Fair questions parents ask before their first visit, answered honestly. If yours is not here, email troop949chicago@gmail.com and a real human will get back to you.
Can we just show up to a meeting?
Yes, and that is the best way to start. No paperwork, no payment, no commitment. Come to any meeting, meet the scouts and leaders, and see how a meeting runs. Your scout can jump in with a patrol the same night. Check the calendar first so you catch a meeting Monday.
When and where do you meet?
Every other Monday at 7:00 pm in Kernaghan Hall at St. Robert Bellarmine, 4646 N. Austin Ave, Chicago. Meetings run about 90 minutes. The next date is always on the calendar page.
Do you accept girls?
Yes. Troop 949 is a family troop, open to boys and girls ages 11 to 17. Everyone camps, cooks, leads, and advances on the same program.
What does it cost?
Annual dues are $50, which covers registration and troop operations. Campouts and summer camp are charged at cost, and fundraisers like the troop car wash help keep those costs down. If cost is ever a barrier, talk to us quietly. Financial assistance is available and no scout is turned away over money.
My kid has never camped. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Most scouts start with zero camping experience. We camp most months in every season Chicago throws at us, and older scouts teach newer ones how to pack, cook, and stay warm and dry. By the second or third campout it clicks.
Do we need to buy gear or a uniform first?
No. Come as you are. The troop has tents and group gear, and we will tell you honestly what is worth buying and what is not before you spend anything.
Who actually runs the troop?
The scouts do. Patrol leaders plan the meetings, the senior patrol leader runs them, and older scouts teach the younger ones. Trained adult volunteers supervise, coach, and keep everyone safe, but the point of the program is that young people learn by leading.
How do you keep kids safe?
Every registered adult holds current Youth Protection Training and a background check, and two-deep leadership applies at every single activity. No adult is ever alone with a scout. Health forms are on file for every campout.
Do parents have to volunteer?
You are welcome but not required. Some parents camp with us, some help behind the scenes with driving or fundraising, and some just drop off. Whatever works for your family. If you would like to help, you do not need a Scouting background. We will train you.
Do we have to belong to the parish?
No. We are chartered by Mary, Undoer of Knots Parish and grateful for the home, but parish affiliation is not and has never been a requirement. Scouts of every faith and background are welcome.
My kid is younger than 11.
Our linked Cub Scout unit is Pack 3949, which serves younger kids and feeds naturally into the troop. Email troop949chicago@gmail.com and we will connect you.
How does joining actually work?
Visit a meeting or two, try a campout as a guest, and when your scout is ready, register online with Scouting America. It takes a few minutes and we will walk you through the application, health forms, and uniform. The Join the Troop page has the full rundown.
Still have a question?
Ask it in person on a meeting Monday, or send it to the troop inbox and we will get back to you within a few days.