Orland Park ScoutsBSA Troop 318

This section is for Troop 318 History and Alumni.   If you have any old photos or stories of days past, please email them to john.petrauskas@jpmchase.com

an Inspirational Future...

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating in citizenship, and develops personal fitness. For over a century, the BSA has helped build the future leaders of this country by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun.

For 75 years of that history, Troop 318 has been bringing these values to the youth of Orland Park, supported along the way by Marquette National Bank, its Charter Organization.

 The Early Years

Our Troop was officially launched in 1938 as Troop 51 of the Potawattomi Trails Council, chartered by American Legion Post 526 of Orland Park. Ralph L. Town became the first Scoutmaster and W.R. Schussler, Jr. was the first Committee Chairman. Eleven Scouts were part of the original Troop. Another three boys joined that first year.

In 1939, our Troop grew to 17 boys ranging in age from 12 to 16, eight of whom were listed as Tenderfoot rank, the rest as Second Class. Ralph Town, the Scoutmaster, was joined by Owen Creer and Martin Stienhagen, both age 20, as Assistant Scoutmasters.

Orland was still a very small town in 1938 ― all the members of the founding Troop were neighbors, they lived on either West Avenue or Raney Lane in Old Orland.

In 1940, William Maddox became the first Scout to attain the rank of First Class.

In 1944, the Troop had four patrols: Flying Eagle, Beaver, Bat and Elk. In 1945, the patrols listed included Eagle, Beaver, Cobra, Bat and Elk. In 1946, Cobra was replaced with the Tiger patrol.

When his father became our first Scoutmaster in 1938, Robert Town was only six years old… four years away from becoming a member of the Troop. Robert went on to be the second in our Troop to attain Eagle Scout rank, which he earned in 1952.

Our Chartered Organization remained the Orland Park American Legion until 1968, when Orland State Bank (now Marquette Bank) assumed the role. 

From 51 to 318

Potawattomi Trails Council (1938)

We were registered as Troop 51 in Potawattomi Trails Council in 1938. We remained Troop 51 through 1944.

Pokagon Trails Council (1943)

In 1943, Potawattomi Trails and Pokagon Councils merged to become Pokagon Trails Council.

In 1945, we became Troop 251 in the Indian Trails District of Pokagon Trails Council.

In 1955, our District changed to Potawattomi.

In 1960, we became Troop 318, our current Troop number.

Calumet Council (1966)

The Calumet Council, headquartered in Munster, Indiana, was formed in 1966. The Council is the result of a merger of the Pokagon Trails Council and the Sauk Trails Council.

From 1973 to 1994 we were in the Lone Pine District of Calumet Council. In 1995 our District changed to Potawattomi, and in 2005 it changed to Nishnabec.

Pathway to Adventure Council (2015)

In 2014, the Chicago Area Council, Des Plaines Valley Council, Northwest Suburban Council, and Calumet Council merged to form the Pathway to Adventure Council (PTAC).  PTAC is a Boy Scouts of America local council headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, it now spans over a large portion of Chicagoland and part of Northwest Indiana.

In May 2020  the Crossroads and Nishnabec Districts combined into a new Calumet District that spans over 30 Communities, from Orland Park to Homewood, from Lansing to Matteson, and from Oak Forest to Beecher.

Below are links to past Troop Newsletters.

Click here for January 2005 Newsletter

Click here for March 2005 Newsletter

Click here for April 2005 Newsletter

Troop 318 60th anniversary program (click here to view)

Eagle Plaque Program (click here)

Click here to read the article on the Troop 318 Eagle plaque in the Orland Park village hall.

Click Here to read the article about Scoutmaster  Dick Combs from the Chicago Tribune  April 15, 1998

Troop 318-B

Troop 318-G

318-B SPLs

318-G SPLs