For our new 5th grade scouts, we have covered all of the Tenderfoot requirements at our meetings. Some of these scouts are ready for Boards of Review tonight, and we will be doing make-ups on requirements for those who missed a meeting. For Tenderfoot Requirement 11 (Identify poisonous plants) scouts who need this requirements should come to the meeting with a picture of at least 3 local poisonous plants. For all requirements the scouts should come prepared by first reading the appropriate pages in their handbooks. Older scouts who are missing requirements should come prepared to work on their missing requirements. Scouts above 1st class may be working on readying the trailer for summer camp.

The Troop has been asked to assist with Riverside’s Memorial Day ceremony in Guthrie Park (next to the train station). We need scout and/or adult help at 7:00 a.m. to move chairs for the event from the area between the Library and Town Hall. We then also need Scouts for the ceremony, which starts at 10:00 a.m. We will also be needed to move the chairs back after the ceremony. Scouts can leave and come back if they work more than one job. This is a pre-approved service project. Mr. Hartwig will take attendance and no forms will be needed. Boy scouts may be asked to raise and lower the flag, and some of our scouts need this requirement (2nd Class Requirement 4). Scouts who want to be part of the ceremony must arrive by 9:30 a.m. so that we can practice the color guard.

Sign up for set-up, ceremony, and/or take-down here:

http://troop24riverside.com/2012/05/memorial-day-sign-up-form/

Boards of Review will be held on May 24. This may be scouts’ last opportunity for a Board of Review before summer camp. Please e-mail Nancy Hopkins at nmhopkins1@comcast.net if your scout is ready for a Board. Please don’t assume that we already know.

Although many of our scouts will be involved with other activities this Thursday (Open House at Hauser and Apollo Awards at RB), there will be a meeting. New scouts will be working on Tenderfoot requirements:
T11 Identify local poisonous plants; tell how to treat for exposure to them.
T10 a Record your best in the following tests:

Push-ups
Pull-ups
Sit-ups
Standing long jump
1/4 mile walk/run

T10 b Show improvement in the activities listed in requirement 10a after practicing for 30 days.

Scouts who are looking to fulfill service hours (or those who are just civic-minded) are asked to help with set-up for the Riverside Arts Weekend. The work would involve setting up tables & chairs on Saturday, and taking them down on Sunday. The hours would be Saturday 8:00-9:00 a.m., and/or Sunday 4:00-5:00 p.m. To volunteer, please contact Alyson Scanlon at alyscally@gmail.com.

This service opportunity is pre-approved, but don’t forget to take a service hour form and ask your adult supervisor (probably Alyson) to sign the form. The service hour form is available on our website on the Forms & Documents link, or here: http://troop24riverside.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Service-Hour-Form.pdf. Non-scout friends and siblings are also welcome.

Scouts going to Kankakee River State Park this weekend should bring, in addition to their usual gear of sleeping bag, pad, flashlight, personal items:

Water bottle – if you are bicycling it would be ideal if you have a bottle rack on your bike to carry it
Cup – this does not mean either a cup OR a water bottle, as you can’t drink soup from a bottle
Day Pack – small lightweight pack that can be used while bicycling or canoeing
Bicycle Helmet – for those bicycling, a helmet is REQUIRED by BSA rules; no exceptions
Hat & sunscreen
Waiver form for Canoe/Kayakers

All scouts who will be canoeing must have a waiver signed by a parent. Please print the waiver here: http://reedscanoetrips.com/agreement.htm

Scouts whose parents are not canoeing must turn in the form on Friday at drop-off.

For those scouts who paid only the deposit earlier, or some portion of their camp fees, we need to receive your final payments by next Sunday, May 20. Scouts can bring their payments to the Troop meeting, or drop them off to Liz Gomorczak or Nancy Hopkins. Only those who earlier paid a $75 deposit and now owe the balance of $215 can pay online at WePay.

From our latest count it looks like 27 scouts have paid in full, which means 33 scouts still owe something. If you have lost track of what you have paid, or what you still owe, please contact Liz Gomorczak at jlgomo@sbcglobal.net Remember that there is an extra fee for scuba or microtreks.

We are also accepting payment for the bus ($100) and for bicycle transport ($15), but the deadline on those will be June 8. Payment for transportation can be made by check or WePay. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH unless it’s in an envelope MARKED WITH THE SCOUT’S NAME.

The Village of Riverside and the Frederick Law Olmsted Society sponsor Landscape Work Days. The next one is Saturday, May 12 along Riverside Road near Olmsted Road

During several workdays in 2011, dozens of volunteers removed buckthorn and grapevine to reveal a view of the Des Plaines River. Help keep the momentum going! This year, volunteers plan to maintain the cleared section by weeding, applying herbicide & planting native grasses & sedges. Ultimately, the goal is to open up the view along the entire length of Riverside Road and into Miller Woods. With the invasive weeds removed, volunteers found numerous native species such as cup plant, solomon’s seal, wild indigo, woodland sunflower, dozens of oak tree seedlings, elm leaved goldenrod, riverbank wild rye, switchgrass & wafer ash. Come see for yourself!

Scouts are invited to participate, and this project is automatically approved for service hours. It’s also one of the easiest ways to fulfill the community service hour requirement for the Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge: While working on this merit badge, volunteer at least eight hours of your time for the [charitable community] organization. Don’t forget to bring your service hour form to have it signed by one of the volunteers in charge (look for scout parents there). The form is available here: http://troop24riverside.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Service-Hour-Form.pdf

All workdays are scheduled for Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Look for the Riverside Public Works dump truck. Come for an hour or three, whatever your schedule allows. Bring your favorite work gloves & a water bottle, and the service hour form. All other supplies & snacks will be provided.

Future locations & dates:
Scottswood Commons: June 23 & September 22
Riverside Road: June 9 & Sept 8
Scout Cabin area: May 19
Longcommon & Downing triangle: July 14 & Aug 11
Longcommon (Big Ball Park): November 10

Our newer scouts will be working on Tenderfoot requirement 4a (Whip & Fuse rope) as well as catching up on any requirements missed. Other scouts will be working on First Class requirement 5 (Citizenship). 17 of our older scouts need this requirement. Scoutmaster Conferences and Boards of Review will also be conducted tonight.