Scouts who are going to the Klondike Derby were given a handout at yesterday’s meeting. One of the required items is a complete change of clothing for each scout in waterproof wrap. More information about what to bring is provided on the handout, which is available here. Please be sure to review the requirements.

We still have space for additional scouts to participate in the Klondike Derby on February 13 at Bemis Woods South in Western Springs. We will leave from Riverside Presbyterian Church at 8:00 a.m. and return to RPC by 3:00 p.m. The cost per boy is $6.50. Contact Mrs. Gmitro by Tuesday evening, February 9, to reserve your spot. The permission slip is available here.

The Pack 24 Roller Skating Party, previously scheduled for Sunday, February 7, has been CANCELLED due to the Super Bowl. The Pack had invited the Boy Scouts to participate. We will let you know when the event is rescheduled.

Troop 24 will be traveling to Mammoth Cave National Park on Saturday, March 27, and returning on Wednesday, March 31.  Parents and siblings (1st grade or older) are also welcome to attend.  Mammoth Cave National Park preserves the cave system and a part of the Green River valley and hilly country of south central Kentucky. This is the world’s longest known cave system, with more than 367 miles explored.  We will be camping at the National Park or a nearby Scout Camp.  Activities will include multiple guided hikes through the cave complex, exploring other sites at the 52,800 acre National Park and a visit to the Corvette Museum.  Scouts who are going without a parent must have attended at least one overnight camping trip with the Troop.  All those attending should be able to hike at least five miles.

Pack 24 invites all boy scouts to their annual family roller skating party on Sunday, February 7, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at Fleetwood Roller Rink in Summit. Admission is free, complements of Pack 24. You can bring your own skates or rent skates for $2.50. The snack bar will be open. For more information, contact Nancy Hopkins.

Troop 24 is planning a overnight outing to the Muskegon Luge, Saturday, January 30 – Sunday, January 31. We will leave from Riverside Presbyterian Church between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. (time will be announced at a later date) and return to RPC between noon and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. The cost is $55. Permission slip, money, and waiver are due by Thursday, January 21. Scouts are cautioned not to wear nylon or brand new coats as their sleeves could rub as they go down the luge. Scouts will stay overnight at a local hotel.

Troop 24 is planning a volunteer opportunity repackaging food at the Greater Chicago Food Depository on Wednesday, February 3. Scouts must be at least 13 years of age to attend. Each scout attending can earn 3 service hours. We will leave from Riverside Presbyterian Church at 5:15 p.m. and return to RPC by approximately 9:30 p.m. There is no cost. The permission slip is due by Thursday, January 21. Scouts should wear their Class A uniforms without hats or neckerchiefs. We need one parent for every 4 Scouts attending, so if you are interested in driving and chaperoning, please sign up. Contact Dawn Gmitro with any questions

Troop 24 will be participating in the Voyageur Trace Klondike Derby in Bemis Woods South, Western Springs, on Saturday, February 13. We will leave from Riverside Presbyterian Church at 8:00 a.m. and return to RPC by 3:00 p.m.
The cost per boy is $6.50, due with permission slip no later than Thursday, January 28.

A Klondike derby is an annual event held by some Boy Scout districts during the winter months and is based on the heritage of the Klondike Gold Rush. BSA units have been running Klondike derbies since 1949. The event varies by district, but the typical Klondike derby consists of a series of stations where units must test their Scoutcraft skills and their leadership abilities, earning points towards a total score. The unit must transport their gear on a dog sled, usually self-constructed and pulled by the Scouts. For photos of the 2008 Klondike Derby, please visit our photo gallery.

We leave for Eagle Cave on Friday, January 15, at 5:30 from Riverside Presbyterian Church! Your scout should bring a sleeping bag, extra clothes, a flash light, money (there is a store there, and they may be stopping to eat on the way home), a garbage bag to put wet clothes in, and plastic to put under and over their sleeping bag (Important!). A ground cloth, a tarp, an old shower curtain–something to keep their sleeping bag dry, because it is a cave. If there is snow, they can go sledding, so they should bring snow clothes. There will likely be room for small sleds, if your scout would like to bring one. That determination will be made at the time of loading, by the drivers.

The Eagle Cave outing, held every 2 years, is one of the scouts’ favorite events. This year, we leave RPC at 5:30 p.m. on January 15 and return by noon on January 17. For more information about the cave, visit www.eaglecave.net. To see photos from previous years, visit our online photo gallery. If you need additional information, please contact Lisa Buffo. We have room for 45, so please turn in your permission slip, with payment of $55, at the meeting on Friday. (Reminder: Scouts who have popcorn credit can use it for outings, or save it for summer camp. Contact Nancy Hopkins if you don’t know how much credit you have.)