The Pack 24 Cub Scouts are looking for a few troop members to conduct a campfire ceremony at their camp-out at the Riverside Scout Cabin on Saturday, October 17. The cub scout camp fire will begin in the early evening. We are looking for a maximum group size of six scouts. Interested scouts should sign up here and be prepared to spend time working on their program, which should include skits, songs and a flag retirement ceremony.

Any Troop 24 scout participating in this program is invited to come to the camp out and enjoy pizza dinner as a guest of the pack.

If you have any questions, please email Jim Jerz (jiminov@hotmail.com).

Parents & Scouts: Please put our annual Waterfall Glen Orienteering outing on your calendar for November 7. The is the only opportunity we have, outside of summer camp, for scouts to earn First Class requirement 2: Using a map and compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.). It’s very important for scouts who need this requirement to attend this outing.

During the outing scouts will also be able to finish First Class requirement 1: Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass.

Scouts who are working on the Cooking Merit Badge may also have a chance to complete Cooking MB requirement 7: Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, plan a menu for trail hiking or backpacking that includes one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and one snack. These meals must not require refrigeration and are to be consumed by three to five people (including you). List the equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals. Then do the following:

• Create a shopping list for your meals, showing the amount of food needed to prepare and serve each meal, and the cost for each meal.
• Share and discuss your meal plan and shopping list with your counselor. Your plan must include how to repackage foods for your hike or backpacking trip to eliminate as much bulk, weight, and garbage as possible.
• While on a trail hike or backpacking trip, prepare and serve two meals and a snack from the menu planned for requirement 7. At least one of those meals must be cooked over a fire, or an approved trail stove (with proper supervision).
• For each meal prepared in requirement 7c, use safe food-handling practices. Explain how you kept foods safe and free from cross-contamination. Clean up equipment, utensils, and the site thoroughly after each meal. Properly dispose of dishwater, and pack out all garbage.
• After each meal, have those you served evaluate the meal on presentation and taste, then evaluate your own meal. Discuss what you learned with your counselor, including any adjustments that could have improved or enhanced your meals. Tell how better planning and preparation help ensure successful trail hiking or backpacking meals.

An official sign-up will be available soon. We’ll also need leaders & drivers!

We need an additional driver to drive scouts TO Camp Inferno (in Pana, Illinois, about a 4-hour drive). You would not need to stay for the weekend as we have someone who can drive back. Please let Susan Lynch know if you can help out: skstrause@us.ibm.com

REMINDER: Honor Flight Chicago will escort approximately 90 World War II Veterans on Wednesday, September 30, to Washington, DC in one of a series of Honor Flights dedicated to honoring WWII Veterans living in the Chicago area. This is the last flight of the 2015 season.

The day’s adventure concludes back in Chicago with a Welcome Home Celebration where family, friends, associates, and even strangers assemble at Midway Airport’s Baggage Claim 1. Awaiting the plane’s arrival from Dulles Airport, they are joined by color guards, bagpipers, Scouts, motorcycle clubs, a brass band, and countless volunteers and active duty military personnel.

Troop 24 scouts are invited to participate. Please meet at Midway Airport’s Baggage Claim 1 at least one hour prior to the flight‘s 8:10 p.m. arrival. More information is available at:
Calling All Scouts Sept 30 2015

For this event we will not be providing leader transportation; however, parents may wish to carpool. If you are interested in attending, please contact Linda Sanduski at lsanduski@gmail.com.

Reminder: The deadline to sign up to go to Camp Inferno is Sunday, September 13. Nineteen scouts have signed up already. This event is held every three years and is one of the most popular outings the Troop attends. Don’t miss out! Because this event is sponsored by another Council, you MUST sign up by the deadline. NO LATE REGISTRATIONS will be accepted.

Three leaders and one parent have signed up to go. We need more parents to go or we won’t have enough vehicles to transport our scouts. Any parent can attend; you do not have to be registered with the BSA. Because of the distance, it’s not feasible to drive but not stay.

More information can be found at:
http://troop24riverside.com/2015/08/its-back-with-a-blast-camp-inferno-2015-the-third-alarm/

Our first Troop meeting of the year will be Thursday, September 10: 7:00 p.m. in the RPC gym.

Note: Sign up deadline is Sunday Sept 13!! no late sign ups will be allowed.

It’s been three long years since our first trip to Camp Inferno.  You will not want to miss this favorite outing!  We need to register early so do not wait to sign up!

Camp Inferno is a fire, law enforcement, EMS, and public safety event sponsored by the Lincoln Trails Council. It is staffed by area emergency responders. The unofficial theme is “burn and blow stuff up”.  What more could scouts and scouters ask for?  Troop 24 will be attending this event as their October camping trip.  The event promises to have lots to do and see.  Check out the details below or look at pictures from our outing in 2012.

Dates: October 9 – 11, 2015
Location: Rhodes France Scout Reservation, Pana, IL
Cost: $58/scout

Troop 24 will depart from RPC early Friday evening 10/11 (exact time TBD, it is an approximate 3.5 hr drive to event) and will return to RPC Sunday 10/13 early afternoon.  The Hauser scouts have a Institute Day on 10/11, so if we can get some leaders/adults to drive down in the afternoon, we may try to do that followed by other drivers with the scouts who have school that day.

Saturday Demonstrations

• NEW: High Voltage Safety
• NEW: Boating Accident Rescue
• Bomb Squad Blowing stuff up
• Fire trucks
• Air Evac Helicopter
• Jaws of Life
• Life Jacket Safety

Saturday Hands on Events

• Fire-Fighter Challenge Course
• What to expect on an Ambulance Ride
• Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
• Thermal Imaging Camera
• Fire Extinguisher Use
• Steam Implosion (small)
• Impairment (Drunk) Goggles
• Rifle Range will be open

Saturday Evening Firebowl

• Grease Fire Demo
• Large Steam Implosion
• Room Fire
• Fireworks and prizes

T-shirt and Patch for every registered attendee!

Troop 24 will be camping jamboree style with Boys Scout Troops,  Explorer and Venture Crews from all over Illinois.  We have a very small window to sign up and register for this event.  Registration will close on September 13.  Cancellations after September 13 will forfeit the $20 non-refundable registration fee. For questions contact Susan Lynch

Scouts Register here by September 13

This is a very popular event!  We are anticipating a lot of scouts (and adults) interested in attending.  As always,  we need leaders and adult chaperones to participate and drive.  This outing is outside our normal weekend outing radius and therefore we are looking for leaders/adults willing to attend the full event and drive both ways.

Leaders/Adults Register here by September 13

Troop 24 is planning an overnight camp-out at Kankakee River State Park, leaving Friday, September 11 and returning Sunday, September 13.

Scouts should come prepared to camp in tents for two nights.   We will be canoeing and kayaking on Saturday.

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 to attend this outing, no other activity is being offered.
• 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.

Logistics:

• Please drop your Scout off at RPC at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. We will return about noon on Sunday.
• Scouts must print and have a parent sign the  Reeds waiver in order to participate.
• Scouts must have the Swimming MB.  If not, please do not sign up for this outing.
• Deadline for signing up for the outing is Sunday, September 6.
• 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.
• If you have your own canoe or kayak you must arrange transportation of it to/from the campout and Reeds.

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

Contact Susan Lynch with questions.

Scout Form
Leader/Chaperone Form

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

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