So far we have 32 scouts signed up for Camp Tesomas (July 13-19). We have a large campsite, and can fit more scouts. We will have our annual camp meeting for parents on Thursday, May 15, at 7:00 in the RPC Social Hall (while the Troop meeting is going on in the gym). PLEASE, we need at least one parent to attend from each scout family. Attendance at the camp meeting last year was sparse, and it caused all kinds of problems for our camp coordinator, so this meeting is mandatory. New parents: even if you are not yet sure if your scout will be going to summer camp, please come and get all your questions answered.

At the meeting on May 15 we will ask parents to submit their scout’s selection of merit badge classes. The merit badge schedule can be downloaded here: TSC-Merit-badge-schedule.pdf. Some merit badges have prerequisites that must be done at home before camp. The prerequisites are listed here: TSC Prerequisites 2014. The merit badge selection is different than last year so please review the list. New scouts should plan to sign up for Cooking, Swimming, and one other merit badge. Archery & shooting sports are not recommended for first-year scouts. The prerequisite list also rates the badges by difficulty.

The absolute LAST DAY to sign up and pay for camp will be Monday, June 2. That gives the new scouts who go on their first camp-out to Kankakee River (May 30-June 1) an opportunity to try a camp-out before committing to summer camp.

Don’t forget that scouts need a camp physical, signed by a doctor, to attend summer camp. This applies to all scouts, even the new scouts who just turned in medical forms Parts A & B (doctor portion is Part C): http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/ahmr.aspx