Scouts who need 2nd Class requirements 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f* (this includes anyone from the newest scouts up through our current Tenderfoot scouts, so 37 boys) will have an opportunity to complete these requirements on Wednesday, May 11, at 4:00 p.m. in Mr. Payne’s backyard. Scouts: please check your books to see if you need these requirements, and be sure you have read the appropriate section of the manual before Wednesday. These activities can not be completed at a meeting, so we can’t offer this opportunity often. Please make every effort to attend if you are lacking these requirements.

Our current Star Scouts (Connor, Casey, Joey J, Drake) need to use the EDGE method to teach a younger scout camping skills, and assisting our leaders in teaching 2nd Class requirements 3cdef would satisfy their EDGE requirement. However, these scouts must contact Mr. Payne in advance; you can not just show up at the last minute.

3c. Demonstrate proper care, sharpening, and use of the knife, saw, and ax, and describe when they should be used.
3d. Use the tools listed in requirement 3c to prepare tinder, kindling,and fuel for a cooking fire.
3e. Discuss when it is appropriate to use a cooking fire and a lightweight stove. Discuss the safety procedures for using both.
3f. In an approved place and at an approved time, demonstrate how to build a fire and set up a lightweight stove. Note: Lighting the fire is not required.

The deadline for signing up for the bicycling outing on the I&M Canal is Friday, May 6, at 5:00 p.m. To sign up: http://troop24riverside.com/2011/04/i-m-canal-form/

We’ve already begun planning and scheduling outings for next fall. On Friday, September 9, we’ll kick off the year with an overnight at the Scout Cabin, following our first Troop meeting of the fall.

September 23, 24 & 25, we will be participating in the Des Plaines Valley Council’s “Camporall.” The theme for the weekend is Planting the Seeds for Tomorrow. A portion of the weekend’s activity will be tree planting on Saturday morning. Scouts who plant trees at this first Camporall of Scouting’s Second Century can see their work grow and thrive when they camp in future years at Rochelle’s Adventure Camp. There will also be an option for Troops to “adopt” a larger tree for planting in a main area. More information about the weekend can be found here:
http://www.bsa-dpvc.org/CyberNews/cybernews110421.htm#camporall

On October 1, we plan to visit the Civil War reenactment at Cantigny.

On October 14-16, the Troop will camp at White Pines State Park near Oregon, Illinois. It’s been several years since our last outing to White Pines, which is a little over 2 hours west of Riverside north of I-88.

Our goal is to plan outings about 6 months in advance. New ideas are always welcome. Parents who have an idea and would like to lead an outing, please contact Michael Payne, Nancy Hopkins, or Dawn Gmitro.

On Saturday, May 14, the Troop will be bicycling and camping on the Illinois & Michigan Canal Trail. Scouts should be dropped off at RPC at 8:45 a.m., with arrival at Channahon by 10:00. The campsite is a 3-mile ride (totally flat, limestone screening surface) from the drop-off site, along the Des Plaines River about a mile from where it joins the Kankakee River to form the Illinois. (The campsite is shown in the photo above). Scouts should bring normal camping equipment–sleeping bag, pad, and clothing appropriate for the weather forecast. We will transport bicycles and gear in the Troop trailers.

If there are scouts who do not wish to bicycle, this can also be done as a hike if there are adult volunteers to accompany the hikers. Completing this hike, along with additional loop trails through McKinley Woods using a compass, would satisfy the requirements of Second Class 1b, if leaders/parents are available to assist.

Bicyclists or hikers should bring a sack lunch and water for the trail. Those who are interested can also bring fishing gear. We will return to Riverside about noon on Sunday. This may be our last camping outing before summer camps. The adult leaders in charge will be Joe Ourth & Nancy Hopkins. The cost is $15 per person. We will need drivers & more leaders. Parents are welcome to cycle or hike. The deadline for signing up is April 28. Please sign up here: http://troop24riverside.com/2011/04/i-m-canal-form/

The 5th grade scouts will meet on Thursday from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Room 4 at the Township Hall. Please note: different time AND different place. They are meeting at 5:00 to accommodate the Central scouts & families who have Open House that night, and are meeting at Township Hall because there are services at RPC that night.

ONLY the 5th grade scouts will have a regular meeting. Any scouts 6th grade & older can still sign up for archery. The 7:00-8:00 time is full, but we have spots left in the 8:00-9:00 period. We will have an instructor present to give a refresher, or to work with more experienced archers on perfecting their technique. The cost is $15, and payment can be made at WePay. Please sign up here: http://troop24riverside.com/2011/04/archery-form/

If your scout has his own equipment, please e-mail Nancy Hopkins, as the cost will be lower. If your scout has signed up for 7:00, but would prefer to come at 8:00, please contact Nancy.

Good news: We had enough interest to add a second time slot for archery on Thursday, April 21, from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. Six scouts said they were interested, and we have room for twelve. This outing is for scouts 6th grade and older. We will be going to the Archery Custom Shop, 7240 W. Madison in Forest Park. The cost is $15, and you must sign up and pay in advance. Space is limited, so this outing is on a first-come, first-served, basis. Parents will need to drive or carpool. After we know for sure who is going we’ll send out more information.

Sign up here: http://troop24riverside.com/2011/04/archery-form/

We’ve had good response from scouts for the Archery outing next Thursday at 7:00 p.m. At this point we have only ONE spot remaining. All but 2 of the scouts who signed up are in 6th grade. We can add a second class from 8:00 to 9:00 if there is enough interest. Please e-mail Nancy Hopkins at nmhopkins1@comcast.net if your scout has not signed up yet, but would be interested in archery instruction including an hour on the range in Forest Park. If we get at least five scouts interested, we’ll open another registration form for the 8-9 timeslot.

Thank you to the twelve families (of 55 scout families) who responded to our Lincoln Pilgrimage survey. Unfortunately, only two of those families were definitely interested in participating in the Lincoln Pilgrimage, with a few more who indicated their scouts might go. Because we did not have enough scouts interested, we will not be offering this outing (which will take place in Springfield April 29-May 1). Our next overnight outing (after the Camporee on April 15-17) will be a bicycling event on May 14-15 on the Illinois & Michigan Canal Trail. This will probably be our last camping outing before summer camp. More details will be available soon, but mark your calendars for this event.

Scouts who have not already done so will have until late May to register for Camp Mach. At this point we have 35 scouts registered. That includes eight of our sixteen new scouts. New scouts should participate in at least one overnight outing without a parent before going to Camp Mach. There are two more camping trips planned before the school year is over: Camporee on April 15-17, and Biking on the I & M Trail on May 14-15.

51 of our scouts in sixth grade or older have signed up for Camp Mach, Kayaking, and/or Philmont. Only TWO of our scouts 6th grade and older have not signed up for any of our summer camp activities.

Troop 24 will take part in the Voyageur Trace Spring Camporee at the Rochelle scout camp, on April 15-17. Scouts should be dropped off at the Riverside Presbyterian Church on Friday evening (time to be determined). They will return to the RPC on Sunday around noon. Scouts should come prepared to camp in tents with sleeping bag, sleeping pad and appropriate clothing. District 96 5th Grade Games Night is on Friday, April 15. 5th grade scouts can come on Saturday morning. We have been told that the afternoon activity will include the Forestry Merit Badge. The cost for this event is $30. The deadline for signing up is Wednesday, April 6, at noon.

We have 15 scouts signed up so far (six are 5th graders).

Friday, April 15
6:00 p.m. Check-in
9:00 p.m. Adult Leader/Youth Leader Cracker Barrel
11:00 p.m. Lights Out/Quiet Time 11:00pm
Saturday, April 16
9:00 a.m. Morning Activities Start
1:30 p.m. Afternoon Activities start
8:00 p.m. Camp Fire (Each Troop to provide Skit or Song)
11:00 p.m. Lights Out/Quiet Time
Sunday, April 17
8:00 a.m. Camp Sunday Service

Sign up here: http://troop24riverside.com/2011/03/camporee-form/