PAV YMCA has agreed to offer another merit badge class on April 18, from 6:00 to 8:30 for our scouts who were not able to attend the last one. The cost is $20, paid to PAV YMCA on the first day of class. You must sign up so that we can let the Y know how many scouts to expect.

The Swimming Merit Badge is an Eagle-required badge. Scouts must earn this badge to participate in any water-related activities or water merit badges (canoeing, rowing, sailing, kayaking, scuba, etc.). Any scout who has not earned this badge is encouraged to take this class, but if you have a conflict, the badge can also be completed at summer camp.

The deadline for registration is next Monday, April 11.

Asst. Scoutmaster Lisa Gaynor will be coordinating the event. Please contact Lisa with questions.

Sign up here: http://troop24riverside.com/2016/04/swimming-merit-badge-class-form/

We are offering our older scouts an opportunity to begin work on the Personal Fitness merit badge at our meeting this week (Thursday, April 7).  Troop leaders have limited the participation in this merit badge to scouts that have been with the troop for at least one year; this will permit younger scouts to focus on rank advancement.

Further, we are planning on completing this badge within the Troop, rather than at Tesomas summer camp as we previously announced.  Scouts will be working with troop leader Dr. Lanken at subsequent meetings to complete all requirements.  Keep in mind that this merit badge requires the completion of a 12-week exercise program.  Scout that begin working on the badge now will be able to complete it in July.

We will still be meeting with personal trainer Jerry Owen on Thursday so he can help the scouts prepare their 12-week exercise program.  Scouts who are planning to participate should come to the meeting with good running shoes, as they will need to complete a timed one-mile run as part of the initial fitness test.  The weather is forecast to be cold, so scouts should probably wear sweatpants or other athletic gear as well for this meeting.  After the mile run, scouts complete flexibility, strength and a body-mass index test.

Please register your scout here in advance of the meeting.

The personal fitness merit badge is one of the 13 merit badges required for the Eagle rank.  Troop 24 leaders will be helping scouts of the rank of First Class and above to begin the pre-requisities for this merit badge with the goal of scouts completing it at Camp Tesomas in July.  We will begin this program at our next troop meeting on Thursday, April 7.

Requirement 7 is for scouts to prepare a physical fitness activity plan, and requirement 8 is for the scouts to complete this plan over the course of 12 weeks.  At our troop meeting, scouts will begin the test of endurance, flexibility and strength as outlined in requirement #6 to set a baseline.  Scouts will be measured again in early July to see how much they have improved.

Troop leaders have arranged for personal trainer Jerry Owen to come to the meeting to help the scouts plan their fitness regime.  All  requirements are specified here in the merit badge worksheet, which scouts should print off and bring to the meeting on April 7.

We ask all First Class and above scouts who are going to Tesomas this summer, and who need to complete this merit badge to sign up here in advance of the meeting on April 7.  We are asking for scout emails (and optional parent emails) so the troop leaders can send notices for interim check in dates and the special July re-test date.

The Fifth Annual Chess Merit Badge Day hosted by Tall Grass District will be held on February 15, 2016, at American Legion Post 80, 4000 Saratoga, Downers Grove, IL 60515. This event is open to all interested Boy Scouts. Offered will be chess instruction and play to earn the Chess Merit Badge. For those who have already earned the merit badge, tournament play will be offered.

More information is available here: 2016 Chess Merit Badge Day 160215. The cost of $15.00 includes pizza, drink and patch.

Please direct questions to: Rich Busch at rebjr3@aol.com

The Pav Y will be offering classes for the Swimming and Lifesaving Merit Badges.
Swimming M 3/7 6-9p BSA16 #02106-60 $20
Lifesaving W 3/9 6-9p BSA16 #02106-61 $20

Contact the PAV Y to register.

The Three Fires Council is hosting a Merit Badge University on Saturday, February 20, in Elmhurst, at York High School. Many, many merit badge courses will be available. Registration just opened and can be found at https://scoutingevent.com/?MBU2016. Courses fill up quickly, so register soon.

This is the same weekend as the Cascade Mountain Ski Trip.

Mr. Jerz will be at meeting tonight in his capacity as Family Life MB counselor to sign off on any process scouts have made since last fall.

• Available to scouts that are of Star rank or above, must be at least 12 years old and must have the First Aid MB.
• Only 10 spots – so sign up (and pay) quickly while there are still spots!

Scouts will meet at Vertical Endeavors in Glendale Heights at 7:45 AM on Saturday December 12.  This is a five-hour class in which Scouts can meet all of the requirements for the BSA Climbing Merit Badge. Badge requirements include belaying, rappelling, knot tying, rope management and other general safety requirements. Each scout will at least belay 3 times, climb 3 times and repel 3 times in the 5 hours.  There will also be time spent sitting down and reviewing safety and other education regarding climbing.

The cost for this outing is $40.  And must be paid through Constant Contact (WePay) for the scout to be considered registered.

Scouts should bring:

• Blue Card – signed by a scout master
• Vertical Endeavors Climbing waiver signed by a parent
  • digital waiver
  • printable waiver
• sack lunch – there will be a 30 min lunch break
• gym shoes
• wear clothing appropriate for climbing

Glendale Heights is ~ 40min away.  Click here for directions

To be considered registered scouts must register first online, and then pay through Constant Contact.  The first 10 scouts who are registered and paid will get the available spots

To register click here

Contact Susan Lynch with any questions

The Morton Arboretum is offering a number of Merit Badge classes for their winter term.  These classes fill up VERY FAST, so if you are interested you should register as soon as possible.

The classes offered are:

Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Native American Folklore
Geology

More information is available at http://www.mortonarb.org/learn-experience/course-guide?field_course_type_tid=80

The Fermilab in Batavia is hosting a Nuclear Science merit badge workshop on Friday, February 12, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.. Due to the popularity of this class, every Saturday between now and December 2016 is booked; however, we have secured the class on the afternoon of Friday, February 12, as both Hauser and RBHS will not have school on that day (Teacher Institute Day).

If you are interested, please sign up for this event via our Troop 24 Riverside website. The cost is $60/group (4-20 Scouts), so your individual cost will be determined once we know how many boys are interested in attending. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Sanduski at lsanduski@gmail.com.

Sign up