Just a reminder:  the bus to Camp Mach will leave from the HAUSER parking lot (NOT THE CHURCH) this Sunday, July 26.  Please be at Hauser no later than 7:15 a.m.  Questions?  Contact Nancy Hopkins.

One of the highlights of Camp Mach is the annual Raft Trip at “Shotgun Eddy’s”.

We are a little behind this year in determining details of the trip, who will go and how many we can accomodate.  The requirements for going rafting  this year:  the scout must be at least 12 years old and have earned the  Swimming Merit Badge (BEFORE CAMP.)  The raft trip will be on Thursday during the day and will be the “Otter Slide” event.

Please note that this means that you will NOT be attending your merit badge class on this day and therefore may not complete your merit badge requirements.  You may have to seek out a merit badge counselor at home to complete your merit badge requirements and get signed off.

We are asking that any boy (and his parents) who wants to go on the rafting trip complete and sign the permission slip/liability waiver from Shotgun Eddy’s.  We will determine exactly how many boys we can get on this trip once we get to Mach.

For that reason, we ask that you sign the permission slip and send it with your boy and $35 CASH (NO CHECKS) to Mach specifically for this outing.

PLEASE send an email to Ray Rogers (rogersr2@ameritech.net) if your scout plans on going so we can start a count.  (If your boy does not end up going, we will not use the money.)

Here is a link to Shotgun Eddy’s website to give you an idea of what may be in store!

http://www.shotguneddy.com/pages/trips.html

To all Scouting Families:

Sorry this got out a little late, but I’ve  been putting off some things. As current librarian, I’ve been organizing, alphebetizing, checking and updating books from the merit badge library upstairs in the church attic for public use. I’ve finally got the checking done, which means that I now know which books are available immediately and which books I need to update. In this email I have attached the inventory of merit badge books that ARE READY TO USE.

If you need any of these merit badge books for Camp Mach or any other reason, they will be available. I do not have a check out list available at the moment, but I should have one ready soon. In the next few months, I will be updating the books going down the list in alphabetical order.

“First Come, First Served.”

As we only have a total of 38 books available for use, keep in mind the inventory is limited.  In the future this inventory might change, and we will let you know if there are any significant updates after Camp Mach.

NOTE:  After you go to Camp Mach and you get your merit badges, if you purchased your Merit Badge book, please consider donating it to the troop library!

YIS,
Joe R.  rogersr2@ameritech.net

Some scouts signed up for merit badge classes at Camp Mach that may be difficult to complete at camp unless they work on some requirements before they leave. If a scout does not complete a merit badge while at camp, a partial completion will be issued, stating which requirements were successfully completed. The scout can finish the remaining requirements after finding a merit badge counselor through the Council. A couple of other merit badge classes require you to bring specific supplies to camp. In case you don’t remember what you signed up for, here are the merit badges that may not be able to be completed entirely at camp without advance work:

REQUIRE WORK BEFORE CAMP

Bird Study – Abraham O
Bird Study Requirement 5 requires observing 20 different species of birds at camp and may be difficult to complete at camp

Camping – Alex B, Brady C, Connor C, Christian F, Abraham O, Calvin P, Jeff R, Joe R, Drake Z
Camping Requirement 9 requires a scout to have completed 20 days and nights of camping as well as specific activities on those campouts

Cooking – Peter B, Connor C, Daniel D, William G, Casey G, Max H, Kit K, Cody L, Jack L, Charlie M, Andrew P, Jack R, Andrew S, Nick S, Daniel S, Callen V
Cooking Requirements 3 & 4 require that the scout plan a 2-day campout menu and prepare 4 of the meals. Requirement 7 requires that a scout plan and prepare meals at home.

Environmental Science – Connor C, Michael G, Cole G, Joey J, Cody L, Stuart M, Christopher O, Calvin P, Jack R,  Jason S, Callen V, Drake Z
Environmental Science Requirement 3e requires research on an endangered species found in Illinois. This should be done prior to camp.

Nature –
Nature Requirement 4 requires the study of various facets of nature. Work at home prior to camp can help toward earning the badge at camp.

Orienteering – Nick J
Orienteering Requirement 7 requires that the scout take part in 3 orienteering events and write a report on each one. Requirement 8 requires the scout to set up an orienteering course.

Pioneering – Nick J
Pioneering Requirement 2 requires completion of 1st Class requirement 7a, b, c. Requirement 9 requires design and construction of a pioneering project.

REQUIRE SUPPLIES TO BE BROUGHT TO CAMP

Fishing – Nick S
Bring to camp: fishing gear

Swimming – first year campers
Bring to camp: long pants, long-sleeve button-up shirt, socks, old shoes, all of which will go in the water

Wilderness Survival – Brady C, Michael G, Cole G, Karl J, Nick J, Cody L, Stuart M, Tyler P, Jack R – Scouts should be aware that this class requires them to build a shelter from natural materials, and spend a night in the shelter.
Bring to camp: Wilderness Survival Requirement 5 requires scouts to make a personal survival kit.  Supplies for the kit should be brought to camp. An example of a survival kit can be found here: http://www.e-scoutcraft.com/film_can/survival_kit.html

REQUIRE PURCHASE OF KITS AT CAMP (BRING MONEY) OR PRIOR TO CAMP (AT SCOUT STORE)

Basketry – Alex B, Cody L, Christopher O

Leathercraft – Brian J, Chris M

Woodcarving – Christopher O

One of the highlights of Camp Mach for most scouts is the bog hike. This is an optional event, about 45 minutes long, and is a hike led by camp staff through the bog. Scouts return from the bog hike covered in mud. Please send OLD clothes and shoes for the bog hike, preferably ones that can be discarded after the hike. Your scout can bring them home, of course, but you may not want them after they’ve been through the bog, the lake, and stayed wet for several days afterward…

The Troop 24 Committee Meeting scheduled for July 7 has been canceled.