Frequently asked questions

Any youth ages 11–17, or who has finished 5th grade, or who has earned the Arrow of Light and is at least 10. Boys and girls are equally welcome, and no Scouting experience is needed. Many of our Scouts started in Cub Scouts; plenty didn't.

Absolutely. Troop 75 is a Family Troop: one troop for boys and girls, with the same program, the same adventures and the same path to Eagle Scout. 28 of our 94 Scouts are girls, and 21 of our adult volunteers are women. We were one of the first troops to sign up for the original pilot that opened Scouting to girls' troops, and one of the first to join the recent pilot that brought boys and girls together. More about girls in Troop 75.

Please do! Come to any Wednesday meeting, 7–8:30 p.m., at Delmar Reformed Church (386 Delaware Ave). Tell us you're coming and we'll have a Scout and an adult leader ready to show you around.

Not at all. Many Scouts join in 6th grade or later with no Scouting experience. New Scouts join a patrol with friends their age, and the first ranks are built to teach the basics, so everyone starts in the same place.

No. Scouts join at any age from 11 to 17. Scouts who start in middle school have time to reach Eagle, which must be finished before turning 18, and older Scouts quickly find a place in leadership and high adventure.

Yes. Scouting welcomes Scouts with disabilities and special needs, with accommodations for advancement when they're needed. Talk with us about what will help your Scout succeed, and see Scouting America's disability resources.

Any time of year. Most new Scouts cross over from Cub Scouts in the spring, but Scouts join us in every season, and new Scouts are welcomed into a patrol right away.

Yes. Every skill is taught, by older Scouts and trained adults, starting with the basics. New Scouts start with shorter, closer campouts and build up to treks and high adventure at their own pace. See what to expect at your first campout.

At Delmar Reformed Church, 386 Delaware Avenue in Delmar, our chartered organization. Meetings are Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. when school is in session. On the first Wednesday of the month, youth leaders meet as the Patrol Leaders' Council and parents hold their monthly meeting, both at 7 p.m.

No. Our Scouts come from all over the Town of Bethlehem (Delmar, Elsmere, Slingerlands, Glenmont, Selkirk) and beyond.

We've been Troop 75 in Delmar since 1930. Several troops around the country share the number 75, so Scouting America's records give us the unique number 1075. Same troop, same Scouts.

Yes, and many of our Scouts do. Meetings are one evening a week and outings are planned well ahead, so families pick the events that fit. There's no minimum, though the more Scouts come, the more they get out of it.

Scouts meet by patrol (a small team of 6–8 Scouts) to learn and practice skills, plan upcoming outings, and play games. The youth leaders run the meeting; adults coach from the side.

Scouts elect their own leaders, plan the calendar at our Mega PLC planning days, and run meetings and campouts. Adults make sure everyone is safe and help the youth leaders succeed. It's how Scouting helps young people grow into confident leaders.

There's something nearly every month: weekend campouts and camporees, winter cabin camping, a week of summer camp, canoe treks, hikes and high adventure. See our year for everything we do.

Yes. Troop 75 has a strong record of Eagle Scouts, and girls and boys follow exactly the same path, with an Eagle coordinator to guide each Scout through the requirements and their Eagle service project. Our own adult leaders are merit badge counselors for more than 100 merit badges, so most badges can be earned without leaving the troop. See Eagle Scouts.

Scouting builds the leadership, teamwork and follow-through that colleges and employers look for, and Eagle Scout is a widely recognized achievement. There are also scholarships for Scouts and Eagle Scouts; see family resources.

Troop 75 doesn't charge dues. The only yearly cost is registration: $150 a year per Scout as of fall 2026 (Scouting America's $85 fee plus Twin Rivers Council's $65). Campouts and summer camp are paid for each event. Sportsmart, our big fundraiser, keeps troop costs down, and help is available so no Scout misses out because of money. See cost.

Yes. Talk to us privately through the contact form; no Scout is turned away because of cost. Twin Rivers Council offers fee assistance and summer camp camperships, Scouting America waives its national fee for military families, and Scouts earn their own way: 100% of the troop's share of the popcorn a Scout sells goes into that Scout's own Scout account, and Scouts who work fundraisers like Sportsmart can earn toward their trips too. See family resources.

A Scout uniform shirt and a Scouts handbook to start. Camping gear can come over time: the troop has tents and patrol cooking gear, and experienced families are happy to advise before you buy anything.

Every adult leader completes Scouting America's Safeguarding Youth training and a background check, and we follow Scouting's two-adult rule: no adult is ever alone with a Scout who isn't their own child, in person or online. When girls are on an outing, a registered female adult leader is there too. Anyone can report a concern to Scouting America's Scouts First Helpline at 1-844-SCOUTS1 (1-844-726-8871). Every activity follows Scouting America's Guide to Safe Scouting, and its parents' guides help families talk with their children about personal safety.

It's not required, but a troop this size runs on its families. With 67 registered adults, there's a role for every schedule, from driving to an outing or teaching one merit badge to joining the committee or becoming a leader. All training is provided.

Trained adult leaders go on every outing. Parents are welcome to get trained and come along, and many do, but Scouts tent and cook with their patrol, not their parents. That's where the growing up happens.