Although we will not be canoeing or bicycling this weekend, we will have a small outing Friday night through Sunday Morning, 5/3 to 5/5, for scouts 1st Class or above who would like to camp and take a 4-mile backpack hike (satisfies one requirement of the Camping Merit Badge). This outing will be limited to 9 scouts unless additional parents sign up to attend. Only scouts who are actively working toward earning the Camping Merit Badge should sign up. The cost is $25.

Sign up here: http://troop24riverside.com/2013/04/kankakee-campout-backpack-form-may-3-5-2013/

During May our new scouts will be working on the following Tenderfoot requirements. Older scouts who have not completed these requirements should plan to participate as well. Please check your scout books.

May 2
12a. Demonstrate how to care for someone who is choking.
12b. Show first aid for the following:

Simple cuts and scrapes
Blisters on the hand and foot
Minor (thermal/heat) burns or scalds (superficial, or first-degree)
Bites or stings of insects and ticks
Venomous snakebite
Nosebleed
Frostbite and sunburn

May 9
4a. Demonstrate how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope.
Make up missed requirements & review

May 16
10b. Show improvement in the activities listed in requirement 10a after practicing for 30 days.
11. Identify local poisonous plants; tell how to treat for exposure to them.

May 23
11. Identify local poisonous plants; tell how to treat for exposure to them.

Due to the high river level, Reed’s Canoe rentals will not allow us to canoe this weekend. Because the weather forecast for the weekend is not great for bicycling either, our leaders have decided to postpone the Kankakee River outing to May 17-19. We hope that most of the scouts and leaders who are signed up will be still be able to attend that weekend. We need you to e-mail Susan Lynch at skstrause@us.ibm.com and let her know that YES, you will be attending, or NO, you cannot attend. A full refund will be given via WePay to anyone who has to cancel.

PLEASE e-mail Susan TODAY: skstrause@us.ibm.com

Our last camping trip before summer camp will be at Kankakee River State Park, May 3-5. The deadline for signing up is Wednesday, April 24.

More information about the outing is available here:
http://troop24riverside.com/2013/04/kankakee-canoebike-campout-may-3-5/

Not sure if you’ve signed up? Check here:
http://troop24riverside.com/upcoming-events/

On Sunday afternoon, April 28, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., we will be launching the rockets that were constructed at the April 4 scout cabin meeting. Scouts who took a rocket kit home and completed the construction of the rocket should bring it to the event.

Scouts should meet at the Model Airplane Flying Field at Miller Meadow, which is close to the intersection of 1st Avenue and Roosevelt Road. Find a map here:
Miller Meadow

UPDATE 4/24/13: We have had only three families respond. We will have HOARDS of hungry scouts tomorrow, and we really need your help in providing treats!

Our spring Court of Honor, held to recognize advancement and achievement of our scouts, will be held on Thursday, April 25, at 7:00 p.m. at RPC. We ask that scouts be accompanied to the Court by at least one parent. A parent (or parents) come to the front of the room with scouts advancing in rank. Scouts should be in full uniform (shirt, neckerchief, and olive/tan/khaki pants–not necessarily the scout pants, but clean and neat). Scouts with merit badge sashes should wear them.

Snacks will be served following the program. Please let Sue Jones (sue_jones@designpac.com) know what you can bring. A couple of parents to help set up or clean up afterward would also be appreciated. Please contact Sue to volunteer.

Reminder: For all scouts attending summer camp (and we hope that’s everyone!), we will need a BSA medical form signed by a physician. The form is valid for 12 months from the date of the signature, so everyone who went to camp last year will need a new form, as well as all of our new scouts. (Note to new scout parents: You turned in the Medical Form Parts A and B. A doctor needs to complete Part C.) Please submit all three parts.

BSA has made the process slightly easier by providing a pdf form, which you can download, fill out, and save on your computer. If you did that last year, all you have to do is find the form on your computer (that might be the hard part), update it if necessary, and print it to take to your doctor. If you did not save the form, you can find it here: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/ahmr.aspx. The BSA will NOT accept the school/Department of Public Health form. You must use the BSA form.

Please don’t wait until the last minute to do this, as it makes it very difficult for those who have to make multiple copies of the forms.

On Part B where it asks who is allowed to take your scout to/from events, please fill in:
Any Troop 24 leader OR parent, or a bus company hired by Troop 24.

During May, the Riverside Presbyterian Church will be collecting cereal of all kinds, and the scouts have been asked to help. Cereal will then be sent to the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago where families come for breakfast in the summer because they’re not receiving breakfast at their schools as they do during the school year. Let’s help these kids have enough to eat in the summer! If you can, please bring a box of cereal to our Court of Honor on Thursday.

We did not fill all our Scuba slots at Camp Tesomas We have 2 spots remaining, which could be used by scouts OR ADULT LEADERS. If you’ve ever wanted to learn to Scuba dive, you’ll never be able to do so as cheaply as this. If you are interested, let Liz Gomorczak know by Monday (jecggomo@gmail.com).