Late summer greetings to all from Troop 24.

As decisions are being made by our local school districts regarding schooling strategies this fall, organizations like Troop 24 are faced with the same demand for safety and caution in providing Scouting programming.

And just as in-person learning in school provides advantages not afforded by remote learning & Zoom sessions, the same can be said for much of the Scouting program.

The Troop leaders and committee members will be meeting later this month to discuss options and develop a way forward – soon after, we’ll give you an update.

Finally, later this week, a parent survey will be published regarding your feelings about how your son engages in the Troop’s Scouting program.

So, until then, stay safe, and enjoy the remaining days of summer before the “new” routine begins again!

Michael Miller at St Louise de Marillac Church in La Grange Park is looking for volunteers to help out this week with organizing props and set materials for the “St Louise Players” at the Parish Center.

These sessions will take place Tuesday 7/21 and Thursday 7/23 from 7:30- 9:30 pm.

If you are interested in volunteering, earning service hours, and supporting theater, please contact Mr. Miller at Stlouiseplayers@gmail.com so he knows how many are coming and can plan ahead.

Scouts will enter the doors from Harrison street just north of 31st street.

Greetings, Troop 24 Family –

Our Popcorn Kernel of 3 years recently tendered his retirement, so we are in need of a new Kernel!

The popcorn campaign is an important way for the Troop to contribute to the mission of Scouting at the national level, via the Council. And our fellow Cub Scout pack runs their own campaign with the same goal in mind.

The Kernel is an ideal job for someone who can’t make a weekly commitment to Troop activities, but has time to devote to a few key meetings and organizational activities during the Fall.

Key events include the campaign kick off meeting [AUG], socializing of the current year’s campaign with the Scouts [SEP], the collecting of sales forms [OCT], the figuring of prizes based on sales [NOV], and the procuring, storing, and distributing of the popcorn when the campaign is complete [NOV].

If you’d like to take on this important job, please contact our Troop Committee Chair, Carrie Staubus, at committeechair@troop24riverside.com.

Thanks!

We are living in unusually strenuous times, as events fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic and social and race relations in the country continue to develop.

While the Troop’s regular programming is on its usual summer haitus – potential special outings notwithstanding – we do hope to return to weekly meetings in the Fall.

Rest assured that we will reinforce “Scout Spirit” at our first meetings, when we hit the “reset button” on in-person Scouting. Character is a cornerstone of Scouting, and we will address helpfulness, friendliness, and kindness in particular – all points of the Scout Law – when we re-convene.

Stay safe, and enjoy your summer

Greetings, Troop 24 Families –

Please mark your calendars for a “Family Night” Zoom meeting on Thursday, May 28th @ 7:00. Zoom log in information will be sent in a separate email.

This event will close out our Scout Year and we will discuss summer opportunities for our scouts.

We will have a written summary of Scout accomplishments since last year’s Fall Court of Honor, in hopeful anticipation of an in-person Court of Honor next Fall.

Please join us for this twice-yearly opportunity to gather as a full family – Leaders, Committee Members, Scouts, and Parents – and leave this year a little more re-connected, in the midst of Shelter-in-Place.

And if you have questions or shelter-in-place stories to share, feel free.

CAMP TESOMAS UPDATE

Finally, please see a video below from Troy Seehafer, Camp Director of Camp Tesomas. This video highlights how Tesomas is planning to manage summer camp in July relative to COVID.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvm03AAOL-k&feature=youtu.be

Remember to sign up HERE for summer camp if you plan to attend. Payments for camp should be made by check to “Troop 24” and dropped off to Mrs. Staubus this week. Reply to this email if you need further information.

We will hold our last skills instruction/rank advancement session of the Scout Year tomorrow (Thursday) from 7:00-8:30 pm.

You’ll experience the “E” and “D” in “EDGE” [Explain / Demonstrate]. This should help you later be “guided” and “enabled” to demonstrate the skill yourself!

And, if you’re working on a rank requirement you’d like to either discuss, explain, or demonstrate, join the meeting and be ready!

ZOOM notes:

The meeting details will be shared in a separate email.
If you use your camera, remember to consider your background, and in line with YPT best practices, please join from a “shared” room in your house, if possible – living room, dining room, kitchen, etc.

We’ll see you at 7:00pm!

Remember to register for Summer Camp at Tesomas if you plan to go. For more information and sign up, click HERE.

Greetings, Troop 24 Families –

Please mark your calendars for a “Family Night” Zoom meeting on Thursday, May 28th @ 7:00.

This event will close out our Scout Year and we will discuss summer opportunities for our scouts.

While we will have a written summary of Scout accomplishments since the Fall Court of Honor, this gathering is NOT intended to serve as a virtual Spring Court of Honor.

Rather, this is an opportunity for us to gather as a full family – Leaders, Committee Members, Scouts, and Parents – and leave the year re-connected, in the midst of Shelter-in-Place.

Stay tuned for further details!

It’s time to register for Troop 24 Summer Camp!!

Troop 24′s annual summer camp will be at Camp Tesomas, north of Rhinelander, Wisconsin (about 6 hours from Riverside). The dates for this year’s camp are July 12-18, 2020. Camp Tesomas has recently announced that they DO plan to run summer camp starting July 5. More information about the camp is available here: http://www.campingisking.com/camps/tesomas/66758

Camp Tesomas will be run with modifications to follow social distancing guidelines and requirements. BSA is allowing one scout per tent for this summer, or tent sharing for family members. A rotational plan of activities will be used to avoid large group interaction. We will eat at the campsite rather than at the dining hall. We plan to travel to camp by leader cars this year, rather than take the bus. Bikes will not be used at camp this year. Scouts will not pre-register for merit badge classes this year, as the focus of camp will be scouting experiences rather than merit badge completion.

The cost for camp is $310. Because many scouts have popcorn credits, the camp fee will be paid by check made out to Troop 24. Checks can be turned in to Troop Committee Chair Carrie Staubus. Once you register, you will receive drop off information. 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 June 1.

All scouts will need an updated BSA medical form, signed by a physician (Part C) prior to going to camp. Please make your doctors’ appointments soon. The form that you need to take to your physician can be downloaded here:
https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-001_ABC.pdf

Please don’t wait until the last minute to register! Register for camp here: Camp Tesomas 2020 Scout Registration Please register and turn in your money by May 20 so we know who will be attending for planning purposes!

Adults planning to attend Camp Tesomas, register here: Camp Tesomas 2020 Adult Registration

General questions about camp can be directed to our Summer Camp Coordinator, Carolyn Lach at clach@northpark.edu