The Tokyo Scout Council has invited the Des Plaines Valley Council to participate in a three week cultural exchange this summer in Japan. The departure date from Chicago is scheduled for July 19, 2014 with a return to Chicago on August 10, 2014. This opportunity is limited to two Boy Scouts who need to be at least 16 years old at the date of departure and who have not participated in a previous Japan crew exchange.

Since only two Boy Scouts from our Council can participate in this exchange program, interested Scouts must submit an application for consideration by the International Scouting Committee of the Des Plaines Valley Council.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

The Boy Scout must be at least 16 years of age at departure date and be capable of international travel.

Must be active in a troop or crew with demonstrated leadership and rank advancement.

In addition to the application, provide one letter of recommendation from the Boy Scouts unit leader plus one additional letter of recommendation.

Also prepare a short essay as to why you want to participate in the Japan exchange program.

The Boy Scout must interview with the DPVC International Scouting Committee.

Possess a current US passport.

Commit to a code of conduct consistent with the Scout Oath and Law.

The estimated cost of this exchange including airfare is $3000.

Financial assistance may be available.

The registration deadline is April 24, 2014.

Application Form

We will soon open registration for summer camp at Camp Tesomas near Rhinelander, Wisconsin. We expect the cost to be approximately $300. The dates for this year’s camp are July 13 – 19. More information about the camp is available here: http://www.tesomas.com/. Tesomas offers a confidential “campership.” The application for this financial assistance is due to Tesomas by April 1 and can be found here: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/CampershipApplication.pdf. Families with financial constraints are encouraged to apply. Please contact the camp, or Liz Gomorczak, if you have questions.

This year Troop 24′s annual summer camp will be at Camp Tesomas, north of Rhinelander, Wisconsin (about 6 hours from Riverside). This is the same camp we attended last year, but we’re attending a week earlier and we’ll be in a different campsite. Traditionally, almost all of our scouts attend summer camp, and we highly recommend that new scouts attend camp. The dates for this year’s camp are July 13 – 19. More information about the camp is available here: http://www.tesomas.com/.

Younger scouts (current 5th, 6th, 7th graders) will take merit badge classes. For our 5th grade scouts particularly, our leaders will discuss their options with them and make recommendations.

For scouts who are 1st Class and above, and who are at least 13 or have graduated from 8th grade, and who have earned the Swimming Merit Badge, there are two other options: Scuba (open water and advanced – advanced for those who were already PADI certified in 2012 or 2013) and Microtreks.

Scouts who take the scuba class can earn the Scuba Merit Badge, and will be PADI-certified by the end of the week. Scuba is an all-day program, and participants will not have time to take other merit badge classes. We have reserved 4 open water and 8 advanced scuba spots, and registration will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The additional cost for Scuba is $170, which includes all equipment.

Scouts in Microtrek will participate in a different high adventure activity each day. Microtrek is available in the morning or the afternoon. Scouts who sign up for the afternoon Microtreks can also take up to 3 merit badge classes in the morning. Scouts who sign up for morning Microtrek can take one afternoon merit badge class. Microtrek spots are also limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is an additional $35 fee for Microtrek 101 designed for 13 – 14 year olds and an additional $45 fee for Microtrek 200 designed for 15 years and up. To reserve your spot, you must pay for it on Constant Contact.

As in the past, we will charter a bus to take our scouts to camp. We anticipate the cost to be $100 (which is in addition to the cost of the camp). More information about the bus will be available later. The bus will leave from Hauser’s parking lot about 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, July 13, and will return mid-day on Saturday, July 19.

The cost for camp is $290. Because many scouts have popcorn credits, the camp fee will be paid by check made out to Troop 24. Checks can be turned in at a Troop meeting or delivered to Liz Gomorczak’s house. Scouts with popcorn credit will receive an e-mail with the amount. If it will be a hardship to pay everything at once, you can pay $150 now, with the remainder due by May 15. Scouts who are interested in either Scuba or Microtrek must pay the additional fee online. Additionally, Tesomas offers a confidential “campership.” The application for this financial assistance is due to Tesomas by April 1 and can be found here: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/CampershipApplication.pdf

Please make it easy for us–don’t wait until the last minute to register! First, register for camp here: http://troop24riverside.com/2014/03/camp-tesomas-form-2014/

Payments for microtreks & scuba can be made here: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e92kz1870791e38c&oseq=&c=&ch=

General questions about camp can be directed to our Summer Camp Coordinator, Liz Gomorczak at jecggomo@gmail.com

Reminder:

Troop 24 invites you to a Eagle Court of Honor the afternoon of

Sunday, March 16, 2014, 3 PM

Riverside Presbyterian Church

Honorees: Michael Gmitro, Abraham Ourth & Nicholas Schliep

For questions contact  Dawn Gmitro

Congratulations to Troop 24′s newest Eagle Scout, Nick Schliep!

Troop 24 will be participating in a day hike run by the Des Plaines Valley Council Voyager Trace District.

The deadline to register is Sunday, March 23.

Location:  Salt Creek Trail beginning at Brookfield Zoo Woods and ending at Bemis Woods South.

Theme:  Morning Hike followed by Advancement Round Robins and Emergency Preparedness Presentations featuring Cook County’s Bomb Squad and Department of Homeland Security

Cost:  $6.50 for Scouts and Parents

Time:  Around 8:00 AM Staggered Patrol Starts from Brookfield Zoo Woods (We will be notified of our Troop Start time at a later date)

The Event: Along the trail Patrols will be questioned  at First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, Hiking, Map and Compass stations. (Tenderfoot requirement 5, Second class requirement 1b)

Lunch will be serve at Bemis Woods South.  After lunch Scouts will be encouraged to attend round robin sessions.  Topic will include rank reqs. for First Aid, (Tenderfoot 12b, 2nd class 7a, 1st class 8b) and Nature (Tenderfoot 11, 2nd class 6, 1st class 6)

We will need drivers to drive scouts from RPC to Brookfield Zoo Woods, pick them up at 3:00 PM from Bemis Woods South and bring them back to RPC, and parents & leaders to hike and participate.

A registration for should be filled out for each participant including adults.  Adults who can drive should fill out the driver info when completing their child’s registration.  Leaders and adults who participate will be driving to Zoo Woods and leaving their cars there.  So we will especially need drivers to pick up at Bemis and return scouts to RPC and some to drive adults and leaders to Zoo Woods to get their cars.

Please register at:
http://troop24riverside.com/2014/03/adventure-day-registration/

For questions contact  Dawn Gmitro.

Due to a questionable weather outlook, the Cantigny outing for March 14-16 has been cancelled.

The first Troop meeting for the new cross-over scouts will be this Thursday, March 6 at 7 PM in the Riverside Presbyterian Church gym.  At the same time there will be a meeting for the new scout parents in the Church Social Hall. (All parents are invited.)  We will give you an outline of the workings of the Troop, paperwork to complete and answer questions.  Please contact  Dawn Gmitro with questions.