Scouts this week: We will NOT meet since there is no school. Summer camp information: I will get a letter out shortly with the below information and required medical forms needed for summer camp, but wanted to let everyone know the details to prepare for camp. * Dates: Depart, Sunday, July 3rd and return on Saturday, July 9th. * Cost: $230, unless you gave me an early bird deposit, which gives you a $15 discount * Medical Forms: A medical form is required for both scouts and adults, who plan to attend camp and this form will be good for 12 months of activities. * Parts A, B and C are to be completed: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/part_c.pdf * Merit Badge signups: we will be meeting with all scouts in the coming weeks to sign them up for their merit badge classes. We will depart from the Garrison-Joyner Scout Hut at 2:00 pm on Sunday, July 3rd, 2010. Please arrive at 1:30 pm, as we will need some time to pack before we depart. Please have your Scout in "Class A" uniform packed, fed and ready to go at that time. We will need some volunteers to help transport us to camp on Sunday. A large suitcase, footlocker or duffel bag is appropriate for camp. In addition, your scout will need the following items: Sleeping bag or sheets; several towels; soap; toothbrush/paste; personal items; t-shirts (at least one per day); fun money ($25.00 should be sufficient); swim trunks; cooler; water bottle (mandatory); flashlight and spare batteries; 2010 Scout Handbook; Merit Badge Pamphlets (or money to purchase at camp, approximately $4.00 each); paper and pencil: rain gear; footwear (Camp requires closed toed shoes at all times) such as tennis shoes or hiking boots; you may bring sandals to wear in the showers. A suggested summer camp packing list can be found on our website at www.ScoutTroop17.org (click on the Camping tab) NO BUG SPRAY, MATCHES OR LIGHTERS!! The Scoutmaster will supply as needed. Each Scout should bring a water bottle and sunscreen. Please discuss the importance of sunscreen and staying hydrated during camp. Fourteen cokes or "Slushies" per day will not keep your scout hydrated!! I fill my water bottle up at the well and do just fine. No Snacks or junk food will be allowed to be brought into Camp. Each Scout is expected to keep their personal gear stored properly at all times. There is a daily inspection of all campsites. The Scouts are expected to make a campsite improvement daily, as well as inspect the area around each tent and participate in cleaning the latrine area and shower area. Please discuss these responsibilities with your Scout prior to Camp. In addition, please review the Scout Oath and Law and be mindful that mutual respect of others is not negotiable, but expected. Under no circumstances are cell phones, portable TV's, radios, boom boxes, Ipods or CD players allowed at Summer Camp. These items will be confiscated if found and returned upon the conclusion of camp. NO EXCEPTIONS!! This is a wilderness experience and should remain such. Any Scout found to have fireworks in their possession would be dismissed from Summer Camp immediately. We will be camping in Chippewa camp site again this year. It is located at the curve of "Water Tank" road immediately adjacent to Boy Scout Camp Road. Thursday night is Family Night at Camp. You are cordially invited for the annual Troop 17 dinner. We look forward to your arrival anytime after 5:30 pm on Thursday evening. The Campfire will begin with Retreat at 7:45 pm and will conclude by 9:30 pm. We ask that you bring enough food for your family and one more. Gade Lander (336-266-5365) has volunteered to coordinate Thursday night dinner to be sure we have plenty of food, paper products and other necessities to make the event a success. She may be calling on you to bring paper products, ice or beverages for the event. Please help if you will! Bring your rain gear. It ALWAYS rains at Camp on Thursday night. Please park along the road near the campsite. We will have some young men awaiting your arrival. If for some reason you cannot attend, please discuss this with your Scout before Summer Camp. Cost for Summer Camp is $230.00. All checks should be made to Troop 17. Those checks may be turned in at any time prior to June 7, 2011 (Court-of-Honor). All payments must be made by this time. If you have a completed medical form, I will be taking those as well. Medical Forms: A medical form (enclosed) is required for both scouts and adults, who plan to attend camp and this form will be good for 12 months of activities. A, B and C are to be completed: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/part_c.pdf Swim Test: Please be on the look-out for a date for the summer camp swim check the YMCA; Camp Cherokee can't handle all of the swim checks on Sunday. In the event you cannot attend our swim test at the YMCA, please be prepared to escort your son for the one mile walk to the waterfront that Sunday for his swim test. Attention Fathers: Old North State Council Policy requires that two adults be in Camp at all times with each unit. It appears that we will have close to 20+ Scouts going to Camp this year. We will need at least two adults in Camp with us at all times this summer. Please help us with your volunteer time for a full day/night as your schedule allows during the week. Saturday Check-Out: We will be checking out of Camp on Saturday morning, July 9, 2010 - Plan to arrive around 8:30. Our scouts will not be dismissed until the campsite and individual tents have been inspected and released by the staff and scoutmaster. NO EXCEPTIONS! All Scouts should have transportation back to town on Saturday. Camp Cherokee's phone number is 336-694-6440 which should be used if you need to get in touch with us. We have lousy mobile phone service and leave our phones off most of the week so it's best to call camp directly, should a need arise.