This year Troop 24’s annual summer camp will be at Camp Tesomas, north of Rhinelander, Wisconsin (about 6 hours from Riverside). This is the same camp we attended last year, and we’ll be in the same campsite.   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 21-27.  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.  We have reserved all 10 scuba spots, and 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 $35 fee for Microtrek.

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 21, and will return mid-day on Saturday, July 27.

The cost for camp is $290. If your scout sold popcorn, you should pay by check. You will receive an e-mail telling you how much is due. If your scout did not sell popcorn (and this includes all new scouts, whose popcorn money went to the Pack), you can pay the entire fee online. If it will be a hardship to pay everything at once, we’ll have an option on WePay to pay a deposit, with the remainder due by May 15.  Scouts who are interested in either Scuba or Microtrek must pay the additional fee online.

Please make it easy for us–don’t wait until the last minute to register!   First, register for camp here:   http://troop24riverside.com/2013/04/camp-tesomas-registration-form-2013/    After you have completed the registration form you will be directed to WePay.

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

Mr. Andersen will be meeting with scouts who have started the Family Life Merit Badge at the Thursday meeting.

Mrs. Lulich will be returning on May 2, for completion of the Citizenship in the Community merit badge and Citizenship in the World. We will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. Please either e-mail or bring your completed requirements for Citizenship in the Community to Mrs. Lulich on or before May 2 or send by e-mail to ingridlulich14@gmail.com.

You are expected to complete the requirements in italics prior to May 2 for the Citizenship in the World merit badge. If you do not complete the prerequisites, you cannot attend the scheduled session for May 2. Please complete highlighted requirements below for Citizenship in the World. We will begin and complete the merit badge on the 2nd, so be prepared, as scouts should be.

Our leaders have decided to return to the use of individual mess kits for scout outings. Our oldest scouts will remember when we used mess kits, and may still have one, but younger scouts (freshmen & younger?) will need to procure a mess kit. If you Google “mess kit” you’ll find many kits that include cooking pans, which are not needed.

What should be included in your mess kit? Plate, Cup (for hot chocolate or for soup) so preferably with a handle, fork & spoon. Knives are not needed as we usually aren’t buying steaks for outings–or anything else that would require a knife to cut. Mess kits can be purchased at REI or any sporting good store. Every scout also needs a water bottle for every outing. The water bottle is not a substitute for a cup, since it’s hard to drink soup from a water bottle.

You don’t need to buy a mess kit specifically made for camping. A kid’s plastic plate and flatware from home are fine. Everything should be labeled with your scout’s name. If you want to buy a mess kit, they usually cost $8-$15 and may look like one of these, both of which include items not needed:

The March 14 Troop meeting (at RPC) will last until 8:30 (normal time is 8:15). We will also be conducting Boards of Review if we have enough scouts who are ready for a Board. Please check with your scout, and if a Scoutmaster Conference is needed, contact our Scoutmaster. The topic for older scouts will be CPR.

The Troop will have TWO separate campouts at Cantigny Park in Wheaton during the weekend of March 15-17.

• Friday night thru Saturday Morning, 3/15-16 – for scouts 2nd year or older who would like to camp and/or work on rank advancement requirements that can only be completed on a campout (acting as Patrol cook, starting a fire, setting up a stove, etc.).
• Saturday morning thru Sunday Morning , 3/16-17 –  for our new “Joiner” scouts. New Scouts will work on some of the skills and requirements needed for their first rank advancement.

Please be sure you sign up for the appropriate outing:

FRIDAY – Older scouts $12 (click here)
SATURDAY – New scouts $20 (click here)

The deadline for signing up for the outing is noon on Sunday, March 10.    Please fill out a form for each scout.

As always we need leaders, chaperones and drivers.  If you can help out in any of the following ways please use this Adult sign up form (click here) to indicate how/when you are available to help out.

Questions?  Contact Susan Lynch.

Our Troop meeting this week will be at the Scout Cabin, beginning at 7:00 p.m. on FRIDAY.

Set-Up is Thursday 2/28 and Breakfast is Saturday 3/2

All scouts are on the schedule for either the Thursday Night Set-Up or the Saturday Breakfast. A copy of the schedule and the scout’s job description and general instructions were distributed to each scout. Here are the Pancake-Breakfast-Schedule, General Instructions, and Thursday Night Set-up. If you have any questions please contact Sue Jones, Pancake Chairman via email at sue_jones@designpac.com or cell phone 708-516-5741. If you do not receive an email reply within 1 day, please call the cell phone (some emails can get blocked by the server).

The Troop will have TWO separate campouts at Cantigny Park in Wheaton during the weekend of March 15-17.

• Friday night thru Saturday Morning, 3/15-16 – for scouts 2nd year or older who would like to camp and/or work on rank advancement requirements that can only be completed on a campout (acting as Patrol cook, starting a fire, setting up a stove, etc.).
• Saturday morning thru Sunday Morning , 3/16-17 –  for our new “Joiner” scouts. New Scouts will work on some of the skills and requirements needed for their first rank advancement.

Please be sure you sign up for the appropriate outing:

FRIDAY – Older scouts $12 (click here)
SATURDAY – New scouts $20 (click here)

The deadline for signing up for the outing is noon on Sunday, March 10.    Please fill out a form for each scout.

As always we need leaders, chaperones and drivers.  If you can help out in any of the following ways please use this Adult sign up form (click here) to indicate how/when you are available to help out.

Questions?  Contact Susan Lynch.