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.

Reminder:  Tonight is the last chance to turn in permission slips and check for Camp Mach at the reduced price of $235.  The regular price is $260.  The permission slip is available here.

Thursday, January 29, will be the last day you can turn in permission slips for Camp Mach for the reduced price of $235.  (The regular price will be $260.)  Eleven scouts are signed up so far.  We had 35 scouts at Camp Mach last year.  The permission slip can be downloaded here.  Checks should be made payable to Troop 24.  You can bring the form and check to Thursday’s meeting, or drop it off to Nancy Hopkins.

Troop 24’s annual week-long camp at Camp Mach-Kin-O-Siew in Elcho, Wisconsin is scheduled for Sunday, July 26 through Saturday, August 1.

The cost per scout is $235, if paid by January 29, or $260 if paid after January 29. The deadline for signing up is Thursday, May 28. (Scouts who cross over in February will have additional time to pay the “early bird” discounted rate of $235.) Permission slips with payment should be turned in at a Troop Meeting or given to Nancy Hopkins.

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.

The Indiana Dunes outing has been changed.  It will leave at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, 12/13, and return on Sunday, 12/14.  Permission slips are due by Thursday, 12/4. If your scout wants to go, please consider going on the outing–we need parents!  If we don’t have enough parent volunteers, the outing will be canceled.  A permission slip is available here.

Put these dates on your calendars!  As always, we will need parents to drive and be leaders!

Our December outing will be camping in the Indiana Dunes State Park, from 12/12 thru 12/14.  The Dunes are always a favorite with the scouts, and we haven’t camped here for a few years.  A permission slip is available here.

Our January outing will be a lock-in at the new UIC swimming facility, with sports, games, movies, rock-climbing, swimming, and a lazy river!  It will be from 9:00 p.m. on Friday, 1/9/09, thru 9:00 a.m. on 1/10, with various troops from the Voyageur Trace District.  A permission slip is available here.

Our November outing is orienteering at  Waterfall Glen on Saturday, 11/15, leaving at 8:00 and returning around 1:00 p.m.  This outing is for first year scouts, any scout who needs to complete orienteering, and any scout who wants to come!  Scouts going orienteering must attend meetings on 11/6 and 11/13 with their compass–there will be training at these meetings.  For the outing they must bring a compass and a sack lunch.  The permission slip is due by Thursday, 11/13.

Our October outing will be to the Fox River Preserve in Lake County, leaving Saturday morning at 8:00, returning on Sunday.  See http://www..cfpd.org/preserves for information.  Cost is $15, permission slips are due Thursday, 10/2.  As always, drivers are needed!  Please indicate on your scout’s permission slip if you can drive.

The deadline for the discounted Camp Mach rate for our new scouts is April 30, so permission slips and a check for $200 must be turned to Nancy Hopkins by April 29. (The regular rate is $225.) If you need the address or directions to drop off the form, please e-mail. The permission slip can be downloaded here. Last year all of our new scouts attended Camp Mach, and we hope to have as good a turnout this year. It looks like a bus will be available, but we will not know the price until we know how many boys are going. Please don’t delay in registering! Also, medical forms are available here. A form is required for every scout.