Troop 1 Events

Troop 1 Chicago offers day-long outings in November and March. Activities include working on Engineering Merit Badge requirements at the Harley-Davidson Museum, attending a hockey game on Scout Night, working on Game Design Merit Badge requirements at the Microsoft Store, indoor rock climbing and visiting the Fermi National Lab and vintage airplanes at the Warbird Museum. Scouts even create an entire Thanksgiving Dinner by campfire, followed by camping, weather permitting (it is Chicago after all)! We also celebrate Scout achievements three times a year at Court of Honor ceremonies and attend annual Blue & Gold Banquets.

Blue & Gold Banquet

The Blue and Gold Banquet is one of Scouting’s most cherished traditions, held every February to honor the founding of the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910. It is a night of celebration, recognition, and new beginnings. One of the highlights is the inspiring Arrow of Light ceremony, where 5th-grade Arrow of Light Scouts transition from Cub Scouts to Scouts. At every Blue & Gold Banquet, Troop 1 proudly welcomes many new members into our unit!

Merit Badge University

Each February, Scouts from all over gather for Merit Badge University, an annual event hosted by the Three Fires Council that offers over 90 merit badges to choose from. Troop 1 typically has a strong showing, with new Scouts participating in the First Class Trail to build essential skills for early rank advancement. Older Scouts took on multiple merit badges, including Eagle-required ones like Swimming. From Robotics to Bird Study to Railroading, troop 1 Scouts who do attend often make excellent progress on rank advancement or earn multiple merit badges.