Boy Scout Troop 201 is one of the oldest troop’s in the area.  The troop has been sponsored by Maywood for over 71 years.  The Church sponsors Boy Scout Troop 201 and Cub Pack 201.  Boy Scouts are for boys age 11 to 18.  Cub Scouts are for boys age 7 to 10.  Both the troop and pack meet on Monday nights at 7:00 PM

Scouting’s purpose is to build character and instill leadership values for boys.  The cornerstone of these values come from the Scout Oath and Scout Laws.  The vehicle used to instill these values are gained through rank advancement, overnight camping, merit badges, and summer camp.

There are  seven ranks in the Scouting program:  Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle.  Eagle is the highest and most prestigious rank in Scouting.  To date over 165 boys have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

The Troop camps once a month throughout the year.  The troop has been to places like Baldwin City, KS and slept on a railroad car and worked on a railroad.  Hutchinson, KS to the Kansas Cosmosphere touring the museum full of US and Russian space memorabilia and earned Space Exploration merit badge.  Rocheport, MO and rode the Katy Trail;  Bogard, MO fishing;  Landau Park in Blue Springs for Rock Climbing, Squaw Creek MO, and Snow Creek.

To help with these activities the troop has top of the line Eureka tents.  Top of the line cooking equipment, and other camping equipment.  The troop has been blessed by participating in Santa-Cali-Gon Days in Independence for more than 25 years.  The troop earns enough funds for one year at Santa-Cali-Gon.  No other fundraisers are needed for the troop.  This allows the troop to go to different places keeping boys interested in scouting.

There are 121 merit badges in the Boy Scout program.  Merit badges are designed to introduce boys to a lifelong hobby or profession.  To become Eagle Scout a boy must earn 21 merit badges, 12 of which are required and 9 of which are elective.  Boys can however, earn as many merit badges as they choose.

The yearly camping highlight for the year is Summer Camp at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation.  The main focus being merit badges and fun.  The camp has an honor camping program called Mic-O-Say.  Mic-O-Say emphasizes the ideals of the Scout Oath and Laws. Mic-O-Say uses the charismatic traditions of the Native American Indians to deliver this program to boys and leaders.

For more about the troop or pack please contact the Scoutmaster Kevin Jenkins, kcjenkins2@yahoo.com.  The troop website can be viewed at http://sites.google.com/site/troop201bsa/ .