The link to the Merit Badge schedule in yesterday’s e-mail took you to the 2010 schedule (why do they still have this on their website?). The correct schedule can be found here: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/TSCAdvancement.pdf

Unlike our usual summer camp (Camp Mach), Camp Tesomas does not provide tents. Troop 24 has about 20 tents, which will house 40 scouts. With 57 scouts and 10 leaders signed up for summer camp, we are short of tents. If any scouts have small tents, suitable for 2 people, that they would be willing to take to camp, this would save the Troop from having to purchase additional tents. The campsite cannot accommodate large “palace” style tents, nor do we wish to have more than 2 scouts share a tent. With those considerations in mind, could scout parents with appropriately sized tents, which you would be willing to send to Tesomas, please contact our summer camp coordinator, Liz Gomorczak, at jlgomo@sbcglobal.net.

Scouts & families from Pack 24 may remember the Jurack family, and especially Cub Scout Joshua Jurack. The Jurack family moved to Virginia while Joshua was still a Cub Scout. Joshua was the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Goodwill Ambassador for Virginia in 2011.

At the Troop meeting on April 12, we will discuss with the scouts their options for Merit Badge classes at Camp Tesomas. In preparation for that meeting, please review the class choices with your scout. The Merit Badge schedule can be seen here: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/TSCAdvancement.pdf. After the April 12 meeting, scouts will have an additional week to make their selections, and they can turn in their class requests on April 19 at our Court of Honor.

For FIRST-YEAR SCOUTS: First-year scouts should consider signing up for 3 or 4 merit badge classes. Those that are appropriate for new scouts are:
Swimming, Cooking, Leatherwork, Woodcarving, Mammal Study, Reptiles & Amphibians (this one requires you to keep a creature as a pet for a certain number of weeks, so consider whether you are willing to do this…)

All 1st year scouts should sign up for the Swimming Merit Badge, unless they can’t swim; in that case they should sign up for Instructional Swimming. The Swimming Merit badge is a prerequisite for taking any of the other water sports classes (Canoeing, Small Boat Sailing, Lifesaving, etc., so it’s preferable to take Swimming this year to open the option for the other classes next year. Swimming is done in a lake, not a pool.

If your 1st year scout sees a merit badge that appeals to him, but is not one of those listed above, he should discuss his interest with a scoutmaster. Some are too difficult (or impossible) for a 1st year scout to achieve. 1st year scouts will also have the opportunity to complete many of their requirements for rank advancement at the Eagle Quest program area, every day from 3:30 to 5:30. Information about Eagle Quest can be found here: http://clsr.samoset.org/tesomas/areas.php

We prefer that scouts do NOT sign up for First Aid, as our own Dr. Stephanie teaches this merit badge to our scouts every year.

Some badges have prerequisites that must be completed BEFORE camp. Those are described here: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/TSCPrerequisites.pdf

The following Eagle-required badges are offered at Tesomas: Swimming, Camping, Environmental Science, First Aid (see above), Personal Fitness, Lifesaving, Emergency Preparedness.

Camp Tesomas offers some high adventure options for older scouts who are not planning to work on merit badges. Micro-Treks are recommended for those who are First Class rank and 13 years or older. There is an additional $30 charge to participate. Participants must have earned the Swimming Merit badge and be swimmers to participate. You can view the schedule here: http://clsr.samoset.org/hanna/microtrek.php. There are a limited number of spots available. Seven of our older scouts (8th grade and above) have signed up. The latest word we had was that 5 slots are still open for the morning session and 1 for the afternoon session. Please be aware that if you elect to do Micro Treks, your options for taking Merit Badge classes are more limited.

Please e-mail Liz Gomorczak at jlgomo@sbcglobal.net ASAP if your scout wants to sign up for a Micro Trek.

Scouts will be working on the following Tenderfoot requirements at the meeting at the Scout Cabin on Thursday:

4b. Demonstrate that you know how to tie the following knots and tell what their uses are: two half hitches and the taut-line hitch.
4c. Using the EDGE method teach another person how to tie the square knot.
6. Demonstrate how to display, raise, lower, and fold the American flag.

Don’t forget to bring your books to the meeting.

57 of our scouts have signed up for summer camp at Tesomas. Families who might be considering a family vacation to northern Wisconsin, Door County, the Apostle Islands, etc., might be interested in picking up their scout at Tesomas, or going on vacation and then dropping him off at Tesomas. To accommodate these types of circumstances, Tesomas offers a family campsite with 12 spots. 10 spots are open for the week of July 15-21, which is our summer camp. Sites are $15 per night. More information is available here: http://clsr.samoset.org/familycamp.php. Please contact our camp coordinator, Liz Gomorczak, if you are interested in this option: jlgomo@sbcglobal.net