troop236bsa.org

What is Boy Scout Troop 236?

Boy Scout Troop 236 is a local Scouting unit based at Saint Mark the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 59 Spring Lane, Long Valley, New Jersey. It has been active since 1986 and is associated with Schooley's Mountain. Its site describes a troop program with camping, high-adventure trips, summer camp, and service projects, and it highlights scout achievements such as Eagle Scout awards and a Klondike Derby. The site is run by volunteer Scouts and is not an official Scouting America or Patriots' Path Council site.

Who it's for and what it offers

• Youth members looking for a troop with regular outdoor activities and advancement toward Eagle Scout.
• Parents who want to see the troop's calendar, leadership, and recent activities before contacting them.
• Prospective members who can use the Join page to learn how to get involved.

Practical next step

If you're considering joining, check the Calendar and Join pages first to see meeting times and upcoming events, then contact the troop through the email listed on the site. You can also compare with nearby units through Patriots' Path Council or Scouting America's official locator at Scouting America to confirm the troop is a good fit for your schedule and interests.

How can my child join Troop 236?

The troop's own site lists a Join page in its main menu, and that is the page to open first. It also gives a contact email, [email protected], and a mailing address at Saint Mark the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 59 Spring Lane, Long Valley, NJ 07853. For a family in Long Valley or on Schooley's Mountain, that means the practical first step is to look at the Join page and then reach out through the listed contact rather than simply showing up at a meeting.

What to check on the Join page

• Whether the troop is accepting new Scouts at your child's age or grade level
• Any listed meeting night, location or joining event
• Whether there is a form, an email address or a person to contact
• What a parent or guardian is expected to do, such as staying for an initial meeting

A useful next step

Send a short email that states your child's age, current Scouting status if any, and the school year they are in. Ask two specific questions: when the next meeting or joining night is, and what the troop needs from you before your child attends. That gives the volunteer leaders enough to answer without a long back-and-forth.

Where the national program fits

Troop 236 is a local unit, so joining it also means registering with Scouting America. The national organization's site explains youth eligibility and the joining process in general terms: Scouting America. Use it for the program-level rules and forms, and use the troop's Join page for local timing and contacts. The troop notes that its site is maintained by volunteer Scouts and is not an official Scouting America site, so treat national registration details as the authoritative source.

If the troop is full or not a fit

Troops differ in size, meeting night, outdoor schedule and adult involvement. If Troop 236 cannot take your child right now, ask the leaders whether they can point you to another unit nearby, or check the council locator through Patriots' Path Council, the council named on the troop's site. Visiting two troops before deciding is normal and gives you a better sense of which one suits your child.

What activities and trips does Troop 236 do each year?

Troop 236's own site shows a troop that stays active year-round, with recurring traditions and bigger trips rather than a single annual event. From the page evidence, the visible activity mix includes a Klondike Derby (with 2026 teams noted), a Boston Freedom Trail trip, an annual wreath hanging in support of a food pantry, camping, and high-adventure outings. It also points to summer camp and a uniform inspection sheet, which suggest regular troop meetings and preparation alongside the trips.

For a parent or scout comparing troops, the useful distinction is between three layers of activity:

A practical next step: check the troop's calendar page for dates and ask whether high-adventure trips have age or rank prerequisites, since those often determine who can attend. If your scout is new, start with a local campout or the service project before committing to a travel trip.

What is the process to become an Eagle Scout in Troop 236?

Becoming an Eagle Scout in Troop 236 follows the standard Scouts BSA path, but Troop 236's site doesn't lay out the steps in a dedicated guide. It shows the milestones instead: a page for Troop 236's Eagle Scouts and a Distinguished Leaders page, plus a uniform inspection sheet and summer camp information. So the practical answer is that you join the troop, advance through the ranks, complete an Eagle Scout service project, and pass a board of review — with the troop's adult leaders and Eagle Scout mentors guiding you locally.

The usual sequence

1. Join and get active. Register with the troop, attend meetings and campouts, and start working on Scout through First Class requirements. Troop 236's calendar and camping pages show the kind of outings that build these skills.
2. Earn the lower ranks. Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class are typically earned in the first year or two. Camping, cooking, first aid, swimming and fitness requirements are the core.
3. Move through Star and Life. These ranks add merit badges, leadership positions and service hours. Troop 236's Eagle Scout and Distinguished Leaders pages suggest the troop tracks these roles closely.
4. Earn the required merit badges. The Eagle-required list includes First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Cooking, Personal Fitness, Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving, Environmental Science or Sustainability, Personal Management, Swimming or Hiking or Cycling, and Camping. You also need a set of elective badges.
5. Plan and carry out an Eagle Scout service project. This is a leadership project benefiting a religious institution, school or community. You get it approved before starting, usually by your Scoutmaster, troop committee and district.
6. Complete a board of review. After all requirements are signed off, you meet a district-level board. The troop's volunteer-maintained site notes it isn't an official Scouting America or Patriots' Path Council site, so confirm current requirements with your Scoutmaster or the council.

A practical next step

If you're a Scout in the troop, ask your Scoutmaster for the current Eagle Scout rank application and a copy of the service project workbook, then set a target date. If you're a parent, use the troop's Contact page and calendar to ask when the next Eagle project reviews happen.

Decision criterion

The main trade-off is time versus depth. A Scout who starts merit badges early and picks a project they genuinely care about finishes without a last-minute scramble; one who waits until Life rank often rushes the project and board of review. Troop 236's history since 1986 and its Eagle Scout page suggest the troop has a working pipeline — use it by asking an older Eagle Scout to mentor you.

What equipment does a new scout need for Troop 236 camping trips?

The troop's own site points new families to a Camping Equipment page, which is the first place to check for its current expectations. Troop 236 is based at Saint Mark the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Long Valley, NJ, and its site also links a Scout Uniform Inspection Sheet and Summer Camp information.

Boy Scout Troop 236

What to expect on a troop gear list

Troop-level lists usually fall into three groups, and the distinctions matter more than brand names:

• Personal gear — sleeping bag and pad, mess kit, water bottles, rain gear, flashlight or headlamp, toiletries, and a change of clothes suited to the season.
• Scout uniform and handbook — check the uniform inspection sheet the troop links, since it defines what is required versus optional.
• Shared troop gear — tents, stoves, cooking gear and similar items are often provided by the troop, so confirm before buying anything large.

A practical first step

Ask the Scoutmaster or committee which items the troop supplies before you shop. A new scout joining in autumn for a Klondike Derby in winter needs a different setup than one heading to summer camp, so seasonal layering and rain protection usually matter more than expensive specialty gear. Buying used or borrowing for the first year is a reasonable approach, since scouts grow quickly and their interests may shift.

For context on how other troops structure their lists, see Scouting America for general program guidance.

When and where does Troop 236 meet in Long Valley, NJ?

Troop 236 meets at Saint Mark the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 59 Spring Lane, Long Valley, NJ 07853, according to the troop's own contact information. The site does not state a meeting day or time.

Next step: Check the troop's calendar page on Boy Scout Troop 236 for upcoming dates, or email [email protected] to confirm the current schedule. Meeting nights for Scout troops often shift with the school year and church availability, so confirm before your first visit.

If you are deciding whether to visit: a prospective Scout and parent can usually just attend a meeting, but a quick email avoids arriving on a week when the troop is camping or holding a special event. Bring questions about dues, gear expectations and the campout schedule.