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What is Boy Scout Troop 17 in St. Louis?
Boy Scout Troop 17 is a Scouts BSA troop based in St. Louis, Missouri, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Clayton-Ladue and meeting at Salem United Methodist Church on South Lindbergh Boulevard. It describes itself as tradition-rich and known for discipline, uniforms, marching, outdoor skills, older scouts, pup tents and a troop song. The same organization also runs a Cub Scout pack for children in grades K–5, and separate Scouts BSA troops for boys and for girls.
Who it suits
- Families with younger children (K–5): the Cub pack offers typical entry activities such as archery and building a wooden race car, aimed at building confidence, social skills and responsibility.
- Older scouts who like structure and ceremony: the troop's emphasis on uniforms, marching and high standards appeals to youth who thrive in a formal, tradition-minded setting rather than a loose, casual one.
- Families near the Clayton–Ladue area: the Wednesday 6:30 p.m. meetings at Salem United Methodist Church make weekly attendance practical for nearby households.
A practical next step
If you are considering joining, visit a Wednesday meeting before registering — for a younger child, sit in on the Cub pack; for a scout aged 11 and up, try the troop. Watch how the older scouts lead and how much ceremony is built into the evening, since that is the clearest signal of whether the troop's culture fits your family. You can find current contact and joining details at Boy Scout Troop 17 in St. Louis; for general program background, see Scouting America.
How can my child join Troop 17 or Cub Pack 17, and what are the age and grade requirements?
Contact Troop 17 through the "Join pack or troop 17 now!" link on its homepage, or simply attend a Wednesday meeting: the troop gathers every Wednesday at 6:30 pm sharp at Salem United Methodist Church, 1200 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131. Cub Pack 17 meets at the same church. For a first visit, email or call ahead through the site's contact details so a leader can greet your family and answer questions about fees and paperwork.
Age and grade requirements
- Cub Pack 17: girls and boys in grades K–5, or roughly ages 5–10.
- Troop 17 for Boys and Troop 17 for Girls (Scouts BSA): the site does not state an age range, but the standard Scouts BSA entry point is age 11, or completing fifth grade, up to age 18. Confirm the troop's own cutoff with a leader.
What to expect from each program
Cub Scouts in Pack 17 focus on hands-on activities — archery, the Pinewood Derby car build, and projects that build responsibility, confidence, social skills, respect and honesty. Troop 17 describes itself as tradition-heavy and disciplined: uniforms, marching, outdoor skills, older scouts mentoring younger ones, pup tents and a troop song. It is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Clayton-Ladue.
Choosing the right fit
If your child is in fifth grade or younger, start with Pack 17 and visit a meeting. If your child is 11 or older, or has finished fifth grade, ask about visiting both the boys' and girls' troops before deciding. Families who value structure and ceremony will likely find Troop 17's culture a good match; families seeking a looser, activity-first start may prefer beginning in Cub Scouts.
For broader context on how the programs are structured, see Scouting America.
What should a new Scout or parent expect at the Wednesday 6:30 pm meeting at Salem United Methodist Church?
A new Scout or parent should expect a structured, uniformed troop meeting that starts promptly at 6:30 pm on Wednesdays at Salem United Methodist Church, 1200 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131. Troop 17 presents itself as tradition-minded and disciplined—known for uniforms, marching, outdoor skills, high standards, older Scouts, pup tents, and a troop song—so a first visit will likely feel more formal than a casual club gathering. The troop is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Clayton-Ladue and describes itself as having long-standing history and traditions.
What that means in practice
- Arrive early. The 6:30 start is described as "sharp," so plan to be there a few minutes beforehand to sign in and meet leaders.
- Dress for the occasion. Uniforms are part of the troop's identity; a new Scout should ask what to wear to a first meeting rather than assume.
- Expect older Scouts to lead. The troop emphasizes its older boys, which usually means experienced Scouts run parts of the meeting and set the tone for younger members.
- Plan for outdoor focus. Camping with pup tents and outdoor skills are central, so parents should be ready to discuss gear, trip schedules, and permission forms.
- Ask about the path from Cub Scouts. The same page describes Cub Pack 17 for girls and boys in grades K–5 (ages 5–10), meeting at the same church, so families with younger children can ask how the pack and troop connect.
A useful next step
Before the meeting, email or call the troop to confirm the entrance and meeting room at Salem United Methodist Church, ask whether a first-time visitor should wear a uniform, and request the current dues and camping calendar. At the meeting, ask a leader how new Scouts are assigned to patrols and how parents can help with transportation and camping. Families comparing options can also look at the local council, Greater St. Louis Area Council, for nearby troops and joining information.
How does Troop 17's traditional program—uniforms, marching, pup tents, and outdoor skills—differ from other St. Louis-area Scout troops?
Troop 17 presents itself as deliberately traditional: the site emphasizes uniforms, marching, pup tents, older boys, high standards and a troop song, and describes a culture of "esprit de corps" and discipline. That is a distinct offering from the more common St. Louis-area pattern of troops that foreground advancement pace, merit-badge variety or a relaxed, family-scheduling-friendly tone. The practical difference is fit: a Scout who enjoys ceremony, visible structure and a strong group identity will likely thrive here, while one who wants maximum flexibility or a low-key weekly meeting may find the emphasis on sharpness and tradition less appealing.
What to compare when visiting
- Weekly rhythm: Troop 17 meets Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. sharp at Salem United Methodist Church, 1200 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Ask other troops how firm their start times and attendance expectations are.
- Uniform and ceremony: If marching and inspection-style standards matter to your family, ask how often they occur and what gear is required. If they don't, look for troops that treat uniform as occasional.
- Camping style: Pup tents signal a lightweight, patrol-based approach. Compare with troops that use larger tents or cabin camping, which may suit younger or less experienced Scouts.
- Older-Scout leadership: The site stresses older boys, suggesting a patrol-method troop where senior Scouts instruct. Ask how many older Scouts remain active, since that affects mentoring depth.
- Cost and fundraising: The troop sells its "Seventeener" hat press, with proceeds supporting operations and a "scoutership" fund. Ask what dues and camp fees actually run.
A useful next step
Attend a Wednesday meeting with your Scout and ask two questions: "What does a new Scout's first three months look like?" and "How many Scouts are still active at 16 and 17?" Then visit one or two other troops in the area—for example, a nearby unit listed through Scouting America—and compare the answers. The troop whose culture your Scout wants to return to is the right one.
What is the Seventeener hat press, and how does buying one support Troop 17's scoutership program?
The Seventeener is a hat press that Troop 17 developed in the 1950s to keep campaign hats straight and sharp. The troop assembles it from USA-made materials, and the page notes that sales have extended beyond scouting to troopers, the military, the National Park Service and fellow scouters. Buying one supports Troop 17 in two ways: 100% of the proceeds go toward troop operations, and part of that funding goes to a scoutership program that helps Scouts take part.
Is it for you?
- Scouts and scouters with a campaign hat: the press is designed for exactly this use—keeping the hat's shape crisp between outings.
- Military, park service or reenactment groups: the page says these buyers have purchased it, so it suits anyone maintaining a similar felt hat.
- Supporters who don't wear the hat: the purchase still functions as a troop fundraiser, since all proceeds return to the troop.
A practical next step
If you're deciding whether to buy, check two things on the troop's shop page: which hat sizes or styles the press fits, and how shipping works for buyers outside St. Louis. If your main goal is supporting Scouting rather than owning the press, ask the troop directly whether direct donations to the scoutership program are also accepted—that may be the simpler route.
For families considering the troop itself, meetings are Wednesdays at 6:30 pm at Salem United Methodist Church in St. Louis, and the sponsored Cub Pack 17 covers grades K–5.
How does the Rotary Club of Clayton-Ladue sponsor Troop 17, and what does that sponsorship mean for families?
The Rotary Club of Clayton-Ladue is the chartered sponsor of Troop 17, the St. Louis troop that meets Wednesdays at 6:30 pm at Salem United Methodist Church. In Scouting, a chartered organization provides a home meeting place and a committed group of adult volunteers who oversee the unit, and Troop 17's page presents the Rotary connection in exactly that light: the club backs the troop while the troop's own culture—uniforms, marching, older-boy leadership, pup tents, and its troop song—does the recruiting.
What the sponsorship means for a family
- Stability: A service club sponsor is an institutional anchor, so a family evaluating the troop can reasonably expect the meeting location and adult oversight to outlast any single scout's tenure. Confirm current details with the troop rather than assuming them.
- A service-oriented ethos: Rotary's civic-service identity fits a troop that advertises discipline, high standards, and esprit de corps. If you want a program where community service and adult mentorship are visible, that alignment is a genuine signal.
- Fundraising with a purpose: The troop's Seventeener hat press—sold to troopers, the military, and the National Park Service, with all proceeds supporting operations and a "scoutership" fund—shows the unit generates its own support. Ask the troop whether that fund covers dues, camp fees, or uniforms, since the page doesn't say.
- A traditional program: The emphasis on uniforms, marching, and older scouts leading younger ones suits families who want structure and ritual. Families seeking a looser, more informal experience should weigh that contrast before visiting.
Next step
Attend a Wednesday meeting at Salem United Methodist Church and ask two direct questions: what the charter with Rotary covers (facilities, insurance, volunteer roles) and how the scoutership fund is awarded. Those answers tell you more about fit than the sponsorship label alone. For broader context on how chartered organizations work, see Boy Scouts of America.
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