It’s time to register for Troop 24 Summer Camp!!

Troop 24′s annual summer camp will be at Camp Tesomas, north of Rhinelander, Wisconsin (about 6 hours from Riverside). Traditionally, almost all our scouts attend summer camp, and we highly recommend that new scouts attend camp. The dates for this year’s camp are July 14-20. More information about the camp is available here: Camp Tesomas Website

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. You can start thinking about your merit badge choices by looking at the 2019 Tesomas Advancement Schedule.

The cost for camp is $300. 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. 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.

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). We will also be transporting bicycles to camp. More information about the bus and bike transportation will be available later. The bus will leave about 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, July 14, and will return mid-day on Saturday, July 20.

All scouts will need an updated BSA medical form, signed by a physician (Part C) prior to going to camp. Please make your doctors’ appointments soon. The form that you need to take to your physician can be downloaded here:
BSA Medical Form

Please don’t wait until the last minute to register! Register for camp here:
Scout Summer Camp Registration

At this time, we are accepting adult registration from ONLY Leaders and Troop Committee Members. Leaders planning to attend Camp Tesomas, register here:
Summer Camp Leader Registration

General questions about camp can be directed to our Summer Camp Coordinator, Carolyn Lach at clach@northpark.edu

There are many ways for scouts to earn merit badges – at troop meetings, at camp, independently (under the guidance of a merit badge counselor) or in classes. Read over our Troop Merit Badge Page for info to help you get started.

We try to post about upcoming local merit badge classes. These are not troop events, so register directly with the organization offering the program, and plan to provide your own transportation. Please note that some of these dates conflict with troop campouts, so check our troop calendar and plan accordingly. Some programs fill quickly, so register ASAP if you know that you want to participate.

The Pathway to Adventure Council will offer summer TradingTech Merit Badge Classes in various locations in downtown Chicago. See the Council website calendar to register.
Chess will be offered 6/25/2019 from 9-12 pm.
Entrepreneurship will be offered on 6/25/2019 from 1-5 pm.
Law will be offered 8/5/2019 9-12 pm.

The W.D. Boyce Council is offering an Animal Science Merit Badge class 5/4/2019 at the ISU Farm in Lexington, IL.

Severson Dells Nature Center in Rockford, IL will offer a Plant Science Merit Badge class on 5/4/2019.

Oak Brook Trout Unlimited offers a Fly Fishing Merit Badge class on several dates throughout the summer.

Camp Wokanda near Peoria is planning Merit Badge Days for 7/26/2019 and 7/27/2019.

The Pathways to Eagle Merit Badge Program will take place 8/2/2019 and 8/3/2019 in Bolingbrook, IL.

The Space Jamboree Merit Badge Program takes place 8/2/2019 and 8/3/2019 at the Rantoul Airport in Rantoul, IL.

The Dresden Merit Badge Clinic will be held 8/11/2019 in Morris, IL.

Save the Date for the Triton College Merit Badge Day on 11/16/2019.

New schedules have been posted for ongoing programs at:
Burpee Museum in Rockford
DuPage Forest Preserve
Microsoft Store at the Woodfield Mall
Morton Arboretum
Naperville Park District
Rolling Meadows Park District

Let us know if you hear of other opportunities and we will share the news with the troop. Email committeechair@troop24riverside.com

Troop 24 will be participating in several group service project in April. Please sign up to help with these local projects if possible.

The Hofmann Dam River Rats Annual Spring River Clean-Up
Saturday, April 27, 2019
9 am to noon

Join the dedicated Hofmann Dam River Rats in their semi-annual litter cleanup along the banks of the Des Plaines River. Enjoy the outdoors and learn about the river while helping your local natural areas.

*Disposable gloves, bags, refreshments and training will be provided
*Dress for the weather and to work along the river. Wear sturdy shoes/boots, long sleeves and long pants that can get dirty, and work gloves. Dressing in layers and wearing a hat is recommended.
*Overflow parking is available at Stella’s (3903 Joliet Ave, Lyons)

Meet at the forest preserve area east of the Lyons side of the Barrypoint Bridge and the Hofmann Tower.

Work will include removing trash from the DesPlaines River and the river bank.
The Hofmann River Rats is a registered not-for-profit organization, service hours will be given.

Let us know if you can be there!
Scout Sign-Up
Adult Sign-Up

Riverside Lions Club
Annual Chicken Dinner
Sunday, April 28th noon to 5pm

The Riverside Lions Club has requested our help at their annual Chicken Dinner. This dinner is their main fundraiser for their charitable projects such as service to the blind and visually impaired. The Lions Club has asked for scouts to help clear tables, sell raffle tickets and assist around the kitchen as needed. They would like to have four to six scouts during the hours of noon to 5 pm on Sunday, April 29. The event will be held at the Riverside Village Hall at 27 Riverside Road. Service hours will be given for participation. Bring our Troop Service Hour Form and remember to get it signed after your shift. You should report to Lions Club member Jon Jansky at the event. Since this is a fundraiser for another organization, BSA rules state that you should NOT wear your scout uniform. For more information on the Riverside Lions Club, see their website at http://e-clubhouse.org/sites/riversidetownship/

Sign up to work noon to 2:30
Sign up to work 2:30 to 5 pm

Don’t forget to sign up to help with Robert M’s Eagle Project
April 19 and April 20
Sign up HERE

Congratulations to Troop 24’s newest Eagle Scout, Jonathan Murphy!

***This project has been postponed due to project area conditions caused by the recent weather.***
***More info on new work dates will be posted soon.***

Robert M. Eagle Project – Volunteers Needed!

Robert M. will have two upcoming workdays for his Eagle Project – Friday, April 19th and Saturday, April 20th – and is seeking help from Troop members.

Remember your “Scout Spirit” and consider helping out, in support of our fellow Scouts seeking Eagle. We’ll all likely need help from one another as we pursue our Eagle projects.

Click here for details.

Thanks!

First Aid Month – Hurry Cases

On Thursday, we will collaborate with Dr. Ozga, Ms. Klotz, and youth leaders to EDGE* our way through Second Class requirements 6a, b, c, d and e, culminating with Patrol-based skill-checks.

Those of you who have mastered these skills will act as 1) coaches for the younger Scouts; 2) “victims” where appropriate.

Study up, if you have a few moments!

*EDGE: Explain/Demonstrate/Guide/Enable

TENT RETURN: if you still have a tent from the Cantigny camp-out, be sure to return it.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

The Camp Tesomas Overview/Q&A session will take place at this meeting: open to all parents attending or considering Summer Camp this year.

The “Philmont Patrol” will have its first “shakedown” meeting.

OTHER NOTICES:

The April 18th meeting will take place at the Scout Cabin.

CAMP TESOMAS INFO MEETING ON THURSDAY APRIL 11th in the Riverside Presbyterian Church Social Hall at the same time as the Troop meeting.

The meeting is open to all parents planning to send or thinking about sending their Scouts to camp this summer.

If you can’t attend, but have a question, feel free to email to Carolyn Lach [clach@northpark.edu] or Carrie Staubus [carrie@staubus.net] for response, and sharing during the meeting.

Troop 24 has its group campsite at Tesomas reserved for July 14 to July 20. Sign up on our Troop website will be opened soon.

Camp Tesomas is a great opportunity to enjoy the waterfront, shooting sports, merit badge programs, and life at the camp-site, and a chance to just have some fun in the great outdoors with your fellow Scouts.

Keep reading below for an important message about an upcoming Eagle project.

***This project has been postponed due to project area conditions caused by the recent weather.***
***More info on new work dates will be posted soon.***

Robert M. will have two upcoming workdays for his Eagle Project, and is seeking help from Troop members.

Project Summary:
Across the street from Riverside Brookfield High School there is the Zoo Woods forest preserve. On the northern side of these woods there are a series of deer exclusion cages which protect plants from being eaten by deer. These cages are in disrepair due to damage from fallen limbs as well as deer. Robert’s project will involve clearing out debris from around the cages (large branches, other plant matter as well as garbage) before installing new cages and planting plants within these new cages.

The work days for Robert’s Eagle Project will be April 19th and April 20th. Many scouts have the Friday off due to it being Good Friday. The shifts will be 2 hours each and there will be three shifts each day. The first shift will be from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the second shift will be from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and the third shift will be from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Robert is looking for about 5-6 scouts and two adult volunteers per shift.

Sign up to help HERE

Safety concerns:
The scouts will need to wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, closed toe shoes (preferably boots as the shoes will get muddy). In addition, Robert will send a follow up email a few days before the project in which he will send the scouts/adults the waiver that they will need to sign as well as any other updates. In order to do this please provide an email address which you check regularly when you sign up as a volunteer.