Summer Camp for Troop 24 will be at Camp Wolverine on the Owasippe Scout Reservation in Twin Lake, Michigan, a four-hour drive from Riverside. We will NOT be attending our regularly visited Boy Scout Camp, Camp Mach Kin O’Siew (affectionately known as “Camp Mach”) this year due to schedules and availability of leaders.

Camp Wolverine is similar to Camp Mach in that it offers a merit badge program and the week-long camp experience. It differs in that the boys do not cook every meal, it is more spread out geographically, and there are more Outpost activities. The Owasippe Scout Reservation also offers a family campground area, known as the Reneker Family Camp, where a boy’s family can camp that week, be nearby and experience much the same surroundings that their son experiences. (Camp Reneker Family Camp reservations will be up to the family of the Scout.)

The price for summer camp is $265/boy ($145/adult leader) plus Merit Badge and Outpost fees. The amount of the additional fees depends on which activities the scout selects (varying form $20 to $40/activity).

Information and forms for summer camp:
Owasippe Welcome Packet 2010
Medical Form
Horseback Riding Form

Rank advancements usually require scouts to perform a certain number of “service hours.” The Troop is often asked to participate in various community events for which service hours may be counted. Our Advancement Chair, Mrs. Olszewski, tracks the service hours for each scout. To make that an easier process, we now have a Service Hour Form, which scouts should fill out and have approved prior to performing the service (to ensure that the event will count). Connor C. has put together a list of local organizations for which service hours are available, which includes contact information.

1. For a service project that is a “troop event,” which would include Eagle Projects and events such as the recent outing to the Chicago Food Depository, scouts do NOT need to fill out the service form. Those service hours will automatically be tracked by our Advancement Chair.
2. Service projects for the groups listed on the list of local organizations are automatically approved, but the scout still needs to have the form filled out and turned in, so that Mrs. Olszewski knows about the hours and can keep track of them. Either our Scoutmaster or the Assistant Scoutmasters can sign the form.
3. If a scout wants to have hours counted for something that is NOT on the spreadsheet, the scout should have the service approved in advance. If the scout does the service without prior approval, it may (or may not) be allowed.
4. Service done for our chartering organization is automatically approved (for example making sandwiches for the Night Ministry, working at the monthly church work days, etc.)

Permission slips for the Camporee at the New Rochelle scout camp, Friday, April 16 – Sunday, April 18, are due by Thursday, April 9. Turn in the form at the Troop meeting, or drop it off to Lisa Buffo.

New scouts must attend at least one overnight camping trip to be eligible to attend summer camp. Since Friday night, April 16, is the date of the 5th Grade Games Night, we will be arranging transportation for scouts leaving on Friday night, as well as for 5th graders leaving on Saturday morning (no later than 7:00 a.m.). Please write on the form whether your scout will be going on Friday or on Saturday. Questions should be directed to Lisa Buffo.

Pack 24 has invited the Boys Scouts (and families) to the annual Roller Skating Party on Sunday, April 11, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Fleetwood Roller Rink in Summit. The Pack has rented the entire rink. Admission is free, or you can rent skates there ($3 or less). You can also bring your own skates.

Troop 24’s next overnight outing is to the Des Plaines Valley Council’s Camporee at the New Rochelle scout camp, leaving Friday, April 16 and returning Sunday, April 18.  New scouts must attend at least one overnight camping trip to be able to attend summer camp.  Since Friday night, April 16, is the date of the 5th Grade Games Night, we will be arranging transportation for scouts leaving on Friday night, as well as for 5th graders leaving Saturday morning (no later than 7:00 a.m.).   The permission slip is available to download .  Please write on the form whether your scout will be going on Friday or on Saturday.  Questions should be directed to Lisa Buffo.

Parents:  If you are able to bring something, we are in need of food (desserts, fruit, or appetizers) at Thursday’s Court of Honor.   We will supply coffee and lemonade.  Please e-mail Michael Payne and let him know if you are bringing something.  Thanks!

Next week, on Thursday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m., Troop 24 will hold a Court of Honor in place of our usual troop meeting.  Scouts who are advancing in rank should have a parent present.  All scouts should be in full uniform for the Court of Honor (shirts; neckerchiefs; olive, tan or khaki pants; and sashes for those who have them).

All family members are invited to attend.

As part of his Eagle Project, Sam C. is requesting assistance, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on March 31 (Wednesday during Spring Break), April 3 (last weekend of Spring Break), and April 24.  The work to be accomplished on these dates, which will be done in conjunction with the Riverside Landscape Advisory Commission, will provide Sam with the plants needed for his Eagle Project, which involves landscaping near the Post Office.

On March 31, the work will involve  weeding downtown planting beds & trimming/removing some bushes, adding compost to planting beds, and digging plants for division.  Meet at Riverside Bank at 9:00 a.m. (rain or shine).

On April 3 and April 24, volunteers will work indoors, at the Public Works building, dividing plants, filling gallon pots with dirt, and planting seedlings.    Meet at the Public Works Building at 9:00 a.m.

Sign up at the March 18 scout meeting. 6-10 scouts are needed for each date.  Be sure to bring work gloves to the work days.  Contact Sam if you have questions.

We have a several  openings for the Climbing Merit Badge outing on Sunday, March 14.  Scouts 2nd class and above, and age 11 and older, are eligible.  Interested scouts should contact Dawn Gmitro.  The permission slip is available here. The cost is $40 for the merit badge class.

Sorry for all the confusion about the Pancake Breakfast schedule. It is the policy of the Troop that we do not list boys’ full names, with the exception of our Eagle Scouts. That policy applies to attachments that you may find on the Troop 24 website as well. If we need to provide information that we don’t want search engines to index, we put those items in a password-protected directory. For those of you who do not remember the password, or for new families who never had the password, please contact Nancy Hopkins to get that information, as there are other items available in the “Members Only” section that you may sometime want to view.   (One example is the credit that scouts accumulate in their Popcorn Accounts, which they can apply toward outings.)

To make this easier, however, and to insure that everyone has the right time for their work shifts at the Pancake Breakfast, attached is the schedule listing boys by first name and last initial.  All scouts are required to work their assigned shifts.   It is the scout’s responsibility to find someone to trade if the scout has a conflict.  Scouts who have  school-related conflicts have been scheduled to work on set-up.

Any parents (especially dads) and older scouts who can return at 1:00 p.m. for cleanup would be very much appreciated. We need a group in order to put away all the tables and carry all the supplies to the third floor storage area. Thank you!