Our leaders have decided to return to the use of individual mess kits for scout outings. Our oldest scouts will remember when we used mess kits, and may still have one, but younger scouts (freshmen & younger?) will need to procure a mess kit. If you Google “mess kit” you’ll find many kits that include cooking pans, which are not needed.

What should be included in your mess kit? Plate, Cup (for hot chocolate or for soup) so preferably with a handle, fork & spoon. Knives are not needed as we usually aren’t buying steaks for outings–or anything else that would require a knife to cut. Mess kits can be purchased at REI or any sporting good store. Every scout also needs a water bottle for every outing. The water bottle is not a substitute for a cup, since it’s hard to drink soup from a water bottle.

You don’t need to buy a mess kit specifically made for camping. A kid’s plastic plate and flatware from home are fine. Everything should be labeled with your scout’s name. If you want to buy a mess kit, they usually cost $8-$15 and may look like one of these, both of which include items not needed:

The Troop will have TWO separate campouts at Cantigny Park in Wheaton during the weekend of March 15-17.

• Friday night thru Saturday Morning, 3/15-16 – for scouts 2nd year or older who would like to camp and/or work on rank advancement requirements that can only be completed on a campout (acting as Patrol cook, starting a fire, setting up a stove, etc.).
• Saturday morning thru Sunday Morning , 3/16-17 –  for our new “Joiner” scouts. New Scouts will work on some of the skills and requirements needed for their first rank advancement.

Please be sure you sign up for the appropriate outing:

FRIDAY – Older scouts $12 (click here)
SATURDAY – New scouts $20 (click here)

The deadline for signing up for the outing is noon on Sunday, March 10.    Please fill out a form for each scout.

As always we need leaders, chaperones and drivers.  If you can help out in any of the following ways please use this Adult sign up form (click here) to indicate how/when you are available to help out.

Questions?  Contact Susan Lynch.

The Troop will have TWO separate campouts at Cantigny Park in Wheaton during the weekend of March 15-17.

• Friday night thru Saturday Morning, 3/15-16 – for scouts 2nd year or older who would like to camp and/or work on rank advancement requirements that can only be completed on a campout (acting as Patrol cook, starting a fire, setting up a stove, etc.).
• Saturday morning thru Sunday Morning , 3/16-17 –  for our new “Joiner” scouts. New Scouts will work on some of the skills and requirements needed for their first rank advancement.

Please be sure you sign up for the appropriate outing:

FRIDAY – Older scouts $12 (click here)
SATURDAY – New scouts $20 (click here)

The deadline for signing up for the outing is noon on Sunday, March 10.    Please fill out a form for each scout.

As always we need leaders, chaperones and drivers.  If you can help out in any of the following ways please use this Adult sign up form (click here) to indicate how/when you are available to help out.

Questions?  Contact Susan Lynch.

Scouts and parents interested in learning about possible high adventure outings this summer are invited to a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Westminster Room (downstairs) at RPC. We have two opportunities: a week-long scuba outing in Florida for scouts and leaders/adults. All participants must be scuba-certified before the outing. The second possibility is a backpacking trip in the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan. Both outings are for older scouts (at a minimum have graduated from 8th grade this spring). If you are not able to attend the meeting, but want more information, please contact Jim Ringbloom at jrringbloom@sbcglobal.net

February 2 is the last day to sign up for the Troop Scuba outing on February 10. As of January 30, there were five spots remaining. For more information go to: http://troop24riverside.com/2013/01/scuba-outing-on-february-10-2013/

Mark your calendars for Feb. 23-24 and sign up for Skiing/Snowboarding at Sunburst Recreation in Wisconsin and hotel overnight. We will spend Saturday participating in snow sports and then stay the night at a Country Inn & Suites hotel with a indoor swimming pool. This is a great opportunity to enjoy some winter fun and work on a merit badge.

Scouts can attend on their own or the whole family is welcome to take advantage of the group rates and join us. Families may choose to make this a day trip or stay overnight; all single scouts should plan to stay overnight.

Saturday February 23 – Sunday February 24
Saturday Itinerary
Depart: RPC 7:00 AM (2.5 hr drive)
Ski or Snowboarding: 10 AM – 4:30 PM
Free lessons: 10:30 AM (not required, but highly suggested for new skiers)
Dinner break/hotel check in: 5-7 PM
Night time tubing (optional): 7-9 PM
Swimming (optional): 7-10 PM

Sunday Itinerary
Continental Breakfast: 7-9 AM
Depart Hotel: 9:30 AM
Arrive Home: Return to RPC @ ~ 12:00 noon

Menu of Costs per person:
The BSA requires a scout to wear helmets while skiing/snowboarding, so the cost of the helmet rental is included in all the prices below. For those who have their own ski/snowboard equipment – see pricing that does not include equipment rental.

Ski rental, helmet, lift = $57
Snowboard rental, helmet, lift = $72
Helmet, lift only = $52
Tubing (Optional in evening) = $15
Shared Hotel w/meals* = $31 (4 scouts per room)
Family Hotel w/meals* = $120 (2 queen beds)
* Meals include Pizza dinner and hotel complimentary breakfast, all will need to bring either money or sack lunch for Saturday lunch at the Sunburst Chalet.

Leader in charge will be Bruce Robertson. For questions contact Bruce Robertson or Dawn Gmitro

Scouts, Adults, AND Siblings, sign up here: http://troop24riverside.com/2013/01/ski-trip-form-february-23-24-2013/
Deadline for sign-up: 2/15/13

Learn the ins and outs of scuba diving.  Troop 24 has a scuba outing planned on Sunday, February 10, 2013.  This is not for certification, but just for fun.

When:  February 10, 2013  – 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Where:  DJ’s Scuba Locker at the  Indian Boundary YMCA , 711 59th Street, Downers Grove 60516   (630) 968-8400

Cost:  $45.00

Limit: 20 scouts

All scouts must fill out the general liability release form and medical form attached here in order to participate.

05 – SDI General Liability Release

10119-discoverscuba med – sdi

After a short lecture on breathing, clearing the mask, kicking and buoyancy, scouts will go into the  pool where they’ll practice what they’ve  learned.  Then they will practice some skills like flood and clear their mask, take their regulator out and blow bubbles and inflate and deflate your BCD.  Then it’s fun time to swim around the pool and go underwater on scuba gear.  Scouts can dive through hula hoops, play underwater torpedoes or put puzzles together.

Scouts sign up here.

We need leaders and drivers, if interested please sign up here.

If you have any questions contact Joan Janopoulos.