About Us

Welcome to Troop 256,

Meetings are held on Tuesdays from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm at the Washington Lions Club.  No troop meetings are held the Tuesday after campouts.  Also, NO SCHOOL NO SCOUTS.  If school is canceled or if it falls on a holiday there will be NO MEETING that night.

A little about our troop.  We are a boy lead troop.  Meaning, our boys run the meetings, decide what we do at the meetings, where we camp, they plan the meals, do the shopping, who cooks, who cleans up at the campouts, when they go to bed, and when they wake up.

How is our troop structured?  The boy in charge is known by the BSA as the Senior Patrol Leader.  He is voted on by the boys in an election.  He is the go-to person.  Many times, you will hear the phrase “ASK YOU SENIOR PATROL LEADER”.  He does have an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.  He is in charge when the Senior Patrol Leader is not present.  Under the Senior Patrol Leader are what are known as Patrol Leaders.  Depending on the size of the troop there may be 3 or 4 Patrol Leaders.  The boys are split into Patrols equally.  The Quartermaster oversees our trailer and camping equipment.  Librarian oversees the merit badge books and who checks them in and out. 

How are merit badges and ranks earned?  Scouts should bring their Scout books to every scout event.  Meetings, campouts, and community service.  Scouts can work on multiple ranks and merit badges at the same time.  There is no pressure on your scout to earn ranks or merit badges.  It is more important that he just has fun.  Everyone works at their own pace.  Your scout can have requirements signed off by any adult leader, Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol leader or anyone who is ranked FIRST CLASS and above.

Scout accounts.  All scout accounts are managed by the troop treasurer.  Any remaining money from cub scouts can be transferred to their Boy Scout account.  Payments can be made by cash, check or venmo @Troop TwoFiftySix.  Scout account balances are emailed out periodically.  At anytime if you have any questions about your account, please contact the Troop Treasurer. 

Campouts.  The troop holds one campout a month from August-May.  Campouts are currently $25 each.  Any special activity will be in addition to depending on the activity.  For instance, snow tubing may cost an additional $30.  So that campout may cost $55.  Parents are welcomed and encouraged to go to campouts.  Parents MUST complete the Youth Protection Training to be able to go on campouts.  In June the troop goes to Summer Camp.  The location of summer camp is selected by the boys.  Summer camp is typically Sunday through Saturday.  Parents wanting to go to summer camp must be a registered adult with the troop along with having Youth Protection and have the Michigan Clearance registry. 

 Troop 256 Yesterday and Today

Troop 256 was started in the fall of 1970. Jim Ashmore was the first Scoutmaster, with Bill Block and Dean Graboske serving as the first Assistant Scoutmasters. The initial Troop was comprised of 12 Scouts and chartered out of Indian Hills Elementary School. The Troop’s first Eagle Scout was Keith Graboske and now Troop 256 has 64 Eagle Scouts to this date.

Recent evidence indicates that young people are leading increasingly more sedentary, less physically active lifestyles resulting in a lack of energy, motivation, and endurance – not to mention the associated physical and mental health risks. In contrast, Troop 256 is committed to keep the “outing” in Scouting. This forms the backbone of an obligation to keep Scouts on the move in the outdoors, engaging their natural surroundings with challenging and rewarding activities like camping, hiking, canoeing, rafting and other outdoor pursuits. The troop also remains faithful to the Scouting approach by holding monthly campouts, participating in BSA youth leadership activities, as well as annual attending Camporees and other high-adventure activities.