Summer Camp 2005 Archival Information


Mrs.Bourgeois's notes from the March 21 Summer Camp meeting:

Start scheduling physicals now!

Medical Forms DUE May 16th:

Copy of front and back of insurance card needs to be included with all
medical forms.

Class 1 & 2 - Required for all scouts and adults attending base camp
(physical required every 3 years)

Class 1 - Permission to Treat page 1 must be NOTARIZED

Class 3 - Required for all High Adventure attendees and all adults age
40+ (annual physical required)

Class 3 - Section III - Parental Statement Permission to Treat must be
NOTARIZED

Medication Form - Required on June 24 during Trailer loading

All adults attending Summer Camp MUST have current Youth Protection Training (YPT) and the Catholic Church's VIRTUS training.  Send updates of your training status to Jim Collins.

 Sean Carey recommends Red Cross First Aid & CPR certification for at
least one adult in each high adventure trek.  See http://www.houstonredcross.org for suggestions on where to obtain the training.

Base Camp Attendees:

    * Merit Badge (MB) Selection is DUE April 18th.  Return forms to
      Candy Bourgeois.  If you have questions about Camp Daniel Boone's
      MB program contact Candy.
    * John Rankin recommends all new scouts to take the Goin' Great
      program for rank advancement.  It is held daily from 9-12 and
      covers rank requirements from Tenderfoot through First Class.
      Expect new scouts to only earn 2 MBs during the afternoon session at camp.
    * Troop 828 will be holding the Swimming MB on Wednesday in
      April/May timeframe.  It is recommended that scouts attend the
      troop's session since both Swimming and Lifesaving MBs at camp are
      held in the cold lake and the camp advised that many times scouts
      end up dropping this class.
    * See Merit Badge Prerequisites and additional MB charges in the CDB
      Leader's Guide.
    * Scouts pay for MB class supplies at the trading post.
    * Climbing MB - scouts should be 13; however scouts wishing to climb
      the wall may do so during free time.
    * Wilderness Survival MB - campout out Thursday night (scouts can
      attend Horsemanship and then catch up with the group)
    * Scouts taking First Aid MB complete all the requirements including
      creating their own first aid kit.
    * Recommend whitewater rafting on Tuesday so that scouts can make up
      MB requirements the remainder of the week
    * Troop is first going to see what the interest is in Horsemanship
      and Whitewater before determining if it is feasible to provide
      transportation.
    * Horsemanship - pay $25 directly to the outside horse camp upon
      arrival.  Sunday the company will be there for registration and
      fees.  Troop must provide transportation.
    * Whitewater - same has horse.  Fees vary from $25-40 depending on
      transportation needs paid directly to outside company.
    * Scouts may work on additional MBs during free time from 3:30-5:30.
    * Free time - scouts may do climbing, archery, rifle,
      shotgun, Slippery Rock water area, etc.  If the lines are long and
      the scout is in the line before dinner then they will receive a
      "fast pass" to go to the head of the line after dinner.

Here is a preliminary Summer Camp Timeline prepared by Mrs.Bourgeois
(subject to future revision):

April 1               Commitment to High Adventure Trek (Sean Carey)

April 18             Merit Badge Selection Forms DUE (Candy Bourgeois)

May 9               Notary  (Jim Collins and ?)

May 16             Final Payment DUE (Kim Spera)

May 16             Medical Forms DUE (Jim Collins), Transportation
Payment DUE (Kim Spera)? Final Parents Meeting - packet including
emergency contact info, arrangements for departure/arrival, packing slips for base camp & HA, request for videos, verify MB requests, double check arrangements, troop equipment HA tents,  Q&A  (Sean Carey).

June 13             High Adventure Shakedown (Sean Carey)

June 24             Pack Trailer  6:00pm

June 25             Departure (load/leave time)

July 2                Arrival      (time?)
            
Items scheduled for the last meeting in May (May 16th) might need to be
brought forward.  Prior to May 16th and after April 18th we need to
determine number of scouts interested in off camp activities and if Joe
has arranged transportation for horse or whitewater activities including
if there is additional costs.

Suggest 2 nights in May for parents, Jim Collins and a Notary to be
available to get all medical forms notarized.

Mr. Tolle's notes from the March 21 summer camp meeting (mostly about the high-adventure part of summer camp):

Estimate of bus cost per person: $163.
 
High adventure groups are limited to 10 people, of whom
one will be a ranger from the camp, two should be adults
from our troop.  That leaves at most 7 slots per group for
scouts.
 
Ideally, the scouts would come to Mr. Carey with a list
of seven scouts and two adults and a specific trek they want
to take.
 
Mr. Carey recommends a moderate trek for anyone who hasn't
been on one before.
 
The older Vikings have chosen a 3-day backpacking trek, with
whitewater and rock climbing.
 
Conditioning hikes every Saturday morning at 6:30am from the
Commonwealth Elementary parking lot.  4.5 to 10 mile hikes, with
backpacks.  For conditioning, for breaking in boots, for learning how
to pack the backpacks and what gear to get.  Shoot for carrying
backpacks with 25% of body weight as we get close to summer
camp time.  Buy boots now.  Find out whether they are comfortable.
Don't spend a lot of money, since your feet are still growing and
you'll grow out of the boots before you wear them out.  But this is
the most important piece of equipment you'll need for the trip, so
get something comfortable.  You'll be in agony if you get blisters.
Mid-ankle boots are good.  Preferably leather that can be water-proofed.
Be careful about the fit.  Use two pair of socks.  That'll leave some
room for growth.  Be sure the boots are not too tight.
 
Check out the offerings at REI.  Online.  Academy.  Oshmans.
See rei.com.  Whole Earth Provision on Voss north of Westheimer
has top-of-the-line gear at high prices, with excellent advice.
 
Don't go out and buy a bunch of stuff now.  We'll talk about all of
the equipment needs on the conditioning hikes.  You'll need a pack,
sleeping bag, boots.  Tents will be supplied by the troop.  You don't
need your own cooking gear.  Sleeping bag: synthetic, probably one
that's good down to about 30 degrees, and that weighs about 2.5 pounds.
Perhaps $90.  Don't expect to spend less than $100 for a pack.  Also,
it's possible to rent a pack, and this is strongly recommended.  Or find
one on sale.
 
There is still an unresolved issue of the age requirement for high adventure.
Mr. Carey is pursuing it via email.
 
On the trek, you want to get moving early each morning, because you
don't want to fail to get to your destination before nightfall.  High adventure
requires some maturity, conditioning, and discipline.  Everyone has to pull
their own weight.  The group doesn't travel any faster than the slowest
person.  If you're that person, you won't get any grief from the others, unless
you're slow because you didn't bother to go on the conditioning hikes, or you're
goofing off and not trying hard.  If the ranger doesn't think you can make it,
he'll remove you from the trek.
 
Email Mr. Carey that you intend to go on high adventure.  And what your
preference for the trek is.
 
Possible merit badges to work on while on the high adventure trek:
backpacking, hiking, wilderness survival.  Suggestion: get the blue cards
signed for these now, and look over the requirements.
 
We need a checklist of things to do between now and summer camp.
Mrs. Bourgeois will draft one.  Is Jerry Guillott a notary?  At least one
adult with each trek group should be fully certified in first aid, CPR.

 

Camp Daniel Boone Summer 2005
Merit Badge Selection  (updated April 6)
 

 

Note on Camp Daniel Boone Medical Forms Requirements:

 

Mr. Carey says (March 15, 2005):

Summer Campers and Parents:

On Monday, March 21 at 7pm we will have a general Summer Camp meeting at
St. Laurence in the church hall.
Some of the things to be discussed: (1) high adventure activities, (2)
transportation and (3) merit badges and rank advancement at camp. 
Please plan to attend if possible.

If you intend to participate in a Summer Camp High Adventure activity
that requires backpacking or strenuous hiking we will begin Saturday
morning conditioning hikes on Saturday, March 19.

    Who:          Scouts who will be participating in a Summer Camp High Adventure
                       program
    What:         Conditioning hikes - roughly 4.5 miles along the levee
    Why:          To get in shape for the summer backpack
    Where:       Depart from Commonwealth Elementary visitor parking lot
    When:        6:30 a.m. (Yes, a.m.!)

Hikes will take place at the same time (6:30 a.m.) every Saturday (rain
or shine)  until departure to camp on June 25.

We will discuss what gear to bring on the hikes during the first hike.
The conditioning hikes are essential if you are planning to do a backpack
at Summer Camp.  In addition to hiking we will review what gear to
bring, where to get it and how to use it.

Please email me if you have any questions.

YIS,
Sean Carey

The next Summer Camp payment of $75 is due March 15th.  There are still openings available to attend summer camp.  We'll try to have MB selection information available for people planning to attend base camp at the Feb 21st meeting.

Class 3 Medical Form will be required for all adults age 40 and over, and for all high-adventure scouts and adults.  Non-high-adventure scouts and and non-high-adventure adults younger than 40 can use the Class 1 and 2 Medical Form.

Mrs. Spera writes (January 9):

The first payment installment is due Jan 15 for summer camp.  Each camper regardless of adult or scout will need to pay the first installment of $75.00 at this Monday's troop meeting.  The next or second payment is due on March 15.  The second payment is an additional $75.00.  Balances are due on May 15.  The total camp fee will be $245.00 per scout.
 
Keep in mind these are only the camp fees.  Additional fees will need to be collected for the transportation and meals in transit.

We are planning to go to summer camp the last week of June 2005, at Camp Daniel Boone, in western North Carolina, near Asheville.

Here are some extracts from their website:

Camp Daniel Boone has miles and miles of trails through Pisgah National Forest. Located at an altitude of 3,400 feet, Daniel Boone is nestled between two 4,000-foot mountain ranges.

The camp's waterfront on Lake Allen, is a large, typical mountain lake -- clear and cool. Canoeing, lifesaving, swimming, snorkeling and rowing are taught on the waterfront.

Campers enjoy the challenge of field sports at Camp Daniel Boone, including riflery, archery, skeet, athletics and excellent fishing.

Backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and Fontana Float Expedition are all offered in the High Adventure program. We also offer a week long C.O.P.E. program.

More information is available on the Daniel Boone Council website.