How do you start a troop tradition?

You visit a really cool place and think, “Our troop would love coming here! How do I get this on our schedule?”

Planning campouts and day outings works well when adult leaders and Scouts collaborate. And planning isn’t a one-time occurrence – successfully scheduling your unit’s activities throughout the year calls for an annual planning meeting and monthly meetings. This two-step process helps identify goals for your unit and allows everyone to adjust to stay on course.

But how do you best share your idea with other adult leaders and Scouts that could become a beloved activity for years to come? Let’s take some tips from some fellow unit leaders:

Tradition tips

Do your research

The more information you can share about a place or event, the better decisions others can make about whether to go or not.

In the 1990s, Troop 362 of El Cajon, Calif., went on its first canoeing trek along the Missouri River in Montana. (The troop went again on this trip this past summer – you can read about it in this past November’s issue of Scout Life magazine).

Before the first trip, a couple of adult leaders headed up to Montana to check out the route the troop should take. This also helped the troop make connections with locals for the journey. Nowadays, much of that research can be done online, but it helps to have that legwork prepared when you propose the idea to your unit.

Encourage older Scouts to lead

A couple of years ago, Troop 2451 of Turlock, Calif., backpacked 20 miles at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. It was a fun trip, where the Scouts completed a few conservation projects, worked on the Oceanography merit badge and saw a 40-foot waterfall on the beach.

It was so fun, the troop voted to go back this summer.

“A new Scout asked, “What’s this Point Reyes trek like?” and all I had to do was ask our older Scouts to answer and they took out their phones and showed the pictures,” says Scoutmaster Bernadette Galvan.

The older Scouts were excited to take their little sisters and friends and to show them the waterfall, the wildlife and the environment.

“The older Scouts led and encouraged the younger Scouts the whole time,” Galvan says. “They even helped them pack light and carried the heavier troop gear.”

Add a teaching moment

Seeing a skill being applied to real-world situations solidifies why a Scout is learning them. During Troop 2451’s coastal trek, Scouts encountered several real-world situations.

“Being able to integrate Scout skills is key, from navigation to ropes to what they learn about the environment in the Oceanography and Forestry merit badges,” Galvan says. “It allows them to apply what they are learning at that moment.”

In Troop 362, adult leaders encouraged Scouts to read about the area prior to the canoe trek. They introduced the Scouts to historian Stephen Ambrose’s book “Undaunted Courage,” which chronicles Lewis and Clark’s expedition. They also read about the Mann Gulch fire. In 1949, firefighters parachuted in to extinguish the blaze, but the fast-moving fire killed many of them.

“That changed the way fires were managed,” Scoutmaster Larry Ashbacher says. “We’re very familiar with California history. This trek draws the Scouts into the history of the country.”

Working with the U.S. Forest Service, the Scouts cleared brush along the trail leading to the Mann Gulch fire memorial site and installed a plaque commemorating the path as a National Recreation Trail.

“The Scouts were very excited about that,” Ashbacher says.

It’s all in the details

For decades, Troop 273 of Westfield, N.J., has marched in its town’s Memorial Day parade. The parade attracts more than 2,000 people to watch the procession. The participating Scouts swap out their baseball hats for garrison caps, harkening back to the 1940s when the cap was introduced to the Scouting insignia.

For this year’s parade, adult leaders drove classic cars – including a cherry red 1964 Dodge Dart GT – and drank from Coca-Cola glass bottles. The whole scene was like something from a Norman Rockwell painting.

“Wearing classic elements of the Scout uniform and drinking a classic soft drink while in a classic car brings smiles to a lot of faces,” says Scoutmaster Eric Deutchman.

The nostalgic details draw a lot of positive comments from Scouters and remind Scouts of the historic movement they are a part of. Traditions aren’t just about the past – they shape a troop’s identity and vision of the future by continuing those traditions.

Need help planning?

If you need help keeping your adventures organized, you can use a printable planner, courtesy of Scout Life magazine.

For help planning through this year, download the 2026 printable planner.

If you’re already looking further ahead, download the 2026-2027 printable planner.

For a calendar of religious observances, check this resource page, which not only includes this year’s calendar, but also annual calendars through 2028.

Scouting America also compiles a list of council events from across the country on this page. Check your council’s website for more local events.

Where are you going?

Scout Life magazine highlights awesome outings that units go on — from grand cross-country treks to local day trips.

Scout Life considers outings from Cub Scout packs, Scouts BSA troops, Sea Scout ships, Explorer posts and Venturing crews. You can submit your upcoming outing to the magazine or share details about a trip that recently happened.

Sometimes, a professional photographer will be able to accompany your unit to document the adventure for the magazine, but that won’t always be the case. So read these tips on how to take photos yourselves and then you can send them to the magazine via the online form or by emailing onscouting@scouting.org.