Who can participate?
Our Troop is open to all boys in grades K – 12 (ages 5 – 18) regardless of religion, race, national origin or socio-economic status. Participants and families should respect that curriculum content and activities are conducted from a Christian Worldview which influences all aspects of our program.
When can I join the program?
Our Troop offers entrance points throughout the program year. Our goal as a Troop is to connect as many boys as possible to Life on the Trail so we encourage you to contact us!
We host a Spring Picnic in May, Parent Information meeting prior to the Fall program launch and several Open House events which offer a great way to meet other participants and get a more in-depth feel for our Troop.
Where does the Troop meet?
Troop meetings are held at Redeemer Presbyterian Church / Heritage Christian Academy East Campus.
9333 W 159th St, Overland Park, KS 66221
When does the Troop meet?
Our Troop typically meets on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 6:30 – 7:45pm. We do our best to provide a calendar schedule that supports major holidays and school breaks. We do not hold weekly meetings from June – August.
Hit the Trail events (campouts, hikes, community outings, etc.) are almost always held on Fridays/Saturdays. One to two events during a program year may carry into a Sunday morning. If this occurs, a chapel service is held by the Troop. During the summer months of June – August, we hold a few select events focusing on community or outdoor activities.
What does a Troop meeting look like?
Our Woodlands Trail meetings begin with an Opening Ceremony, honoring the flag, our nation and Troop. We will typically present a Life on the Trail moment which can range from a Trailman’s brief experience, Troop cheers/song, a life lesson by an adult leader or a “hack” related to the outdoors/camping/daily living. This is approximately 15 minutes in total.
We then break into Program Patrols for approximately 50 minutes, where we will engage in a fun game or activity, learn about the weekly branch topic in a brief instructional session, engage in a hands-on craft or activity and finish with a supporting application of scripture to the weekly topic.
Our meeting ends with Wisdom for the Wild which is a presentation from a Biblical perspective related to the weekly meeting and a Closing Ceremony to retire the colors.
Our older Trailmen conduct their own flag ceremony, game/activity, lesson, planning for future events, discussions, progress towards ranks/awards and devotions.
Am I required to stay at Troop Meetings?
We ask that an adult parent stay for the first semester for new Foxes (Kindergarten or 1st grade). This helps ensure familiarization with the program.
During Troop meetings in the fall, we will invite any non-registered adults (e.g., a Trailman’s father/grandfather/male guardian) to attend “The Journey” learning sessions covering key topics to help orient your family to Life on the Trail.
Except as noted for Foxes, we do not require a parent to stay for our Troop meetings.
Having a core of Registered Adults that are willing to stay and help out ensures the overall viability of the program. Involvement by a father/grandfather/male guardian in the program has a direct connection with their son/grandson/boy that is invaluable. If you would like to learn more about becoming an adult leader, please check out this page.
What other activities does the Troop do?
Our Troop is always on the move, exploring new opportunities! At the Woodlands Trail level, we typically have four campouts over a 12-month period, three during the primary program year (September – May) and one during summer. At the Navigator/Adventurer level, we camp almost every month and the complexity of campouts increases progressively.
For Woodlands Trail, our Troop requires that a male adult from the Trailman’s immediate family accompany a Trailman on overnight campouts and Hit the Trail activities. The reason for this is both for safety and engagement for our younger Trailmen. Any special circumstances may be discussed with the Troopmaster.
While this is not required for the Navigator or Adventurer program, we encourage Registered Adult participation on Navigator/Adventurer outings because a primary goal of Trail Life is intentional family time in the outdoors!
We also pack Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, race cars in an annual Pinewood Derby in January, get our hands dirty with the Spring service project, catch fish in our annual fishing derby in July, take advantage of several hiking opportunities and for Woodlands Trail get out on the town for at least two community outings per year.
More details on events and activities can be found here.
What are the methods of Troop communication?
Our Troop utilizes the web portal from Trail Life USA – Trail Life Connect (www.traillifeconnect.com) to manage our Troop, perform regular email communication regarding the Troop and publish the Troop Calendar of Events. You will gain access to this portal as part of the registration process. Although we provide a PDF calendar of events for the entire Troop season – dates, times and details of events are subject to change and are updated in the online calendar only.
Don’t miss out on receiving important emails! We have a guide available for Email Setup and Communication Policies.
Once you have joined our Troop you may request access to our Facebook page (Trail Life Troop KS-1199). This is a closed group for privacy purposes. We utilize Facebook for uploading pictures from Troop activities, posts about the topics covered in a weekly meeting and real-time updates about Life on the Trail. We strongly encourage participation from families via only this social media platform for privacy reasons.
Our Troop website (www.1199ks.com) is intended to be a public site where families can learn about participating in Trail Life. We will use the website only to communicate events that are open to the public, such as the Spring Picnic, Parent Information meeting or Open House nights, and share general information about the Troop.
What is the cost to participate?
Our Troop operates the annual program primarily from member dues. Dues help cover Troop meeting supplies, campout expenses, advancement awards, chartering expenses, Hit the Trail activities and other basic costs to operate the Troop.
We also hold an annual fundraiser to help build Troop reserves to subsidize more costly activities (e.g., number of nights, type of lodging, type/quantity of additional recreational activities) and to replace/upgrade equipment.
There is an annual registration cost of approximately $35 to our national organization, Trail Life USA which covers insurance and national administrative expenses. This is paid when completing your registration via Trail Life Connect. This is due only for a Trailman. Adults who choose to become a Registered Adult will pay their registration fee at a later date.
There are additional costs to purchase a Uniform. The Troop Uniform guidelines and costs are discussed in detail here. We recommend purchasing items at the same time to reduce shipping costs.
As a gift for joining the Troop, first year participants in Woodlands Trail will be provided a Troop insignia patch for their uniform and Navigators/Adventurers will be provided a Handbook. The Woodlands Trail handbook is an optional item which you can evaluate by reviewing our Troop sample copies.
Woodlands Trail $200 per year
This may be paid in one annual installment or in two equal payments of $100, due in September and January.
Note: Participation in the Summer Adventure Campout maybe an additional fee (~$50-75 per person depending on lodging and activities). We will always notify families in advance of any extra charges. It is our goal to operate within a “one-price” system to ensure consistency and participation in all regular Troop events/activities. The Troop may offer supplemental family activities during the year or summer which are not included in the annual dues, however these are typically free or very inexpensive community events.
Navigators / Adventurers $300 per year
This may be paid in one annual installment or in two equal payments of $150, due in September and January.
Note: Participation in Summer Adventure Campout is an additional fee (~$150-$300 per person depending on lodging and activities). The Troop uses fundraising efforts to subsidize these multi-night experiences as much as possible.
Multi-Trailmen Discount
For families with more than two Trailmen in the Troop, a discount of $50 will be applied for every Trailman after the first two.
How do I make payments to the Troop?
We offer two methods of payment for dues or activities:
- Venmo (information provided in Parent/Troop meetings)
- Check payable to Troop KS-1199 (turn in at Troop meetings)
Does the Troop perform fundraisers?
Yes, however in keeping with Trail Life USA policy, fundraising activities are limited and focused on expanding the ability of the Troop to offer exciting adventures at an affordable price. Participation is extremely important and valuable to all members of the Troop.
What program level should I select?
We recommend the following placement based on age/grade level:
- Fox K – 1st grade (5 years old by October 31).
- Hawk 2nd – 3rd grade (7 years old by October 31)
- Mt Lion 4th – 5th grade (9 years old by October 31)
- Navigators 6th – 8th grade (11 years old by October 31)
- Adventurers 9th grade – 12th grade (14 years old by October 31, until 18th birthday)
This handy tool developed by a Trail Life Troop NC-613 can help you determine a good fit for your Trailman based on a specific birthdate. Find My Level Tool
What can I do if a Trailman misses a meeting/event?
To report completion of activities at home, please submit the Family At Home Completion Form available in Trail Life Connect to your program leader. Please note that if updating closer than four (4) weeks before an awards ceremony, your son may receive an “IOU” award until our next order is placed.
Our leaders do their best to record accurate attendance at each meeting/event where advancement steps are being completed, but if you notice a difference and need to request an attendance correction please contact the Ranger (Woodlands Trail) or your program leader (Navigators/Adventurers).
What is the “Joining Award”?
Trailman that are new to the Troop or are moving up to a new program level will participate in earning their Joining Award / Branch Patch (or Rank). These basic knowledge skills are tested after the first month of meetings. Click here to download a helpful guide.
What other policies and information should I review?
Our Troop desires that our meetings and events are structured for each Trailman to have a great time but also provide an environment where learning can take place. Our Conduct Policy provides additional information regarding our approach.
Health and Safety is a top priority for our Troop. We encourage you to review our Health Policy to answer any questions you might have. Each Trailman must turn in a Youth Medical Form and copy of insurance card. Adult males participating in off-site activities, such as going on camping/hiking trips or Hit the Trail events, must complete an Adult Medical Form. All Navigator/Adventurer and Adults participating in High-Risk Activities (as defined by TLUSA) must complete the additional High-Risk Medical Form. Completed paperwork should be submitted to the Troopmaster.
Technology is great but not always necessary when on an outdoor adventure! Please take time to review our Cell Phone and Electronics Policy.
Our Troop recommends some basic Essential Gear to ensure a successful Trail Life experience. This list is divided into the Woodlands Trail and Navigator/Adventurer level.
We also have general information of interest on the Prospects/Form & Information page.
What about a Trailman with Special Needs?
Trail Life USA has developed a policy for meeting the needs of individuals that may need additional support. This policy is administered by a Committee of qualified volunteers and has a defined process. Please contact the Troopmaster if your family is in need of additional information.
Ready to Register?
You may have already decided that Trail Life is exactly what you are looking for or perhaps you still have questions, either way we would love to hear from you! Please check out our Contact Form to reach out to us via email.
