Scouts and Parents: Please join us at the Courtyard Healthcare facility at 3601 S. Harlem in Berwyn on Sunday, December 20, to deliver cards to the patients. We will bring the cards signed at the holiday party on December 17. Meet at the Courtyard at 1:30 and help bring some holiday cheer to patients.

Save the date for Eagle Cave! We will leave RPC on Friday, January 15, at 5:00 p.m. (tentatively, may need two waves so some parents/kids can make it later). We’ll return by about 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 17. We’re looking for adults to drive and CAMP OUT IN THE CAVE! This is probably the troop’s most popular outing.

Eagle Cave is located about 1/2 hour west of Madison, Wisconsin. You can find more information here: http://www.eaglecave.net/ and directions here: http://www.eaglecave.net/directions.htm#From%20Chicago

The cave is a constant 52 degrees and lots of fun to explore! Permission slips will be posted soon.

Troop 24 is planning a day hiking trip to Waterfall Glen on Saturday, December 12. We will leave from Riverside Presbyterian Church at 9:00 a.m. and return at approximately 4:00 p.m. There is no cost. Each scout should bring a sack lunch and wear weather-appropriate clothing. The permission slip is available here and should be turned in no later than the Troop Meeting on Thursday, December 10. Contact Dawn Gmitro with questions.

More details will be coming, but for those of you who want to plan ahead, the Troop’s schedule for outings for the remainder of the year is:

December 12 – Camping at a location TBD
January 16 – Eagle Cave
March 20 – Camping at a location TBD (first outing for Cubs Scouts crossing over in February)
April 23 – Lincoln Pilgrimage, Springfield
May 15 – Camping at a location TBD

The Troop is planning an outing to Apple River Canyon State Park. We’ll be leaving at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, November 27, and returning by approximately noon on Sunday, November 29. Scouts who plan to attend should turn in the permission slip with $20 by Thursday, November 19. Please bring it to the Troop meeting, or turn it in to Dawn Gmitro.

There has been a change to the schedule for next weekend’s outing to the Voyager Trace Fall Camp-o-ree at Illinois Beach State Park. Due to Leader availability the trip has been changed to a day trip. We will leave from the Riverside Presbyterian Church parking lot at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 24 and return at approximately 9:00 p.m. the same day. The Scouts will be dropped off at their homes in the evening. If you paid by check, your check will be returned to you, and we ask that you send in a $10 check at your earliest convenience. If you paid by cash you will receive a $10 refund.

Contact Dawn Gmitro with any questions.

Save the date! Troop 24 has a reservation to stay at Eagle Cave the weekend of January 16. More details to follow. For photos of outings to Eagle Cave, always a favorite with the scouts, please see our Photo Gallery.

There will be a orienteering outing to Waterfall Glen Nature Center on Saturday, October 17, leaving around 8:00 am and returning around 1:00 pm. The permission slip is available here and at the Troop meetings. The two meetings (October 8 and the 15) prior to this outing will dedicated to preparation and learning how to orienteering.

This outing is for ALL RANKS as it is a valuable skill for all scouts. It is a great refresher for all, but is especially applicable to achieving 2nd Class and 1st Class requirements.

We are looking for parent volunteers to to accompany groups of 4-5 boys for this outing. This is a great opportunity for new scout parents to participate. It is only a half day commitment. You do not need orienteering experience yourself. Interested? Questions? Contact Dawn Gmitro.

Troop 24 will be participating in the DesPlaines Valley Council/Voyageur Trace District Camporee to be held October 23-25 at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion. The scouts will leave about 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 23, and return to Riverside Presbyterian Church at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 25. The theme of the camporee will be conservation. On Saturday morning there will be education sessions presented by park staff and staff from the Shedd Aquarium. After lunch the troops will be assigned to conservation projects within the Park. Every attempt will be made to structure the education sessions and project to meet requirements of any and all relevant merit badges and conservation awards. The cost is $20 per scout (which includes the Voyageur Trace fee of $6 as well as the cost of food). The permission slip and money (check made out to Troop 24) are due by Thursday, October 8. Permission slips may be turned in at a troop meeting, or given to Dawn Gmitro.

There will be a meeting for all scouts and leaders who have signed up for the 2010 Seabase adventure.  Please meet at the RPC Social Hall on Tuesday, May 26, at 7:00.

Topics include:

• whether to pursue any fund raising activities,
  
• review options for side trips,
  
• select a scout leader who can take ownership of managing the planning and coordination of the various tasks, and
  
• any other items of general interest.

We will also begin collecting monthly payments to be deposited in the Troop account:  $100 per person.  This will be used for our next payment, which is due October 1, as well as any other required trip costs.

Questions?  Contact Jim Ringbloom.