Boy Scout Troop 23 has served Hastings, MN and surrounding communities(ISD 200 schools) since 1984. The troop membership averages 30-35 registered scouts and 10-12 registered adults. Troop 23 is part of Eagle River District in the Northern Star Council. Links to both the district and council websites can be found on our home page. Troop 23 meets year-round on most Mondays at 7:00pm at St. Philips Lutheran Church.
Boys are welcome to join Troop 23 at any time. The only restrictions are that a boy needs to be 11-17 years old OR completed the fifth grade, or higher, in school. Families with boys interested in seeing what Boy Scouts is about or are interested in joining the troop are welcome to visit a troop meeting at any time throughout the year. The boy visitor will be able to participate along side the other scouts in order to get an understanding of what goes on, while the parent(s) learns more about the troop from an adult leader. Although visitors are welcome at any meeting, please notify the troop in advance by making a request using the "Contact Us" link in the menu to the left.
Although established in 1984, Troop 23's first Eagle Scout came in 1988. Since then, a total of 72 boys have earned their Eagle Scout rank. The troop is quite proud of those boys' accomplishments.
Troop 23 keeps the "outing in Scouting." The troop plans a campout or activity every month of the year. Boys participate in troop outings, district activities, council activities, regional jamborees, national jamborees, and national outposts such as Florida's Sea Base. Troop 23 scouts attend summer camp(8 days, 7 nights) in mid-July at Tomahawk Scout Reservation, just north of Rice Lake, WI. Throughout the rest of the year, the scouts camp at other scout camps, city parks, county parks, state parks primarily in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Winter months do not prevent the troop from camping either. The boys have an opportunity to attend a council-sponsored winter camp and/or join in on troop winter camping experiences. Troop members are given the opportunity to earn BSA's "Zero Hero" award. To earn the award, a scout must spend 24 hours outdoors, during which the temperature must drop below zero at some point.