Explore outdoors
Hike, camp, cook outside, learn navigation and become more comfortable in the natural world.
Scouting for Astoria families · Grades 1–12
Adventure today.
Character for life.
Scouting is a hands-on youth program where children make friends, try new things, explore the outdoors and gradually learn to lead. No previous Scouting or outdoor experience is needed.
1938Serving Astoria since
1–12Grades welcomed
FridayWeekly meetings
New to Scouting? Start here
What is Scouting, exactly?
Scouting is a year-round youth development program built around learning by doing. A weekly meeting is only the starting point: young people practice useful skills, take on challenges, serve their community and apply what they learn on outings and at camp.
Children advance at their own pace. Younger Cub Scouts learn through family-centered activities. Older Scouts work in small teams called patrols, help plan their own program and take on real leadership with guidance from trained adults.
Hands-onSkills are practiced, not just discussed.
Age-appropriateResponsibility grows with each Scout.
PurposefulAdventure, service and values work together.
Not just camping
What will my child actually do?
Every Scout’s experience is different, but the program consistently combines adventure, practical skills, friendship, service and achievement.
Build useful skills
Practice first aid, knots, fire safety, planning, problem-solving and hands-on projects.
Make real friends
Work in small groups, share responsibilities and build friendships through common experiences.
Learn to lead
Make decisions, communicate clearly and eventually help guide meetings, activities and younger Scouts.
Serve the community
Take part in service and conservation projects that show how individual effort can help others.
Earn recognition
Complete adventures, earn badges and ranks, and work toward meaningful goals—including Eagle Scout.
What children gain
Growing through experience
Scouting gives young people room to try, make mistakes, improve and discover what they can do.
Success comes from completing challenges that once felt unfamiliar.
Scouts learn to prepare, adapt and try again when plans do not go perfectly.
The Scout Oath and Law turn values such as honesty, helpfulness and respect into daily habits.
A patrol, pack and troop provide a welcoming community with shared goals and traditions.
Eastern Orthodox Committee on ScoutingWhat makes Troop 23 unique
Scouting rooted in faith and community
Troop 23 is not simply a Scout unit that happens to meet in a church. We are part of Saint Demetrios Cathedral, where Scouting has served as a youth ministry and community tradition since 1938.
“A Scout is reverent.”The twelfth point of the Scout Law
Faith becomes part of everyday character
Alongside outdoor skills, service and leadership, Scouts learn that reverence includes being faithful to their religious duties and respecting the convictions of others.
Guidance from our Orthodox tradition
Through our relationship with the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting, Scouts can deepen their understanding of prayer, worship, service and their responsibilities within the life of the Church.
Religious emblems with lasting meaning
Orthodox Scouts may work with their parish priest or spiritual adviser toward the age-appropriate Saint George, Chi-Rho and Alpha Omega religious emblems.
A program for every stage
Which program fits my child?
Pack 23 and Troop 23 share the same values, but the experience and the parent’s role change as children grow.
Grades 1–5 · Family-centered
Pack 23
Younger children explore Scouting through grade-appropriate adventures with active family participation and support.
- Projects, games and outdoor discovery
- Pinewood Derby and shared pack activities
- Parents and guardians participate in the experience
Grades 6–12 · Youth-led
Troop 23
Older Scouts work in patrols, plan activities, practice leadership and gain independence with adult mentorship.
- Weekly meetings, campouts and summer camp
- Merit badges, rank advancement and Eagle Scout
- Programs for boys and girls; no prior experience required
How the program comes together
Meet, practice, then put skills to work
Scouting is designed as a progression—not a one-time event or a classroom lesson.
Meet with the unit
Scouts learn skills, play team-building games, prepare for upcoming activities and spend time with their patrol or den.
Adventure and serve
Outings, campouts, service projects and special events give Scouts a chance to use what they practiced.
Advance and lead
Scouts work toward badges and ranks, reflect on their progress and accept greater responsibility as they are ready.
Real Troop 23 moments
See Scouting in action
Every photograph comes from the existing Troop 23 website and our own history.
A parent’s first concern
How does Scouting approach youth safety?
Scouting America sets nationwide safeguards for meetings, outings, communications and adult leadership. Troop 23 operates within those policies.
Review Scouting America safety policiesScreened and trained adults
Registered adult volunteers are subject to criminal background checks and must complete annual Safeguarding Youth training.
Two-deep leadership
Scouting activities require at least two registered adult leaders age 21 or older.
No one-on-one contact
Scouting America prohibits one-on-one interactions between adult leaders and youth—in person, online, by phone or by text.
Questions new families ask
You do not need to know Scouting before you visit
We will explain the program, help your family choose the right path and answer questions before you register.
Does my child need previous Scouting or camping experience?
No. New Scouts can begin without Cub Scout experience or outdoor skills. The program teaches skills progressively and pairs new members with supportive youth and adults.
Is Troop 23 open to both boys and girls?
Yes. Troop 23 offers Scouting opportunities for boys and girls in grades 6–12, and Pack 23 serves children in grades 1–5.
What is expected from parents and guardians?
Pack 23 is family-centered, so adults take a more active role. Troop 23 is youth-led; parents support the experience while trained adult leaders mentor the Scouts. Adults who want to volunteer are welcome to ask about available roles and required training.
How much time does Scouting take?
Troop 23 meets Fridays from 7:00–9:00 PM during the Scout year. Campouts, service projects and special events appear on the troop calendar so families can plan ahead.
What does it cost and what equipment is needed?
Registration, local program and equipment costs differ between Pack 23 and Troop 23. Our Join Us page provides the current fee breakdown. Families can visit and ask questions before registering or purchasing a uniform.
The easiest first step
Come meet us on a Friday night
Parents and guardians are welcome to visit, meet the leaders and see a meeting before deciding whether to register.
Plan your visitWhenFridays · 7:00–9:00 PM
WhereSt. Demetrios Astoria Gym, 4th Floor
Address30-03 30th Drive, Astoria, NY
From the troop
Latest updates
September 11, 2025
A New Scout Year is About to Begin — Are You Ready for Adventure?
After an action-packed summer at camp, our amazing Scouts are back and ready to roll! From building fires to building friendships, they have stories, skills and excitement to share.
Read the full update →April 11, 2025
Join us for a Summer of Fun!
Looking to get away for a week of summer fun? Try Scouting at Baiting Hollow Scout Camp. Waterfront, rifle range, archery, crafts, campfires, merit badges and sunsets on Long Island Sound make camp a major part of the Scouting experience.
Read the full update →