Parents and boys interested in learning more about Troop 5, visiting a meeting, and meeting the Scouts should contact Jamie Jarvis at jamie@bayareakidfun.com.

To join, a boy must be either 11, OR have finished Fifth Grade, OR have earned the Arrow of Light Award (whichever occurs first). He does not need to have been in Cub Scouts or Webelos.

Troop 5 presently has 40 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.

To join... 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 $70, 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.

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.