols. Each Patrol has a Patrol Leader elected by the Patrol members. He represents the Patrol at the PLC and keeps his Patrol informed.

Troop Meetings
Troop 5 meets most Mondays at Palo Verde School at 7:30 PM in the Multi-purpose Room, with some activities occasionally preceding the meeting. The Troop does not meet on Monday holidays or in August. We use those dates for extended campouts.

Outings
A major part of the Scouting involves outdoor activities. There is a saying that 3/4 of SCOUTING is "OUTING". Troop 5 has had a very strong outing program. Each year includes overnight camping (typically 30 or more nights offered each year), several backpacks, winter campouts (one a backpack on snowshoes or XC skis), day hikes, orienteering, skiing, rock climbing, and bicycling. Other activities include whitewater rafting and canoeing. In alternate years, Troop 5 sends a crew to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico for a 50 mile or greater expedition. In August, 2000, our Hi Adventure trip was to the Minnesota-Canada Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoeing Area.

Community Service
Troop 5 participates in 3 or more community service projects each year, including Scouting for Food, Memorial Services, and California and National Trail Days. The Troop usually participates in District and Council activities each year including Mountain Man Rendezvous, the Spring Camporee, and Scout-O-Rama. Many Scouts (and adults) are active in the Order of the Arrow, the national camping honorary of the Boy Scouts (Ohlone Lodge).

Advancement
Scouts who are active in the Troop's program will advance in rank almost automatically. As he learns each skill by doing it on the outings, a Scout will be signed off for the requirements or will accumulate the experience needed for many of the merit badges. As a result, a large fraction of the Scouts in Troop 5 (much higher than the national average of about 1.5 percent) achieve the Eagle rank. Seven Scouts completed Eagle this last year. At present, about 1/4 of the Troop is Life or Eagle, and another 1/3 1st Class or Star. Most Scouts in Troop 5 reach 1st Class before the end of their second year. There is a strong correlation between participation and advancement. Those who lag in rank are those who do not participate (parent support is an important factor here).

Recent Eagle projects include a portable library for a reading garden, information kiosk for Towle Campground in Foothills Park, food boxes for Towle Campground in Foothills Park, an emergency amateur radio repeater located in Foothills Park, game tables for senior citizens having restricted mobility, a classroom with an evolving mural for a restricted opportunity school, benches for a church courtyard, and several storage sheds for schools in the Palo Alto district. Troop 5 assisted with the recent El Nino flooding by filling emergency sand bags in the rain.

Visit Adult Roles for information about Scoutmaster and Troop Committee responsibilities.

Uniforms
All Scouts wear the appropriate Scout uniform to all Scouting functions, including outings. The purpose of the uniform is to show that the Scout is a member of the team (and save wear and tear on other clothes!). The Troop 5 uniform is the usual BSA class-A uniform - BSA shirt with proper patches (short or long sleeve), BSA pants (long or shorts), Scout belt, Scout socks, and Troop 5 neckerchief (green with red piping and the Troop 5 emblem shown at the top of this page). 1998 has seen our new "Class B" T-shirt and heavier fleece pullover with the Troop 5 "tree" logo suitable for non-uniform activities and general wear.

The Scout store is located at Lucy Stern Community Center. 1305 Middlefield Road. Phone: (650) 327-5900

Paperwork and Fees
Joining Troop 5: Come to a Troop meeting, meet the Troop and its leaders, fill out the BSA form, and pay your dues - it's as simple as that. The cost is $65, pro-rated between January and November. This fee covers a subscription to Boys Life, use of Troop tents and cook gear, newsletter, patches and badges, and other Troop expenses. Troop 5 pays the fees for its adult leaders. Each family receives a copy of the Troop 5 Handbook, which gives a lot of information about the Troop and its history, as well as listing equipment needed for outings and recommended places to get the gear.

Trips and Outings: Before going on an outing, each Scout must have a permission form signed by his parent and all participants must have a current BSA medical information form Part 1 on file, updated each year. Adult leaders and drivers are volunteers from among the parents of Scouts participating in the outing. A trip fee is occasionally charged for each activity to cover the expenses incurred for that outing. Generally the fee includes transportation, meals, and any park entrance, toll, and campground fees.