Scouts camping on May 1-3 at Kankakee River State Park are invited to bring their bicycles. The state park has one of the nicest bike trails in the state–10.5 miles, paved, relatively level, with no roads to cross other than park roads. Click here for pictures of the bike trail at this time of year. Bikes can be transported in the larger of the Troop trailers, with the smaller trailer hauling all other gear. Joe Ourth, one of the leaders on this outing, will work with interested scouts on the Bicycling Merit Badge. Under Boy Scout rules, helmets are required. For scouts more interested in fishing, the Kankakee River offers a great place to wet a line. The Kankakee River is one of the cleanest rivers in the state. Bring fishing tackle (leaders will have some extras). No fishing license is required for scouts under age 16.

Our May outing to Kankakee River State Park is open to all scouts. The departure time will be 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1, from the parking lot in back of Riverside Presbyterian Church. We will return on Sunday, May 3. Scouts should wear their Class A uniform (scout shirt) to travel. They do not need to bring a mess kit, but they do need to bring a cup, as well as the usual sleeping bag and clothing appropriate to the weather. We need leaders and parent drivers. The permission slip and $20 is due no later than Thursday, 4/23. The permission slip is available here.

A camping trip has been planned for May 1-3 to Kankakee River State Park. Since District 96 students have Friday off, scouts will be leaving at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 1, from Riverside Presbyterian Church. (This is the same weekend as the Des Plaines Valley Council’s high adventure camp at Kettle Moraine State Park, which is available only for 1st class scouts and above.)

The Kankakee River trip is for scouts of all ranks. More information will be forthcoming, but please mark your calendars. New scouts should go on one overnight trip without a parent prior to Camp Mach.

As always, we will need leaders and drivers for this trip.

Troop 24 was fortunate to be chosen by lottery to attend a Seabase program during June of 2010. You should have already received this information via e-mail, but because our deadline for reservations for Seabase is very tight (next week!) we are sending this again. As of March 4, seven scouts and three leaders were already registered; we can take a maximum of 18 scouts.

Background
BSA operates three High Adventure programs: Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, Northern Tier in the Boundary Waters canoe region, and Sea Base in the Florida Keys. The demand for these programs exceeds the number of available openings so troops enter a lottery for reservations. Each program conducts their lottery at a different time and the Sea Base lottery for 2010 just ended. Troop 24 entered the lottery and was fortunate to be selected.

Eligibility
ALL BOYS MUST BE 13 YEARS OLD BY SEPTEMBER 1, 2009. This is a National BSA policy and there are no exceptions. If your son will not be 13 years old by September 1, 2009, he is not eligible and can not attend. If your son will be over 18, he can still attend but as an adult leader.

Outing
Troop 24 has been selected to attend the Coral Reef Sailing adventure beginning Monday, 28 June, 2010, and ending Sunday, July 4, 2010.

From the Sea Base brochure:
Your home for a week will be on a large sailing vessel over 41-feet long. During the odyssey you will be sailing the Florida Keys and have the opportunity to snorkel many reef areas, including Looe Key, one of the most beautiful reefs in the Keys and part of the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. During your voyage you will have the opportunity to study astronomy, navigation, fish identification and coral reef ecology.

We have the option to send up to three crews. A crew consists of two adults (over 18 with at least one adult over 21) and four to six boys. We will need six adults and a minimum of twelve boys (maximum of 18 boys) for three crews. If we do not have sufficient interest and commitment, we can sign up for two or even one crew. Each crew will sail on a separate boat.

Cost and Timing
The estimated cost per person will be approximately $1,500. The fees for this program are $5,650 per crew, or approximately $706 – $942 per person depending on crew size. Additional cost is airfare (to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale depending on cost), ground transportation (to/from Sea Base), any additional outings, trip insurance, spending money, etc.

If your son wishes to participate, you must provide a $100 deposit made out to Troop 24 by Thursday, March 12. This will provide us with sufficient time to get the necessary Council signatures and to insure the completed reservation form is received at Sea Base by 3/19. We also will need additional adult leaders so please consider attending.

Please contact Jim Ringbloom if you have any questions.

Troop 24’s April outing is to Camp Crown in Wilmot, IL. The troop leaves at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, 4/25/09, from the parking lot of the Riverside Presbyterian Church, and will return around 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, 4/26/09. Please be available to pick up your son. Your scout must bring a mess kit, sleeping bag, and appropriate clothing for the weather. Packing instructions are in the scout handbook and will be discussed at meetings. Scouts always travel in their class A uniform (the scout shirt). The permission slip is due by Thursday, 4/16. We will need parent volunteers to drive and stay. New scouts should go on this outing to practice camping before Camp Mach!

Troop 24 will be participating in the Voyageur Trace High Adventure Expo May 1 through May 3, 2009, in Kettle Moraine State Park. This is open to scouts who are 13 years old and older, and First Class and higher. Scouts must be physically fit. The purpose of this outing is to meet training needs for high adventure, gain backpacking experience, test out equipment, improve trail food cooking skills, share great high adventure experiences, and earn requirements. Scouts will be organized into Philmont- style crews. There will be hiking and/or mountain biking. There will be break-out sessions on backpacking, orienteering, water purification, bear safety, and first aid. Meals will be trail food. We must be registered at Council no later than March 30. Permission slips are due by March 19. The cost is $23.00.

As always, we will need parents to volunteer to drive and stay.

Our March outing is the Voyageur Trace First Aid meet on Saturday, 3/14/09, at Brodnicki School, 8641 W. 75th Street in Justice. At the meet, patrols will compete in 6 realistic first aid scenarios.  We’ll leave at 8:30 a.m. from Riverside Presbyterian Church, with an estimated return at 1:00.  The cost is $6.00, which is due, with the permission slip, by 3/5/09.  As always, we will need parents to volunteer to drive and to stay.

Our March outing will be a First Aid meet on March 14 sponsored by the Des Plaines Valley Council.  Troops will compete in first aid, with patrols going from scenario to scenario and being graded as they react to the situation.  A leader will periodically call out changes to the situation.  There will be realistic make-up.  This will be a day outing, with location to be announced, but assumed to be in the area.  Mark your calendars for this outing.  More information to follow.

The February outing is for scouts who are first class or higher.  It is a day outing to Upper Limits in Bloomington, IL for the climbing merit badge class, or for Rock Gym 101 if your scout already has the climbing merit badge.  The merit badge class is $40, Rock Gym 101 is $30.  If your scout is going for his climbing merit badge, he must obtain the merit badge book, know the knots, and be able to answer the questions in the book.  These will be covered in the troop meeting on 2/5, which is mandatory for the merit badge.

Each scout should bring a sack lunch on the outing and wear comfortable clothes, such as t-shirt and shorts covered by sweat pants.  The deadline for the permission slip, money, and waiver for the February 7 climbing outing is Thursday, 1/29.  Scouts will not be allowed to climb without the waiver.  As always, we will need volunteers to drive and stay with the scouts.  Anyone who knows how to climb and is willing to come in and teach on Thursday, 2/5, please contact the Scoutmaster.

Some websites that show knot tying are:

www.animatedknots.com

www.animatedscoutknots.com

www.2020site.org/knots/index.

The Upper Limits website is www.upperlimits.com

Our January outing is a Voyageur Trace District UIC Lock-In at the new UIC indoor swimming facility.  It is an overnight lock-in, leaving from Riverside Presbyterian Church at 9:00 p.m. and returning the next morning around 9:00 a.m.  there will be swimming, movies, sports, games, rock climbing and a lazy river!  Scouts should bring a swim suit, towel, gym clothes, gym shoes, bottled water and energy bars.  The cost is $17.  The permission slip and money are due no later than 12/11.  As always, we need parent volunteers!  There are separate locker rooms for scouts, male leaders, and female leaders.  No locks are needed.  The pool is 3 feet deep.