We now have 35 scouts signed up for Camp Mach.  If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s not too late!  We’ll be accepting registration forms until May 28.  The cost is $260.  We have reserved a bus to take scouts and leaders to camp.  The bus will leave from RPC early Sunday morning, July 26, returning the afternoon of August 1.  The cost for the bus trip will be $100 (same as last year).  The deadline for turning in your money for the bus is July 1.  Checks should be made out to Troop 24, and can be turned in at a troop meeting, or given to Nancy Hopkins.  Also due no later than July 1 is a medical form for each scout (and each leader).  Medical forms are now required annually.  The medical form is available here, and can be given to Nancy Hopkins along with your bus check.

Due to a scheduling conflict, the Troop Committee meeting for May was held on Monday, May 4.  There is NO Troop Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 5.

April 30 is the last day new scouts can sign up for Camp Mach at the reduced price of $235.  The regular price is $260.  All registrations are due no later than May 28.  Permission slips, with checks made out to Troop 24, can be turned in at the Troop Meeting.

Scouts camping on May 1-3 at Kankakee River State Park are invited to bring their bicycles. The state park has one of the nicest bike trails in the state–10.5 miles, paved, relatively level, with no roads to cross other than park roads. Click here for pictures of the bike trail at this time of year. Bikes can be transported in the larger of the Troop trailers, with the smaller trailer hauling all other gear. Joe Ourth, one of the leaders on this outing, will work with interested scouts on the Bicycling Merit Badge. Under Boy Scout rules, helmets are required. For scouts more interested in fishing, the Kankakee River offers a great place to wet a line. The Kankakee River is one of the cleanest rivers in the state. Bring fishing tackle (leaders will have some extras). No fishing license is required for scouts under age 16.

Dennis P’s Eagle Scout project will be taking place on Saturday, May 9, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Northgate Water Tower Building and the Youth Center behind the police station. If necessary, the project will continue on Sunday as well. We will be moving about 200 boxes from the Northgate Water Tower Building to the Youth Center behind the Riverside Police Station. The scouts will be moving and loading the boxes from the second floor of the Northgate Building into vehicles. Scouts at the Youth Center will be unloading the boxes from the vehicles and placing them into a giant filing cabinet. Adult volunteers are also needed to drive the boxes from one location to the other and to supervise at both locations.

A permission slip is required for participation. Dennis will be available at the next two Troop Meetings, where the permission slips can be handed in and scouts can sign up for the morning shift (8:00-noon) or the afternoon shift (12:30-4:30). Scouts should not wear open-toed shoes and are also advised to bring gloves. Contact Dennis for more information.

Our May outing to Kankakee River State Park is open to all scouts. The departure time will be 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1, from the parking lot in back of Riverside Presbyterian Church. We will return on Sunday, May 3. Scouts should wear their Class A uniform (scout shirt) to travel. They do not need to bring a mess kit, but they do need to bring a cup, as well as the usual sleeping bag and clothing appropriate to the weather. We need leaders and parent drivers. The permission slip and $20 is due no later than Thursday, 4/23. The permission slip is available here.

The Boy Scouts of America now require each scout and adult leader to fill out a medical form ANNUALLY. (The old medical forms were good for three years for anyone under age 40.) The form is available here. Parts A & C must be filled out by the parent (assuming that you know your scout’s immunization dates). You must also provide a photocopy of both sides of your insurance card. Parts A & C are required for all scouts, and for participation in any scouting events. Part B is to be filled out by your physician, and is required for any outing longer than 72 hours; therefore, each scout going to Camp Mach must have a current physical exam and turn in the form with Part B signed by a doctor. Camp Mach scouts should turn in a copy of the medical form (please keep the original for your records) to Nancy Hopkins.

New scouts are reminded to bring their BSA registration forms to the Troop meeting on Thursday. The forms were handed out last week. If you did not receive one, or if you lost the form, please contact Nancy Hopkins to pick up another form. Forms are also available at the Scout Store in LaGrange.

During the Troop meeting on Thursday, April 9, there will be a video presentation about Camp Mach by the Des Plaines Valley Council. New parents should attend the meeting if possible. For photos of Camp Mach from previous years, please visit our photo gallery.

A camping trip has been planned for May 1-3 to Kankakee River State Park. Since District 96 students have Friday off, scouts will be leaving at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 1, from Riverside Presbyterian Church. (This is the same weekend as the Des Plaines Valley Council’s high adventure camp at Kettle Moraine State Park, which is available only for 1st class scouts and above.)

The Kankakee River trip is for scouts of all ranks. More information will be forthcoming, but please mark your calendars. New scouts should go on one overnight trip without a parent prior to Camp Mach.

As always, we will need leaders and drivers for this trip.