The permission slip for the Shabbonah Lake Father’s Day outing on 6/13-15 is due tomorrow night, 5/29, at the Court of Honor.  This will be our last troop meeting.  Full uniform is required, and a scout must have an adult present to advance.

For all boys and leaders who will be going to Camp Mach, Troop 24 has contracted for a bus at a cost of $100 per scout. We are assuming that all scouts and leaders will be riding the bus, with the exception of three leaders who will be driving to pull the trailer and provide transportation for the rafting outing. For those of you who have not been to Camp Mach before, mapquest.com estimates that it is a 5-hour, 45-minute drive. It’s 331 miles, one-way. If your car gets 25 miles per gallon, at $4/gallon in gas, it would cost $106 in gas to drive up and back. For scouts who may be a little nervous about being away from home for a week, it’s usually easier if the scouts leave their parents, rather than parents leaving scouts at camp. Please reserve your space on the bus as soon as possible by dropping off a check to Nancy Hopkins, or by bringing it to the Troop meeting on Thursday. Checks should be made out to Troop 24. Please don’t delay in reserving your spot on the bus. If we have any extra seats we want to try to “sell” them to scouts from other troops.

If you haven’t signed up for Camp Mach yet, it’s not too late!

Troop 24 and Pack 24 scouts, in conjunction with the Riverside Presbyterian Church, are conducting a cereal drive for city children who qualify for the free lunch program during the school year. Please try to bring a box of cereal on May 29 (Court of Honor).

Scouts: Need service hours? We need you! Anyone who can sand, tape, and paint is welcome to join a service volunteer day for Legacy School. Volunteers will be painting halls and classrooms throughout the school. All supplies, professional guidance, and lunch will be provided.

Where: Legacy Charter School, 4217 West 18th Street, Chicago

When: Saturday, May 31, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Contact: Tracy or Bruce Robertson

Parents and scout leaders may sometimes think their scouts don’t work diligently enough on their merit badges. Read about the “radioactive boy scout” who went somewhat overboard on his atomic energy (now nuclear science) merit badge.

We need a medical form for every scout. So even if your scout is not going to Camp Mach, please follow the instructions on the website for Camp Mach medical forms, and send your scout’s medical form to Stephanie Lanken by 7/10.

The deadline for the Forestry outing is this Thursday, 5/8.  If your scout is not coming to the meeting (please see the scoutmaster’s e-mail) he can bring the permission slip with him to the outing.  It is from 9 to 12 at Scottswood Commons in Riverside.  Scottswood Commons is the green space that runs down the middle of Scottswood.  Please notify a leader when you drop your scout and when you pick him up, and give them the permission slip.  If your scout has other commitments he can work at any time in the 9 to 12 timeframe.  He should wear his uniform or the troop 24 t-shirt, wear work gloves and bring a water bottle.

First-year scouts should attend the Troop Meeting on Thursday, May 8 at the regular time:  7:00 to 8:15 p.m., and regular place (the gym).

Scouts whose names were listed in Mrs. Gustafson’s e-mail should arrive for Troop Leadership Training at 6:30 p.m..  Pizza will be served and the training should be done by 8:30-9:00 p.m.   This meeting will take place in the upstairs “Parlor” of the church.

Scouts who are not in one of these two categories do not need to attend unless they are working to “catch up” with their patrol due to joining at a later date.

All scouts who will be attending Camp Mach should review the list of Merit Badge classes offered, which can be found on pages 21-24 of the Camp Mach Handbook. The schedule for the Merit Badges is on pages 27-28. It’s Troop 24 policy that First Aid not be completed at camp. The shooting sport merit badges are only available for older scouts. All first year scouts should sign up for “Brownsea” also known as “First Year Camper.” If you have any questions about the merit badge classes, please discuss them with Mr. Ringbloom or Mrs. Gustafson.

Troop 24’s Spring Court of Honor will be held on Thursday, May 29 at 7:00.   Completed “Blue Cards” for merit badge work should be turned in to Mr. Jantze as soon as possible.