We have extended the deadline for sign up for the Granite Peak Ski Trip/Tesomas Winter Camp Trip.  The trip will take place February 16-19 (President’s day weekend.)

For more information, read the original post about this trip.

To register for this trip, click here.

This Thursday we will hold an Eagle Project Proposal presentation for an Eagle Candidate seeking Troop approval for his project.  We will be meeting at 6:30 PM at the RPC.  Any Troop adults are welcome to attend.  Please consider helping this Scout on his path to Eagle.  No experience necessary.  Older Scouts who would like to observe are welcome as well.  However, this is not an opportunity for them to discuss their future plans for Eagle projects.  A separate meeting can be set up by contacting me at dmgmitro@aol.com

Thank you.

Dawn Gmitro

Troop 24 Eagle Committee

WELCOME TO SCOUT YEAR 2017-18

It’s a new scout year and I hope you are excited for another year of great adventures, merit badges and FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our year kicks off with a mandatory meeting for all scouts on Thursday, September 7 at 7:00 pm, prompt at RPC Gym.  The first meeting of the year will be elections for Senior Patrol Leader and patrol leaders.   All troop jobs will be open for selection and every First Class and above Scout will not only have a troop job but will be required to fulfill the requirements of that job.  Please see the troop web site for troop job descriptions:  https://troop24riverside.com/troop-positions-of-responsibility/

Senior Patrol Leader is open to any Scout who is at least a high school sophomore or equivalent age; has previously held the position of patrol leader, Asst. Senior Patrol Leader, or Den Chief; commits to attending every Thursday meeting; and commits to leading the Patrol Leader Council to plan the Troop activities for the next six months.  The SPL will hold the position until February 28, 2018.  Any scout meeting the requirements and wishing to run for election will be given two minutes to address the troop as to why he would be the best SPL.  He should explain his prior leadership roles, his ideas for the troop and his commitment to Scouting.  We look forward to a strong candidate pool and a spirited election.

Elections will be followed by Troop Game Night so come ready to have some FUN!!!!

There is plenty of snow in Wisconsin with more in the forecast this week!  Granite Peak has 71/75 trails open and 42″ of snow at the mountain base/ 52″ at the summit.  The Scouts Leaders at Tesomas report the lake is frozen and ice fishing is on!  And they have snow on the trials to cross country ski and snowshoe in!   So…

Join Troop 24 for a President’s Day Long Weekend Outing with skiing/snowboarding at Granite Peak Resort and Winter Camp at Tesomas

This outing is  Friday, February 17 – Monday, February 20 and is an action-packed weekend of winter sports and activities.  We will depart Riverside on Friday early afternoon, stay in a hotel Friday night so we can hit the slopes of Granite Peak first thing Saturday.  After a day of skiing we will enjoy dinner and head to Tesomas where on Sunday we will participate in Winter Camp activities such as Ice Fishing, Cross Country skiing,  snowshoeing, sledding, building an igloo and playing broom ball.  We will depart Tesomas early Monday morning and arrive back in Riverside mid-afternoon.  This is a great opportunity to enjoy some winter fun and work on the Snow Sports merit badge.

Scouts can attend on their own or the whole family is welcome to take advantage of the group rates and join us for the ski portion or for the full outstanding weekend of fun!

Granite Peak offers trails for skiers at all skill levels, however  there will not be an opportunity to take ski lessons during this outing.  Therefore, scouts attending on their own should have prior skiing experience.

Friday, February 17 – Monday, February 20

Friday Itinerary

• Depart: RPC  at  2:00 p.m. (4.5 hr drive)
• Arrive at LaQuinta Inn at ~5 p.m.
• Dinner in area
• Swimming at hotel

Saturday Itinerary

• Continental Breakfast: 7:00-9:00 a.m.
• Ski or Snowboarding: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Dinner in Wausau
• Drive to Tesomas arrive ~7:30 pm
• evening activity

Sunday Itinerary

• Breakfast at Tesomas
• Winter Camp Activities 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Winter Camp  Activities 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Dinner at Tesomas

Monday Itinerary

• Depart Tesomas 8:00 a.m.
• Breakfast on the road
• Return to Riverside ~2:30 p.m.

Cost and Payment:

The price of this outing is dependent on the size of the group. There is a discount if we are a group of 20 or more; therefore the payment for this outing will be handled a little differently then other outings.  When you register you will be asked to pay $50 per person non-refundable deposit.  Once registration is closed (February 11) you will be notified of the remaining cost and asked to pay it.  If you cancel at any time you will forfeit the deposit.  If you cancel within 48 hours of the departure, you may be charged an additional $25  cancellation fee per person, depending on the impact the cancellation has on our group rate.

Below is a menu of the costs, but if you need to rent ski equipment the cost of the weekend will be between $174 (group rate) and $223 (w/o group rate) per person.  If you have equipment (including helmet), the costs  drop to $142 (group rate) to $175 (w/o group rate) per person.

Menu of Costs per person:

Friday night accommodations options and cost

• between $25 – $30 per scout or leader/adult  for shared room
• $95 for family room

Saturday costs

• Ski or snowboard rental:  $22 (group rate) / $38 (w/o group rate)
• Helmet rental: $10 – BSA policy is everyone must wear a helmet.  If you do not have a helmet, you must rent one.
• Lift Ticket : $42 (group rate) / $70 (w/o group rate)
• Group dinner: $20

Sunday Winter Camp cost include: 2 nights accommodation in bunkhouse, 3 meals Sunday, Winter activities (Ice Fish, Cross Country ski,  snowshoe, sled, build an igloo, broom ball)

• Scout/sibling cost:  $55
• Leader/Adult cost: $40

Additional Meals:

• Friday dinner at fast food restaurant, Saturday lunch at chalet and Monday breakfast at fast food restaurant are at your own expense.  Scouts should be given pocket money to cover these three meals.

Leader in charge will be Bruce Robertson. For questions contact Susan Lynch

Scouts, Adults, AND Siblings, sign up here: http://troop24riverside.com/2017/01/2017-winter-outing-form/

Deadline for sign-up: February 12, 2017

Consider talking about an outing, a service project or other experience that has made you proud to be a Boy Scout. Scout Sunday is a perfect opportunity for you to accomplish requirement #3 of the Communication Badge.  Sign up for today to be a speaker at Scout Sunday (Sunday 2/12)  and merit badge counselors will work with you to prepare a short speech.

Riverside Presbyterian Church, the charter organization for Troop 24 and Pack 24, invites all scouts, leaders and scout families to attend Worship in celebration of the long standing relationship between RPC and the Boy Scouts on February 12^th at 10:00 am.  The service will be followed by coffee fellowship hosted by Troop 24.

The Troop 24 Committee encourages scouts and their families to attend the Scout Sunday service.  It is an chance for many of our scouts to experience worship in a place of different denomination or faith.  And an occasion for us to show our appreciation to the members of RPC for their support and use of the church for 78 years.

Scouts who attend will also have the opportunity to earn service hours by participating in either the worship service or in fellowship. Consider helping in one of these roles. There are many:

• Ushers: greet people, hand out bulletin, and pass the offering plate. (need 4-6 scouts)
• Liturgist: Read the scripture lesson and offer a prayer ( 1-2 scouts)
• Speakers willing to speak about their scouting experiences and what it has meant to them.  This is ideal for a scout working on their Communication Merit Badge that still needs to complete requirement #3 or a scout who is comfortable speaking in front of people. (need 2-3 scouts)
• Fellowship Set up (9:00 – 10:00):  Make coffee and lemonade, prepare plates of treats, set out plates, cups and saucers, etc. (need 4 scouts)
• Fellowship Clean up (12:00 – 12:30): run dishwasher, wash serving plates and coffee pots and wipe tables. (need 4 scouts)

Scouts willing to help – sign up here

We hope all scouts who attend bring something to share during fellowship (e.g. coffee cake, cookies, fruit, cheese & crackers, etc.)

Scouts and Leaders should wear their Class A uniform and merit badge sash.  If you have a Girl Scout in the family, she is welcome to wear her uniform.  We hope to see you there.

If you have any questions please contact Carrie Staubus or Susan Lynch

This Outing is now open for Siblings, Parents and Leaders to sign up to play Laser Quest. 

We ask that younger siblings be accompanied by a parent (the parent does not have to pay/play, but should plan on staying through the event.)

Troop 24 will be going to the Laser Quest in Downers Grove  on December 16 to celebrate the holidays.

The Laser Quest facility is located at Finley Square Mall, 1524 Butterfield Rd, Downers Grove, IL 60515.

• Parents are asked to provide transportation for their scouts to & from the event.
• Scouts should be at the facility at 5:40 PM to check in and prep for our first game at 6 PM
• We will play 2 games of laser tag followed by pizza for dinner.
• Pick up will be at 7:45 PM.
• Cost $22/playing-eating participant.
• We also need adults to attend as chaperones, if you are willing to supervise scouts between games and serve pizza please indicate on the form when you sign up your scout.

This outing is limited to 30 people so sign up early!

Scouts Sign up here.

Siblings/Parents/Leaders Sign up here.