Scouts going to Camp Mach will be asked to sign up for merit badges classes at our Camp Mach meeting on Monday, May 23 at 7:00 p.m. at RPC. (6th grade parents–this is different than Owasippee, where the scouts chose their classes after they arrived at camp.) The Merit Badge schedule is available on the DPVC website.

First-year scouts should sign up for:

Brownsea (First Year Camper) 9:00 – 10:30
Swimming Merit Badge 10:30 – 12:00 (Scouts who do not know how to swim should, instead, sign up for Instructional Swim, which is from 11:00 – 12:00)
One other merit badge of your choice in the afternoon.

Signing up for three classes will still leave plenty of time for other open activities the camp has to offer, such as open swim, open rifle, and open archery. It also leaves you some free time to enjoy the outdoors and to completely finish those merit badges.

First year campers can not take any of the water sports/boating merit badges (Canoeing, Rowing, Motor Boating, Skiing, Small Boat Sailing, Snorkeling), because the Swimming merit badge is a prerequisite for these classes. Also not allowed for first-year campers are the shooting merit badges (Archery, Rifle, Shotgun — although scouts will have an opportunity to try these sports during “Open” times). Also not recommended for 1st year are Camping, Environmental Science, Pioneering, and Wilderness Survival. No one should sign up for First Aid, as Dr. Stephanie teaches that during the year. What’s left? For first year campers, we encourage the Cooking Merit Badge (teaches skills used on almost every camp-out, and satisfies requirements for rank advancements). Other choices are Geology, Leathercraft, Mammal Study, Reptiles & Amphibians, Soil & Water, Weather, Woodcarving. Many of the merit badges require you to have completed some requirements at home before coming to camp.

A complete list of merit badges offered at camp is included in the Camp Mach Leader’s Guide (which is helpful for scouts and parents as well as leaders). In fact, the list is so complete that it includes some badges not offered this year! Please review the prerequisites for the badges your scout plans to work on. It’s disappointing to a scout to expect to complete a badge and not do so, but items for many badges must be completed at home. (Just as an example, Requirement 7 of the Cooking merit badge requires that the Scout plan and prepare meals at home.) Ideally those requirements should be done before camp, but they can also be done after returning home.

If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s not too late! We will accept registration forms until May 23. The cost is $290. We have reserved a bus to take scouts and leaders to camp. The bus will leave from RPC early Sunday morning, July 31, returning the afternoon of August 6. The cost for the bus trip is $100 (same as last three years). Checks should be made out to Troop 24, and can be turned in at a troop meeting, or given to Mrs. Gomorczak. Also due no later than July 15 is a medical form for each scout (and each leader).

Due to Hauser’s Open House on May 12, there will be NO MEETING for the Snow Sports Merit Badge that night.

The Des Plaines Valley Council will be offering a class for Merit Badge Counselors on May 22 starting at 5:30 p.m. More information and registration form may be found on the Council’s website at: http://www.bsa-dpvc.org/Training/Training_Fliers/110522_MBCtraining.pdf

Scouts who need 2nd Class requirements 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f* (this includes anyone from the newest scouts up through our current Tenderfoot scouts, so 37 boys) will have an opportunity to complete these requirements on Wednesday, May 11, at 4:00 p.m. in Mr. Payne’s backyard. Scouts: please check your books to see if you need these requirements, and be sure you have read the appropriate section of the manual before Wednesday. These activities can not be completed at a meeting, so we can’t offer this opportunity often. Please make every effort to attend if you are lacking these requirements.

Our current Star Scouts (Connor, Casey, Joey J, Drake) need to use the EDGE method to teach a younger scout camping skills, and assisting our leaders in teaching 2nd Class requirements 3cdef would satisfy their EDGE requirement. However, these scouts must contact Mr. Payne in advance; you can not just show up at the last minute.

3c. Demonstrate proper care, sharpening, and use of the knife, saw, and ax, and describe when they should be used.
3d. Use the tools listed in requirement 3c to prepare tinder, kindling,and fuel for a cooking fire.
3e. Discuss when it is appropriate to use a cooking fire and a lightweight stove. Discuss the safety procedures for using both.
3f. In an approved place and at an approved time, demonstrate how to build a fire and set up a lightweight stove. Note: Lighting the fire is not required.

Work on Ben C’s Eagle Project begins this Saturday (TOMORROW), May 7, at his home in Riverside. We will prepare hardwood lumber for installation on benches in the village of Riverside. Scouts are asked to sign up for one of two shifts:
10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Lunch will be served at 12:30, for those working the first shift. Please eat lunch before you arrive, if you are signing up for the second shift. Cold drinks will be available the entire day.

Please bring a signed permission slip with you. Dress appropriately for the weather. Unless it rains you will be working outside. Work gloves and safety goggles will be provided, or you may bring your own. Information and permission slips for the next work day will posted later. Please contact Ben with any questions. An e-mail to Ben indicating which shift you are working would be appreciated.

The deadline for signing up for the bicycling outing on the I&M Canal is Friday, May 6, at 5:00 p.m. To sign up: http://troop24riverside.com/2011/04/i-m-canal-form/

Scouts who are working on the snow sports merit badge with Mr. Robertson will meet on Thursday, May 5, at 6:00 p.m. in the Westminster Room at the church, prior to the Troop Meeting.

The merit badge counselor is a key player in the Boy Scout advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise or interest—whether it is a special craft or hobby (basketry, leatherwork, coin collecting), a profession (veterinary medicine, aviation, engineering), or perhaps a life skill (cooking, personal management, communications)—as a merit badge counselor, you can play a vital role in stirring a young man’s curiosity about that particular topic. By serving as a merit badge counselor, you offer your time, knowledge, and other resources so that Scouts can explore a topic of interest. Guide for Merit Badge Counselors

If you are interested in becoming a merit badge counselor, you would need to register with the BSA (forms available from the Council, or contact Nancy), fill out a merit badge form, and take Youth Protection Training.

Scouts who are interested in pursuing merit badges can contact those adults in our Troop who have registered to be counselors. A list of our current Troop 24 merit badge counselors is available here. The Council also has a list of counselors who are willing to work with scouts from any troop.

Although we had planned a Troop meeting at the Scout Cabin this week, due to high water and lots of mud, we’ve decided to meet, instead, at our regular time and place, at 7:00 p.m. at RPC.

On the agenda will be Citizenship, including Tenderfoot requirement #6 (flag etiquette), and Knots, including Tenderfoot requirement #4b.

Please be sure to bring your scout book to the meeting.