Dear Parents:
It hardly seems like a year has passed since the last time packets have gone out for Boy Scout summer camp. But please hold in the excitement for now. It is still 1 month away before you send your child off to a great planned week of fun and learning!
Summer Camp will be held from Sunday, July 16th to Saturday, July 22nd at Camp Squanto in Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth, MA.
Parents are responsible for dropping off and picking up their son at camp. Please plan on arriving at 12:30 PM on Sunday. When you arrive in Camp Squanto, you will see a group of trees on the right hand side. Drop off all gear at the signpost that reads Apache. Then please move your car to the general parking area, making room for the next drop-off.
If you would like to spend some time at camp on Sunday and have dinner with us you will have to bring your own food. There is no food to buy at camp. You can tour the camp and the Apache campsite, and then see the opening ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Most of the day is spent taking the swim test, settling in at our camp and getting ready for colors and dinner. And then the boys are off for activities.
Please arrive at camp with a completed, signed medical form - NO SCOUT WILL BE ABLE TO STAY AT CAMP WITHOUT THEIR MEDICAL FORM -don't leave it on the kitchen table or refrigerator or it will mean an extra roundtrip for the parent!!!!! The camp nurse checks in all medication so please bring in all in proper containers. Please make a list of allergies which your son may have and any restrictions for the adults leaders.
Also, some sort of lockable footlocker is needed for each scout, with 2 sets of keys (one for the scout and the other with the name attached for Dave Scholnick, in case....).AIso they can use a combination lock, just give us the combo. You will need a footlocker for under the military-like bed. Label your gear with name and troop number. Gear must go under the bed! Helpful hint: Bring 2 pairs of shoes, sneakers and watershoes or old pair of sneakers, some times it does rain at camp and an alternative is good to have. Also for the shower if they want to wear sandals or flip flops is ok.
David Skolnick has volunteered to spend the entire week down at summer camp. Mike O'Melia will be coming down to help out depending on his schedule. We have almost the entire troop going so it's going to be a great year. We could use one or two other full time adults to help Dave out. He cannot do this alone, Dave will be very busy with meetings and organizing events and every day there must be a person at the camp at all times. We have had other parents volunteer a morning, an afternoon, an evening, or a night to help us. We need to make sure we have enough adults at the campsite for the whole week. Please sign up for the days and nights you can do. Every parent is welcomed to stop down at anytime to help out for an hour, for 3 hours, for 6 hours, or 24 hours! You just have to make sure that you sign in at the camp office when you arrive at Camp Squanto. If you plan to stay a night you must have a medical form filled out by your doctor and bring it with you to camp.
PARENTS NIGHT: Wednesday night is parent's night to come and visit and watch the activities. You can plan to arrive with your own box lunch for dinner or eat before you visit. Scouts dinner is anywhere between 5:45-6:45 p.m. Please see attached camp schedule.
Please make sure that you check your scout's footlocker to make sure what he is bringing into the campsite; the items that won't be allowed are boom boxes matches; straight knives (pocket knives are allowed); a stash of junk food; chocolate which will melt. Snacks are ok for scouts to have in their locker. But they must be properly stored so the critters don't get them! We will have community snacks and we ask each scout to contribute a snack to the leaders in charge and they put them out at night for all the boys to share during the week.
Items you can, and should bring: football, cards, games, books, personal head set, (the troop also has a game box with various games, but please bring yours also. Camp chair for outside of your tent. Battery operated lantern to hang in tent on a bungee works well. Flashlights and extra batteries. You can bring a personal cooler with extra drinks, (Freeze bottled water, Gatorades, to keep cold longer.) A small back pack may come in handy for transporting around camp. Any actions by a scout that is inappropriate as by the Scout Oath and Law will not be tolerated. Any actions by a scout that is disrespectful to fellow scouts and leaders and other adults will not be tolerated. The leaders that are in charge have the discretion to call that scout's parents and have them come down to camp to pick him up immediately.
How much money should scouts bring: Anywhere from $25.00 to $50.00 is plenty, for any items that their Merit Badge class requires, items will be sold at the Camp Store.(example: basketry, wood carving, leatherworks) The troop Merit Badge Library will be down at camp. Also, the troop will have water & Gatorade at our campsite for the boys to buy. The price will remain at $.50 per water and $1.00 per Gatorade. We have Mr. O'Melia bringing in his big cooler, but we do need parents to bring in ice whenever they come to visit. The troop will pick up the water & Gatorades. Also, the troop will be picking up the tab for the troop picture taken on Monday for all scouts attending this summer.
Any scouts that are planning on any rank advancement this week, needs to bring his updated, organized scrapbook to camp so he can have a Board of Review. Don't forget your handbook, paper and pencils or pens. Please review with your scout as to the Merit Badges he is taking and has any needed items for that class. Also bring your unfinished merit badge info if you want to work on them at camp.
DON'T FORGET YOUR CLASS A'S YOU WEAR IT EVERY NIGHT FOR COLORS AND DURING DINNER.! Extra Class "B" T-shirts will be at camp for sale, along with the blue troop scarves, if needed. Or you may buy them before going to camp. Please make sure you look through this entire booklet to make sure your scout brings everything he will need, and not items that aren't needed.
This years theme is "Super Heroes" so there will be some props and outfits needed for theme night on Tuesday. The boys may make t shirts and can decide what they want to wear and what items they need to buy or bring will be discussed before camp. Thursday night is Chinese food night. This tradition has been going on within our troop for a number of years. It started with the older scouts who drive wanting Chinese food for supper. (A change from summer camp food) This is not something your scout must buy, it is optional. We will have a menu at the beginning of the week and scouts will pick out what they want and pay accordingly. This can range anywhere from $6.00 to $8.00.
Will my son be able to call me? Pay phones are available for leaders and scouts at the Camp Office. All scouts are required to have a note from their leader in order to use the pay phones. The Office business phones may be used in emergencies to contact parents. Please encourage your son to enjoy a week of technology-free camping and leave his cell phone at home! Also, emergency cell numbers will be provided by the leaders who are attending camp if there is an emergency. If you have any other questions, please talk to anyone of the leaders that you feel cornfortapte with, we want to make this the best summer camp week for the boys, with np surprises or upsets!
HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE SUMMER AND DON'T FORGET TO CHECK YOUR EMAILS DURING THE SUMMERfOR ANY NEWS AND INFO!
| 7:00 AM | Reveille (Rise and Shine) |
| 7:45 AM | Colors (Parade Field) |
| 8:00 AM | BREAKFAST |
| 9:00 AM | Morning Activity Period (Session 1) |
| 10:00 AM | Morning Activity Period (Session 2) |
| 10:30 AM | Scoutmaster's Council (held on Dining Hall Porch) |
| 11:00 AM | Morning Activity Period (Session 3) |
| 12:15 PM | LUNCH |
| 1:00 PM | Siesta (Troops in campsite) |
| 2:00 PM | Afternoon Activity Period (Session 4) |
| 3:00 PM | Afternoon Activity Period (Session 5) |
| 4:00 PM | Afternoon Activity Period (Session 6) |
| 5:00 PM | Troops in campsite |
| 5:45 PM | Retreat/Colors (Parade Field) |
| 6:00 PM | SUPPER |
| 6:45 PM | Twilight Activities (Open Areas/Camp Wide Program) |
| 8:15 PM | Campwide Evening Activities |
| 9:30 PM | Program Ends for the day |
| 10:00 PM | Camp Taps (scouts should all be in their sites) |
Morning Activity Periods are designed for individual advancement. Afternoon Activity Periods are designed primarily for recreation. Scouts may also choose an additional Merit Badge or two. Twilight Activity Period is designed as free time for Scouts to participate in any camp activity. ALL program areas are open for individual Scouts. This time is also available for Scouts to participate in our Patch Segment Program and with troop competitions. Remember to observe the Buddy System everywhere!
SUGGESTED CAMP WIDE TWILIGHT & EVENING WEEKLY ACTIVITIES: Campfires, New Games, Staff Hunt, Troop Activities, Magee Competition, Paul Bunyan, Boat Races, Swim Meets, World Cons. Award, Songfest, Ranges, Boating, Outpost Camping, Totin Chip, Scavenger Hunts, Water Competitions, Sports Extravaganza, Interpreter Strip, Challenge Course, Tye Dye, Auction, Apache Relay, Indian Games, Compass Course, Nature Trail, Trails Programs, Road Race