Just a reminder:  the bus to Camp Mach will leave from the HAUSER parking lot (NOT THE CHURCH) this Sunday, July 26.  Please be at Hauser no later than 7:15 a.m.  Questions?  Contact Nancy Hopkins.

One of the highlights of Camp Mach is the annual Raft Trip at “Shotgun Eddy’s”.

We are a little behind this year in determining details of the trip, who will go and how many we can accomodate.  The requirements for going rafting  this year:  the scout must be at least 12 years old and have earned the  Swimming Merit Badge (BEFORE CAMP.)  The raft trip will be on Thursday during the day and will be the “Otter Slide” event.

Please note that this means that you will NOT be attending your merit badge class on this day and therefore may not complete your merit badge requirements.  You may have to seek out a merit badge counselor at home to complete your merit badge requirements and get signed off.

We are asking that any boy (and his parents) who wants to go on the rafting trip complete and sign the permission slip/liability waiver from Shotgun Eddy’s.  We will determine exactly how many boys we can get on this trip once we get to Mach.

For that reason, we ask that you sign the permission slip and send it with your boy and $35 CASH (NO CHECKS) to Mach specifically for this outing.

PLEASE send an email to Ray Rogers (rogersr2@ameritech.net) if your scout plans on going so we can start a count.  (If your boy does not end up going, we will not use the money.)

Here is a link to Shotgun Eddy’s website to give you an idea of what may be in store!

http://www.shotguneddy.com/pages/trips.html

Some scouts signed up for merit badge classes at Camp Mach that may be difficult to complete at camp unless they work on some requirements before they leave. If a scout does not complete a merit badge while at camp, a partial completion will be issued, stating which requirements were successfully completed. The scout can finish the remaining requirements after finding a merit badge counselor through the Council. A couple of other merit badge classes require you to bring specific supplies to camp. In case you don’t remember what you signed up for, here are the merit badges that may not be able to be completed entirely at camp without advance work:

REQUIRE WORK BEFORE CAMP

Bird Study – Abraham O
Bird Study Requirement 5 requires observing 20 different species of birds at camp and may be difficult to complete at camp

Camping – Alex B, Brady C, Connor C, Christian F, Abraham O, Calvin P, Jeff R, Joe R, Drake Z
Camping Requirement 9 requires a scout to have completed 20 days and nights of camping as well as specific activities on those campouts

Cooking – Peter B, Connor C, Daniel D, William G, Casey G, Max H, Kit K, Cody L, Jack L, Charlie M, Andrew P, Jack R, Andrew S, Nick S, Daniel S, Callen V
Cooking Requirements 3 & 4 require that the scout plan a 2-day campout menu and prepare 4 of the meals. Requirement 7 requires that a scout plan and prepare meals at home.

Environmental Science – Connor C, Michael G, Cole G, Joey J, Cody L, Stuart M, Christopher O, Calvin P, Jack R,  Jason S, Callen V, Drake Z
Environmental Science Requirement 3e requires research on an endangered species found in Illinois. This should be done prior to camp.

Nature –
Nature Requirement 4 requires the study of various facets of nature. Work at home prior to camp can help toward earning the badge at camp.

Orienteering – Nick J
Orienteering Requirement 7 requires that the scout take part in 3 orienteering events and write a report on each one. Requirement 8 requires the scout to set up an orienteering course.

Pioneering – Nick J
Pioneering Requirement 2 requires completion of 1st Class requirement 7a, b, c. Requirement 9 requires design and construction of a pioneering project.

REQUIRE SUPPLIES TO BE BROUGHT TO CAMP

Fishing – Nick S
Bring to camp: fishing gear

Swimming – first year campers
Bring to camp: long pants, long-sleeve button-up shirt, socks, old shoes, all of which will go in the water

Wilderness Survival – Brady C, Michael G, Cole G, Karl J, Nick J, Cody L, Stuart M, Tyler P, Jack R – Scouts should be aware that this class requires them to build a shelter from natural materials, and spend a night in the shelter.
Bring to camp: Wilderness Survival Requirement 5 requires scouts to make a personal survival kit.  Supplies for the kit should be brought to camp. An example of a survival kit can be found here: http://www.e-scoutcraft.com/film_can/survival_kit.html

REQUIRE PURCHASE OF KITS AT CAMP (BRING MONEY) OR PRIOR TO CAMP (AT SCOUT STORE)

Basketry – Alex B, Cody L, Christopher O

Leathercraft – Brian J, Chris M

Woodcarving – Christopher O

One of the highlights of Camp Mach for most scouts is the bog hike. This is an optional event, about 45 minutes long, and is a hike led by camp staff through the bog. Scouts return from the bog hike covered in mud. Please send OLD clothes and shoes for the bog hike, preferably ones that can be discarded after the hike. Your scout can bring them home, of course, but you may not want them after they’ve been through the bog, the lake, and stayed wet for several days afterward…

We have an opening for a leader at Camp Mach for the first half of the week – Saturday, July 26 through Wednesday, July 29.  If you’ve thought about going to camp, but can’t take off the entire week, please consider this opportunity.  We have more scouts going to camp this year, but fewer leaders than last year.  If you are interested, please contact Nancy Hopkins for details.

The new BSA medical form requires you to include a copy of the front and the back of your medical insurance card.  It’s in small letters on the last page of the form, and several scouts have turned in forms without the insurance information.  For those of you who have not yet turned in your medical forms, please make a note of this requirement.  Medical forms and the money for the bus to Camp Mach ($100 per scout made out to Troop 24) are due by July 1 to Nancy Hopkins.

The 2009 Camp Mach Meeting is tomorrow, Thursday, June 4, from 7:00 p.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m. in the Social Hall at RPC.  (This meeting is required for scouts and–for first-year campers–a parent).  At this meeting you will review and finalize your merit badge selections with a leader. We will also go over expectations, logistics, and transportation. The Merit badge classes offered at camp are described on pages 20-25 of the Camp Guide.  If possible, also bring a check for $100 for the bus, made out to Troop 24.  All payments for the bus and all medical forms are due by July 1.

Also, scouts please bring your books to this meeting so we can update our advancement records.

ATTENTION all Scouts attending Camp Mach this year (and their parents.)

Please mark your calendars for the 2009 Camp Mach Meeting on Thursday, June 4, from 7:00 p.m. to approximately 8:30 p.m. in the Social Hall at RPC. (This meeting is required for scouts and — for first-year camper– a parent).  At this meeting you will review and finalize your merit badge selections with a leader. We will also go over expectations, logistics and transportation. The Merit badge classes offered are described on pages 20-25 of the Camp Guide.

For first-year Camp Mach attendees we have found over the years that you should limit yourself to a total of three (3) scheduled events. As a troop we have found the following the best course of action to get the most out of your experience at Camp Mach and add to your rank advancement:

It is required that you attend the Brownsea (First Year Camper) course
Please sign up for the Swimming Merit Badge (required for many outdoor events we will do throughout the year with our troop.)
Strongly suggested that you sign up for the Cooking Merit Badge (required for 2nd class and it teaches skills you will use on almost every campout.)

Signing up for the three (3) events listed above will still leave plenty of time for other open activities the camp has to offer, such as open swim, open rifle, and open archery. It also leaves you some free time to enjoy the outdoors and to completely finish those merit badges.

If there are potential conflicts with the above three (3) events, please let any of the leaders know.

AS A REMINDER: If you haven”™t signed up yet, it’s not too late! We”™ll be accepting registration forms until May 28. The cost is $260. We have reserved a bus to take scouts and leaders to camp. The bus will leave from RPC early Sunday morning, July 26, returning the afternoon of August 1. The cost for the bus trip will be $100 (same as last year). The deadline for turning in your money for the bus is July 1. Checks should be made out to Troop 24, and can be turned in at a troop meeting, or given to Nancy Hopkins. Also due no later than July 1 is a medical form for each scout (and each leader). Medical forms are now required annually. The medical form is available here, and can be given to Nancy Hopkins along with your bus check.

If you’re still thinking about whether to go to Camp Mach, we would like your registration form and check for $260 (made out to Troop 24) turned in no later than Thursday, May 28. You can bring them to the Court of Honor that day, or drop them off to Nancy Hopkins. We have 35 scouts registered so far. You will also need to turn in a medical form by July 1. If you plan to ride the bus, a check for $100 is due no later than July 1, although you can, of course, turn it in now.

We now have 35 scouts signed up for Camp Mach.  If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s not too late!  We’ll be accepting registration forms until May 28.  The cost is $260.  We have reserved a bus to take scouts and leaders to camp.  The bus will leave from RPC early Sunday morning, July 26, returning the afternoon of August 1.  The cost for the bus trip will be $100 (same as last year).  The deadline for turning in your money for the bus is July 1.  Checks should be made out to Troop 24, and can be turned in at a troop meeting, or given to Nancy Hopkins.  Also due no later than July 1 is a medical form for each scout (and each leader).  Medical forms are now required annually.  The medical form is available here, and can be given to Nancy Hopkins along with your bus check.