This year Troop 24′s annual summer camp will be at Camp Tesomas, north of Rhinelander, Wisconsin (about 6 hours from Riverside). Traditionally, almost all of our scouts attend summer camp, and we highly recommend that new scouts attend camp. The dates for this year’s camp are July 26-August 1. More information about the camp is available here: http://www.tesomas.com/.

Younger scouts (current 5th, 6th, 7th graders) will take merit badge classes. For our 5th grade scouts particularly, our leaders will discuss their options with them and make recommendations.

For scouts who are 1st Class and above, and who are at least 13 or have graduated from 8th grade, and who have earned the Swimming Merit Badge, there are two other options: Scuba and Microtreks.

Scouts who take the scuba class can earn the Scuba Merit Badge, and will be PADI-certified by the end of the week. Scuba is an all-day program, and participants will not have time to take other merit badge classes. Registration will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The additional cost for Scuba is $170, which includes all equipment.

Scouts in Microtrek will participate in a different high adventure activity each day. Microtrek is available in the morning or the afternoon. Scouts who sign up for the afternoon Microtreks can also take up to 3 merit badge classes in the morning. Scouts who sign up for morning Microtrek can take one afternoon merit badge class. Microtrek spots are also limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is an additional $47 fee for Microtrek 101 designed for 13 – 14 year olds and an additional $57 fee for Microtrek 200 designed for 15 years and up. There is a limit of 10 scouts in each time slot; some spots have already been taken by other troops. To reserve your spot, you must sign up early, and pay for it on Constant Contact/WePay.

The cost for camp is $290 if paid before April 15. After April 15, the cost is $10 more. Because many scouts have popcorn credits, the camp fee will be paid by check made out to Troop 24. Checks can be turned in at a Troop meeting or delivered to Liz Gomorczak’s house. Scouts with popcorn credit will receive an e-mail with the amount. If it will be a hardship to pay everything at once, you can pay $150 now, with the remainder due by May 15. Scouts who are interested in either Scuba or Microtrek must pay the additional fee online. Additionally, Tesomas offers a confidential “campership.” The application for this financial assistance is due to Tesomas by April 1 and can be found here: Campership Application. Some of our scouts have received funds in the past, so please apply if needed.

As in the past, we will charter a bus to take our scouts to camp. We anticipate the cost to be $100 (which is in addition to the cost of the camp). More information about the bus will be available later. The bus will leave from Hauser’s parking lot about 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, July 26, and will return mid-day on Saturday, August 1.

We will also be transporting bicycles to camp. More information will be coming about that as we get closer to camp.

All scouts will need a BSA medical form, signed by a physician (Part C) prior to going to camp. Please make your doctors’ appointments soon.

Please make it easy for us; don’t wait until the last minute to register! First, register for camp here: Summer Camp Registration.

Payments for microtreks & scuba can be made here: Constant Contact

General questions about camp can be directed to our Summer Camp Coordinator, Liz Gomorczak at jecggomo@gmail.com.

Due to lack of response, we will be postponing the skating outing originally scheduled for tomorrow. Although you can earn the Skating Merit Badge using this outing, ANYONE can come–siblings, parents, friends. This will be “open skate” at Fleetwood Roller Rink. Reminders will be sent later, but please mark the date on your calendars!

Eagle Scout Candidate Christopher O is requesting assistance from a few scouts on Wednesday, March 25, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., to make posters for his book drive. Scouts will be working at Christopher’s house. In addition, he is asking for scouts to speak to their religious leaders at their churches to advertise the book drive by way of posters and/or a spoken announcement. Please contact Christopher at geochamp07@comcast.net if you are able to help on Wednesday or are willing to contact your church to advertise the drive.

Congratulations to our newest Eagle Scout, Jack Lennon!

Scouts will NOT be working on the First Aid Merit Badge week. We will be working on it again at the meeting on March 26.

Due to a scheduling conflict, the Skating Merit Badge will take place on Sunday at 1:30.

Mr. Robertson, a Skating Merit Badge Counselor, is willing to meet with scouts who are interested in earning the merit badge next Sunday, March 22, at Fleetwood Roller Rink (7231 S Archer, Archer & Harlem) during the open skate at 1:30 p.m. Scouts should familiarize themselves with the requirements (http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Skating). Those interested need to contact Mr. Robertson IN ADVANCE at brobertson5152@aol.com. The cost is $8 to skate and $3 for rentals. Scouts may also choose to bring their own inline skates or roller skates. Family and friends are also encouraged to attend for the fun of it.

All of our scouts and leaders should have received a notice from the Council saying that we could get a uniform patch with the name of the new council, “Pathway to Adventure Council” by bringing in the voucher/coupon to the scout store. Some of you have tried to do that, and the store was out of patches. Mr. Robertson has obtained a number of patches and will bring them to the meeting on Thurday. Scouts can redeem their patch with the voucher that was mailed to them. They must have the voucher and fill it out in order to redeem the patch.