Welcome to Troop 297
Serving Hoffman Estates & Schaumburg, Illinois since 1968
Founded May, 1968
Come Join Us!
We meet every Tuesday: 7:00-8:30 pm
Church of the Cross
475 W Higgins Road
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
email: scoutmasters@troop297.net
To find out more about Troop 297, or if you would like to know what Scouting is all about, please feel free to visit one of our meetings, or contact our scoutmasters using the email link above.
History
In May 1968, Troop 297 was formed by the fathers of Dave H, Lyle M, David T, and Ken T. It was the first troop in the Northwest Suburban Council to not have a sponsor. The troop met at MacArthur Elementary School in Hoffman Estates. The first scoutmaster was the father of Dave H.
Today, the troop meets regularly at Church of the Cross in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and is chartered by the Rotary Club of Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates.
Organization
Troop 297 is a boy led, adult supervised troop. The scouts, ranging in age from 10 to 17, run the troop meetings and awards ceremonies (Courts of Honor), plan the events, pitch their own tents and cook their own meals.
The Scouts range in age from 11 to 17 and are divided into patrols. These patrols give the scouts experience in teamwork, democracy, responsibility, and leadership as the scouts climb the ranks from Scout to Eagle.
Since Troop 297 was founded in 1968, we have graduated over 50 Eagle Scouts!
Troop leadership flows from the Senior Patrol Leader to the Patrol Leaders and individual scouts under the guidance of the Scout Master and Assistant Scoutmasters.
The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters are the adult leaders for the scouts, providing solid role models and offering the scouts their guidance and support.
The Troop Committee, made up of an active group of parents, is the troop’s “Board of Directors”. This committee manages the operations of the troop, working on behalf of the chartered organization to ensure a quality scouting program.
With this steady foundation, many young scouts have grown and matured into responsible, confident, self-reliant young men.
Troop Activities
What Troop 297 Scouts do for fun:
- Camping/Cooking/Hiking
- Canoeing/Boating/Kayaking
- Rock Climbing/Rappelling
- Archery/Shooting Sports
- Orienteering/Geocaching
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Caving
Camping in tents in the great outdoors or cabins in the winter. Many campouts are local, although the troop has rafted down the Peshtigo River in Wisconsin, explored Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, and stayed aboard a WWII submarine in Michigan (to name just a few).
Summer Camp offers lots of adventure and plenty of opportunities to work on rank and merit badges. The troop attends week long summer camp in July every year and has gone to Owasippe Scout Reservation for the past 3 summers.
High Adventure for older scouts such as Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, Sea Base in Florida, and Boundary Waters in Minnesota.
Court of Honor - 4 per year. The Scouts plan and serve as masters of ceremonies. Merit badges, rank, and other achievements are awarded. Families are invited.
Fundraising
Troop 297 offers its Scouts many fundraising opportunities during the year including selling popcorn, wreaths, and flowers. Scouts who participate in these sales receive all of the profits to fund their camp outs and registration fees.
Join Troop 297
Scouting is for boys who are 11, or are at least 10 years old and have completed the fifth grade or have earned the Cub Scout Arrow of Light Award, through 17 years old. Boys experience a vigorous outdoor program and peer group leadership with the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster to achieve the BSA's objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness. Camping, fun with friends -- and more. It’s the adventure of a lifetime.
Give your son a valuable gift by encouraging him to join Scouting today. The time you invest in him today will make a difference in the person he becomes tomorrow.