Sponsoring a Trooper

Student musicians and performers dream of reaching for excellence. They need your help to make that dream of excellence a reality with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps of Casper, Wyoming.

Will you help a deserving student experience a highly educational and life-changing summer as a member of the Troopers? Read below to learn more about our organization and the valuable life lessons students learn by being a part of the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps.

Who are the Troopers?

The Troopers are the only competitive junior drum and bugle corps in the state of Wyoming. The corps travels and competes during the summer months under the auspices of Drum Corps International; marching music's major league. We have been educating the youth of America for over 49 years and during that time have earned eleven championship titles including the World Open Championship, C.Y.O. National Champions, V.F.W. National Champions, American Legion National Champions, North American Champions and DCI regional championship titles.

In addition to summer performance activities, the Troopers have appeared at numerous televised professional sporting events and were the first drum corps to participate in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on New Years Day. The corps has proudly represented the state of Wyoming in the 1993 and 2001 Presidential Inaugural Parades and have appeared in concert before Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Reagan, Bush, Clinton and most recently George W. Bush. The Troopers were designated Wyoming's Musical Ambassadors by the state legislature in 1967.

What do we do?

The Troopers provide a valuable learning experience for youth ages 16-22, giving them the opportunity to hone musical skills; travel across the country performing in many different arenas and to learn the disciplines necessary to function as a contributing member of a highly motivated team. Members learn self-reliance, self confidence, time management, team work and yes, even how to do their own laundry. Drum corps is not high school marching band. While similar in nature, the drum corps experience is so much more.

The commitment begins in the winter at monthly preparation camps. We then tour the United States in the summer, practicing and perfecting a high-energy 11-minute program. The Troopers will appear in as many as 40 contests and other performances across the country before thousands of enthusiastic fans. Corps members work hard and develop family-like relationships with each of the 135 members that make up the Troopers each year. Friendships and memories made while part of the Troopers last a lifetime!

What does it cost?

The Troopers annual membership tuition is approx. $1200.00 per student. With this fee, the corps provides necessary equipment, instruments, uniforms, meals, transportation, housing and supervision while on the road (approx. 65 days in the summer), along with qualified instruction from top educators. When you compare the cost of athletic or other summer camp costs to participation in the Troopers, you'll find that your investment goes much further to provide more.

Being a member of a top drum and bugle corps is a huge commitment! The members of the Troopers make a tremendous sacrifice by giving up family vacations and summer jobs to participate with the corps. Every student who auditions and makes the corps each season is dedicated to improving their skills and posses a common desire to strive for excellence in their chosen craft.

As is the case with most youth programs, yearly operating costs are on the rise. While the Troopers management makes every effort to keep costs to the students as low as possible, the rising costs of quality equipment, instruction and fuel needed to get the corps from one venue to the other continue to sky-rocket. Over the past five seasons, the cost to participate as a member of the Troopers has risen nearly 65%. These cost increases sometimes takes away valuable learning opportunities from some of the very best and brightest. This is where you can make a difference!

We encourage you to learn more about a young person who is striving to be a Trooper. Remember that it takes a great deal of personal sacrifice, hard work, commitment, dedication and desire to become a member of this corps. Don't let them sit on the sidelines! Don't let the rising costs keep a student from being part of the Troopers this year.

Don't wait! Make a tax-deductable contribution to the Troopers general scholarship fund or designate your contribution to a specific Trooper today.

Don't let them sit on the side lines - get them in the game!

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Please be reminded that checks for member sponsorship should be made out to the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps to receive the highest tax-deduction allowable in your state* and should be mailed to the corps administrative offices by the sponsoring party. If making an online contribution, please indicate the name of the Trooper you are sponsoring in the SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS box at check-out.

In the event a member exceeds his/her sponsorship goals for tuition payments, sponsorship contributions will be pooled into the Troopers general tuition scholarship fund and distributed to other members who meet financial assistance criteria. Distribution is determined by corps administration. Kindly direct all questions regarding members sponsorship to the Troopers administrative office at 307-472-2141.

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