We need help with our annual pizza booth at Riverside’s 4th of July celebration. This is our second largest fundraiser. We need scouts AND parents! Please sign up for one of the shifts below. Scouts should wear uniform shirts or Troop t-shirts. For food serving, hats are required. Please contact Linda Sanduski at lsanduski@gmail.com with questions.

Sign up here .

Remember that if you are planning to go to the Kankakee outing this weekend, you must SIGN UP and PAY. Because we had to cancel so many times, it was getting very confusing. All payments have been refunded for the cancelled event, and all registrations wiped out. If you are going this week, see Kankakee River to sign up. Contact Dawn Gmitro with questions at dmgmitro@aol.com

Please mark your calendars for an Eagle Court of Honor for Christopher Olszewski and Erik Robertson, to be held at RPC on Saturday, July 18, at 6:00 p.m. Scouts who are interested in participating in the ceremony should contact Mr. Robertson at Brobertson5152@aol.com

For Scouts participating in Micro-Trek at Tesomas Scout Camp this summer:

ATV Program (MT200) – Those Scouts 15 and older signed up for Micro-Trek 200 will have the opportunity to participate in an ATV Rider Course at camp. Each participant needs to bring the signed permission form with them to camp. Participants are required to wear long pants, long-sleeve shirts, and over-the-ankle boots. ATV Permission Form

Zip-Line Program (MT200) – Scouts 15 and older signed up for Micro-Trek 200 will have the opportunity to participate in a world-class canopy experience in the heart of the Northwoods. Each participant needs to bring a signed permission form with them to camp. Zip Line Permission Form

Rafting (MT101) – Scouts 13-14 signed up for Micro-Trek 101 will also have the opportunity to go rafting (pending weather and river conditions). Each participant needs to bring a signed permission form with them to camp. Rafting Permission Form

All forms should be delivered to Liz Gomorczak as soon as possible. PLEASE don’t wait until the last minute!

Swim tests are required for all scouts and adults attending any BSA summer camp. This includes scouts who have already earned a Swimming Merit Badge, and anyone who intends to put even their toes in the lake. Again this year, the Riverside Swim Club has generously agreed to hold the tests there. Every scout should plan to come to the Swim Club on one of the dates listed below. The Swim Club address is 100 Bloomingbank Road, Riverside. If you are not a member, just tell the person at the front desk that you are there for the boy scout swim test. Please try to attend the first opportunity available; do not wait until the last minute!

Thursday, June 25 at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, June 27, at 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, July 11, at 10:00 a.m.

Troop 24 is planning an overnight camp-out at Kankakee River State Park, leaving Friday, June 26, and returning Sunday, June 28.

Scouts should come prepared to camp in tents for two nights.   We have two activities planned (we will need several adults to sign up as leaders/chaperones in order to have enough volunteers for this outing):

Canoeing/Kayaking:  The canoeing/kayaking will be a 12-mile, 3-5 hour trip on Saturday, outfitted by Reed’s.

• Scouts MUST have earned the Swimming Merit Badge in order to canoe or kayak.
• Kayaking is recommended for scouts with kayaking experience. Scouts will be in single kayaks and will need to be fit enough to paddle for the full 12 miles.
• Scouts must print and have a parent sign the  Reeds waiver in order to participate.

or

Bicycling: The biking will be done on a 10.5 mile paved bike path through the park.

• Biking is available for first-year scouts, or older scouts who have not earned the Swimming Merit Badge, or those who do not want to canoe/kayak.
• Scouts must wear a helmet to bike.
• Scout parents must make sure that the scout’s bicycle is in good working order prior to the outing.

We Need Parent Help:

In order to offer two activities we need many adults to participate.  If you are able to attend this outing and help out by either chaperoning the biking or the canoe/kayaking we would really appreciate the help.  Or if you can drive scouts either to or from this outing; please consider helping our leaders in this way.    If you would like to attend, please fill out the Leader/Chaperone Registration form; if you are willing to help drive, please indicate on your Scout’s Registration form your willingness to drive.  The nice thing about Kankakee is that it is only about 1-hour drive, so you can join whenever it works in your schedule. Last year we had several parents join us Saturday for the activities, while other parents helped with the driving on Friday and Sunday.

Logistics:

• Please drop your Scout off at RPC at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. We will return about noon on Sunday.
• Scouts who are canoeing or kayaking must print and have a parent sign the  Reeds waiver in order to participate.
• Scouts must have a bike helmet if they are biking.
• Deadline for signing up for the outing is Tuesday, June 23.
• The Scout cost for this outing is $40 for food/camp fee, and $34  for canoeing (2 per canoe) or $46 for a single kayak.
• We will provide transportation for the all bikes in one of the two Troop trailers.

Please fill out a form for each scout and each leader/chaperone.

Contact Dawn Gmitro with questions.

Scout Form
Leader/Chaperone Form

If you’ve been watching the weather forecasts you know that the weather outlook for this weekend is not good. We were going to wait until closer to the weekend before deciding whether to cancel, but the canoe outfitter in Kankakee will not be allowing canoes out on the water this weekend due to high water levels, even if we had no more rain. The water level at Momence, Illinois is considered at minor flood stage, and the river gauge upstream at Shelby, Indiana shows moderate flooding. Due to the high water there is floating debris (logs, etc.) that can make boating hazardous.

If you are interested, see the National Weather Service river levels: http://water.weather.gov/ahps/.

We will let you know when we decide whether, and when, to reschedule.

Congratulations to our newest Eagle Scout, Erik Robertson!