About Us

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Founded in April 1956, Troop 32 predominantly serves the River Plaza area of Middletown, New Jersey. We are chartered by the River Plaza Parent/Faculty Association (PFA) and meet at Middletown United Methodist Church every Tuesday night during the school year. 

The leadership of Troop 32 believes that teaching a boy outdoor skills, self reliance, respect for nature, and respect for others, while promoting community service increases his ability to give back to his family, his country, and himself. We accomplish this by providing a very active outdoor program and by reinforcing the ideals put forth by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

The Patrol Method 

Scouts are divided into Patrols of 6 to 8 boys and are led by a Patrol Leader and an Assistant Patrol Leader. The Patrol Leaders are then led by the Senior Patrol Leader and the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader(s). The Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader(s) are guided by the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters. In this regard, we try to instill the concept of a boy-led troop, a primary tenet of Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement. Elections are held every six months (in August at Summer Camp and in February), which give the boys opportunities to experience more than one leadership position during the year.

We believe that the progression through the ranks of Scouting (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle) is not a social ladder. We believe that each position the Scout holds is where they learn new scout skills as well as the skills of leadership. The Senior Patrol Leader is in charge of the entire Troop, whereas Patrol Leaders are in charge of the Scouts in their individual patrols. In this regard, those Scouts responsible enough to hold a Leadership position may do so according to their experience and leadership abilities, not dictated by the rank of the Scout.

Campouts and Day Trips 

Almost every month, the Troop embarks on a weekend camping trip to various campgrounds in the area (i.e., state/local parks or Scout Camps). In the past 10 years we've been it such places as Allaire State Park, Cheesequake State Park, Bass River State Park, Tohickon Valley State Park, Harriman State Park, Turkey Swamp Park, Quail Hill Scout Reservation, and Forestburg Scout Reservation. We also routinely run backpacking, whitewater rafting, hiking, and camping trips. We've also taken trips to historic places, such as Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Washington, D.C., New York City, and Boston.

In 2010, our Scoutmaster and one of our Assistant Scoutmasters helped lead a troop of 36 boys at the National Jamboree in Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. Seven Scouts from our troop attended and had a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Boy Scouts and Venturing Crew members attended the Jamboree in 2013 at the new dedicated Scout site in West Virginia.

We also plan day trips, or overnighters, such as the Klondike Derby at Quail Hill, Lock-In at the YMCA of Western Monmouth County, the Battleship New Jersey, and skiing/tubing at Jack Frost and Blue Mountain.

We generally depart around 5:00 p.m. on a Friday afternoon and return on Sunday around midday.  Conservation projects, hiking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, archery, historical trails, and Scouting skills are features of our camping itinerary. The cost of an average weekend campout is $15.00. The money covers the cost of food, snacks, transportation, and camping fees.

Summer Camp

Troop 32 has historically spent a week for summer camp at Monmouth Council's Forestburg Scout Reservation in Forestburgh, New York. We stay at the J. Fred Billett camp, utilizing the central dining hall facility for meals. Since we run such an active camping program, we feel the boys can do with a break from cooking their own meals and enjoy all that Forestburg has to offer. Here, our Scouts get to test their skills learned during the year and learn new and challenging skills while earning merit badges and bonding with their fellow Scouts.

Based on the number of boys that sign up, we generally occupy two to three campsites -- Delaware, Iroquois, and Cherokee. They certainly get exercise climbing up and down the hill as they go back and forth to merit badge classes, the Trading Post, the lake, or the dining hall.

Most Scouts participate in the merit badge program, but there is also a Frontier Program where they can learn basic Scouting skills and get a jump start on rank advancement. Trips to Darlington Falls (an amazing natural waterfall and wading pool), games of ultimate frisbee on the parade field, slushies at the Trading Post, troop swim, and the monkey bridge are just some of the activities the boys enjoy during the week. We also find time to give back to the camp and participate in service project, usually in conjunction with Order of the Arrow Day on Thursday.

A sunset canoe trip on the Rio West Reservoir for an overnight campout is also a special treat. More information about the other activities available during summer camp can be found in the Leaders Guide. 

Community Service 

Our troop believes in giving back to the community. We conduct two food drives a year for local food pantries, participate in Eagle Projects that benefit community organizations, and give back to our camps by conducting service projects during a selected campout.

Weekly Meetings 

During the "Scouting Year" (from September through June), Troop 32 meets on Tuesdays from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Thompson Middle School on Middletown-Lincroft Road. The Scout leaders of the troop also meet regularly for a Patrol Leaders Council to plan the troop meetings and activities for the upcoming month. While we expect participation at weekly meetings (as well as campouts), we understand that many of our boys may be involved in extracurricular activies (sports or school activities). We don't feel the two are mutually exclusive and encourage our Scouts to "do their best" in attending meetings and campouts as often as possible.

Participation