About Us

Troop 521 is a boy-run troop, chartered by Cool Spring Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
We invite you to join us!

History (click attached video below)
The United States Congress chartered the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910. Shortly after that date Scout Troops began forming around the Country. 

Troop 521 can trace its roots back to that beginning of scouting, here in the Richmond, Virginia area. In those early days, Troops were given a number by the order in which they were formed and chartered. Numbers were not reissued nor repeated. Our Troop was established in November 1910 in the city of Richmond with 8 members. We were the 12^th Troop formed in the area and were thereby given the number designation of Troop 12. The Troop met at 209 ½ North 6^th Street, in a room over a store near where Miller and Rhodes once operated. The charter partner was Grace Street Baptist Church. 

What kind of things did Troop 12 do? The charter application of 1914 states the Troop had conducted 10 overnight camps, took a 18 day trip to Washington DC and Niagara Falls and as a service project, helped with the Confederate soldier reunion that was held in Richmond. 

Sometime in the early 1920’s, Troop 12 moved to a different church in North Richmond, in the Ginter Park area. Here the Troop grew and flourished, at one time having over 50 members. 

The great depression of 1929 took its toll on scouting all over the country. Richmond was no exception. Troop 12 disbanded and failed to recharter in 1932, but was reformed and re-charted at Barton Heights Methodist Church on December 19, 1934. We have been continually operating since this time and therefore consider 2009 our 75^th anniversary. 

Because of scoutings continued growth, the old numbering system had to be changed. The councils were reorganized into districts, and district numbers were added to troop numbers to aid in identification. In 1953, Troop 12 was placed in the Bryan District, district #6. We therefore became Troop 612. 

In 1970, there was another shuffling of districts in the Robert E. Lee Council. Troop 612 found it self moved into the new Capital district, #4. Therefore we became Troop 412.   In the late 1970’s the Troop began meeting at the American Legion Hall on Atlee Road in a growing Hanover county. Barton Heights remained its sponsor but the Troop met there only sparingly. In late 1979 Troop 412 officially moved out of Richmond to its current charter organization, Cool Spring Baptist Church in the Battlefield District, district 5.  There was already a Troop 512 in the district so the members of the Troop decided to invert the existing numbers to form Troop 521.  

Since the Troop moved to Cool Spring Baptist Church we have had as few as 10 and as many as 60 members at one time. We estimate that over 500 boys have been members of the Troop in the last 30 years. Almost 80 members of the Troop have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, putting us well over the national average of 4 %. With continued support of its Leaders, the Church family, and the families of each scout, Troop 521 will continue to make history here in the Heart of Virginia Council, for many years to come.

Mission Statement
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law
A Scout is:
Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful,
Friendly, Courteous, Kind,
Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty,
Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

Vision Statement
The Boy Scouts of America is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.
In the future Boy Scouts of America will continue to
• Offer young people responsible fun and adventure;
• Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law;
• Train young people in citizenship, service, and leadership;
• Serve America's communities and families with its quality, values-based program.