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

The bus left Camp Tesomas at 9:30 this morning. We will update you of estimated arrival time later today. Scouts who are given troop gear like tents, coolers, and tarps will need to take them home to clean and dry them, and return them to RPC this Tuesday between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Our scouts arrived safely and have the campsite set up:

Please be at Hauser Junior High in Riverside by 6:30 a.m. (parking lot in back of school) to load the bus on Sunday, July 21, 2013. The bus will depart promptly at 7:00 a.m.

The bus will stop for a fast food lunch. Everyone needs money or lunch or a sack lunch. The bus will also stop on the way home, so save back enough money to eat!

If your scout is bringing medication, please complete the medication form. Liz Gomorczak will collect medication and form the morning of departure. The form is available here: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/MedicationForm.pdf

Don’t forget your bike helmet if you haven’t already dropped it off with your bike. The camp will not allow you to ride without one.

Tomorrow, July 18, will be the scouts’ last chance to complete the swim test prior to camp. This applies only to scouts who have been to camp in a prior year. New scouts and anyone who has not tested already will have to complete the swim test at Tesomas. For anyone who signed up for a previous test date but didn’t show up, you have one more chance. For those who have not signed up, please see if you can make it to the Riverside Swim Club at 3:00 on Thursday.

Please be at Hauser Junior High in Riverside by 6:30 a.m. (parking lot in back of school) to load the bus on Sunday, July 21, 2013.

The bus will depart promptly at 7:00 a.m.

If your scout is bringing medication, please complete the medication form. Liz Gomorczak will collect medication and form the morning of departure. The form is available here: http://clsr.samoset.org/resources/MedicationForm.pdf

Don’t forget your bike helmet if you haven’t already dropped it off with your bike. The camp will not allow you to ride without one.

If you haven’t paid for the bus or bike, please do so as soon as possible.
The cost for the bus to camp is $100. For families who have two scouts, the second scout pays $75. Bus fees can be paid online by WePay at https://www.wepay.com/events/bus-to-camp-tesomas-july-21-27-2013, or by check dropped off to Liz Gomorczak.

The cost per person for the bike transportation is $15. This can be paid by check or at WePay: https://www.wepay.com/events/bike-transportation-to-camp-tesomas-july-21-27-2013. Every scout also has to sign a Bicycle Usage Agreement required by Camp Tesomas. Please print a copy of the form (available at http://www.troop24riverside.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/bike-agreement.pdf) and deliver it to our Camp Coordinator, Liz Gomorczak.

If you would like to write to your son/sons, please use the following address. Be sure to mail correspondence early in the week to ensure it’s received before checkout. Please do not send food or “care packages.”

Camper’s Name, Unit 24
Tesomas Scout Camp
5403 Spider Lake Road
Rhinelander, WI 54501

Here’s a list of what to bring to camp:

http://www.troop24riverside.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/tesomas-packing-list.pdf

Here’s a link to the troop’s website with all the camp details:
http://troop24riverside.com/category/camp-tesomas/

Last, if an emergency arises, you may reach the camp at the following phone number or e-mail (place camper’s name and unit number (Troop 24) in the subject heading) and the Camp Director will ensure that the camper receives the message:
715-365-3111
camp@samoset.org

Every Boy Scout summer camp requires scouts to take a swim test to determine their swimming ability. Usually this test is done at the same time we’re trying to set up tents and get settled in our campsite. Tesomas gives us the option to have our older scouts (all except first-year scouts) tested prior to arriving at camp. After the swim test scouts are placed in one of three categories:

SWIMMER: Allows Scouts to swim in all swim areas and boat in open areas of the lake.

BEGINNER: Allows limited boating and swimming.

NON-SWIMMER: Permits wading, and boating only with qualified accompaniment.

The Riverside Swim Club has generously agreed to allow scouts to complete the tests under the supervision of their lifeguards. To be considered a “swimmer” scouts must be able to:

1. Jump feet first into water over the head in depth, level off, and begin swimming.

2. Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl.

3. Swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke.

4. The 100 yards must be completed in one swim without stops and include at least one sharp turn.

5. After completing the swim, rest by floating.

Completing the swim test in advance will save a great deal of time on the first day at camp. Please sign up to take the swim test at one of the following three times:

Saturday, July 13, 10:00 a.m.
Monday, July 15, 1:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 18, 3:00 p.m.

Scouts taking their bikes to Tesomas should drop them off on Tuesday, July 16, between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at 2413 4th Ave, North Riverside. Contact Scoutmaster Hartwig with questions.

All scouts who are available are asked to come to RPC at 5:00 on Tuesday, June 25. We’ll meet at the garage (where the trailer is stored) to ready our equipment for Camp Tesomas. Specifically we’ll need scout assistance to set up all our tents to see if any have missing or broken poles, etc., that will need to be replaced before camp. Many hands make light work, so please come if you are in town.