Boys transition from Cub Scouts to the Boy Scout Troop when they are 10 or 11, and can stay in Boy Scouts until they turn 18.  Our goal is to help them navigate that trail from boy to young man, and to choose the right path.  We want them to become young men of character who will be good citizens and good men.  We want them to have a sense of duty to others, and to become leaders.  Troop 395 has been sponsored by Tipp City United Methodist Church for almost 60 years, and during that time more than 50 young men have earned the rank of Eagle Scout.  We expect several more to reach that goal in the next year.

We currently have about 40 scouts in the troop, and we meet every Tuesday evening (7 p.m.) in the Scout Room in the church basement.  At a typical meeting the troop might work on Scouting or outdoor-related skills, the older scouts help the younger ones with requirements for rank advancement, they can plan the next campout, and there is usually a game – “capture the flag” and dodgeball are favorites.

Outdoor activities are a central part of the Scouting program, as they provide opportunities for the boys to learn new skills, grow as leaders, and experience new challenges and adventures.  Our troop has a very active outdoor program, with campouts almost every month and a week-long summer camp every June.  We enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, cycling, whitewater rafting, caving, zip lining, and snow tubing.

We also participate in a number of service projects throughout the year, including various Eagle Scout projects, volunteering at the Tipp City Library, collecting food for local food pantries every March, assisting with Memorial Day events, helping at the Miami County courthouse after every election, and assisting with Tipp City's Christmas in the Village event.