What Activities and Values Does Boy Scout Troop 17 Emphasize?

Boy Scout Troop 17 in St. Louis describes itself as "the blue chip of scout troops," and its program centers on traditional outdoor scouting, discipline, and a strong sense of group identity. According to the troop's website, its emphasis includes outdoor skills, uniforms, marching, high standards, older boys, pup tents, and a rousing troop song. The troop also runs Cub Scout Pack 17 for girls and boys in grades K–5 (or ages 5–10), which focuses on activities that build personal responsibility, self-confidence, social skills, respect, and honesty.

Traditional Scouting and Outdoor Focus

Troop 17 presents itself as a troop with "history and traditions almost as old as Scouting itself." The activities it highlights are practical and traditional:

• Outdoor skills — camping and fieldcraft are named as core parts of troop life.
• Pup tents — the troop specifically mentions pup tents, suggesting a preference for simple, classic camping setups.
• Uniforms and marching — these are treated as part of the troop's identity rather than optional extras.
• Older boys — the troop notes that older boys are part of its character, which points to a youth-led, experienced membership base.

These elements suggest a program where tradition, self-reliance outdoors, and visible standards matter. For a family comparing troops, this is a useful signal: Troop 17 leans toward a structured, traditional scouting experience rather than a loose or highly customized one.

Discipline, Esprit de Corps, and High Standards

The troop's self-description uses the phrase "esprit de corps" — a sense of shared spirit and loyalty — alongside discipline and high standards. In practice, that combination usually means:

• Meetings and campouts follow clear routines and expectations.
• Uniforms and marching are used to build cohesion and attentiveness.
• Members are held to standards that the troop itself calls high.

The troop meets every Wednesday at 6:30 pm sharp at Salem United Methodist Church, 1200 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131. The word "sharp" in the meeting time reflects the same emphasis on punctuality and discipline described elsewhere on the site.

Cub Scout Pack 17: Activities for Younger Children

Cub Scout Pack 17 serves girls and boys in grades K–5 (or ages 5–10). The website describes the pack's appeal through concrete activities:

• Archery — the "thrill of shooting an arrow."
• Building a race car — transforming a block of wood into a race car, a classic Cub Scout project.
• Character development — the pack promotes activities that lead to personal responsibility, self-confidence, social skills, respect, and honesty.

The pack meets at Salem United Methodist Church, the same location as the troop. For parents of younger children, this means the values emphasis starts early and carries through to the older-boy troop.

Values in Summary

A Note on the Troop's Fundraising

Troop 17 also sells the "Seventeener" hat press, developed in the 1950s to keep campaign hats straight and sharp. The troop states that 100% of proceeds support its operations and a scoutership program, and that the presses are assembled by the boys themselves from USA-made materials. This detail reinforces the troop's emphasis on tradition, self-reliance, and member-supported operations.

Who This Program Suits

Troop 17's stated emphasis on uniforms, marching, discipline, and high standards will appeal to families looking for a structured, tradition-rich scouting experience with a strong group identity. Families seeking a more informal or activity-only program may find the fit different. The best way to judge is to visit a Wednesday meeting at 6:30 pm at Salem United Methodist Church, or to contact the troop through its website to ask about joining Pack 17 or Troop 17.