Important Summer Camp Pickup Information

One other thing that I need to mention is about picking up the boys on Saturday, July 3rd.  We arrive back at the Johnston’s house between 10:00 and 12:00 that morning.  You need to be available to pick-up your son within that time frame shortly after being called by your son.  The time that we get to leave camp all depends upon how clean our campsite is and what time we get our trailer pulled out of camp.  We have no control over this.  Our trailer is pulled by the camp.   We cannot leave camp until we have been released by the camp.  So as soon as we can leave, we do.

The last several years, Mr. Johnston and/or I end up waiting hours for parents to pick up their sons.  This simply is not acceptable.  You must be ready to get your son when we call you on Saturday.  All of the boys will call when we get to Mr. Johnston’s house.  The boys MAY NOT LEAVE Mr. Johnston’s, until they are released by Mr. Johnston or Mr. Schroeder.  All boys need to help with unloading the trailers and securing all of the troop equipment.  They may leave only after this has been accomplished and Mr. Johnston or Mr. Schroeder have released them.  Everyone needs to help!

Please be prompt with picking-up your son!  You cooperation is appreciated.  Thank you!

Summer Camp Update

We will all be meeting at Mr. Johnston’s house by 11:00 on Sunday.  We would like to leave noonish.  The boys should eat BEFORE coming that morning.  We will not eat a meal again until supper so please plan accordingly.  We usually drive there in a small group.  Parents may drive their own son to camp but in order to drive other boys I needed to have submitted all driver information, license, auto info. Insurance, etc. with our tour permit.  I have already contacted drivers so we should be set.  Parents should not leave until you have checked in with Mr. Schroeder.  Please do not just drop your son off.  Quite often there are a few last minute things that we need to take care of.  Some of you are still missing forms that I have emailed about.  Please make sure that you take care of this with me ASAP

The boys should have their swimming suits on because one of the first things we do at camp is take our swimming test.  So please plan for this.

As always, the “Bank of Schroeder” will be available for you to deposit spending money so that your son can “withdraw” money throughout the week.  Usually $20.00 is enough spending money unless they have a merit badge that has an additional fee like leatherwork, rifle, woodcarving, etc.  Please make sure that you do not send any aerosol cans i.e. deodorant, bug spray, etc.  They need to be the pump style, not aerosol.  Also please keep all electronics home including cell phones.  The leaders will have telephones available, if necessary.  These are an additional thing that they simply do not need.  If they boys choose to bring electronics, they will be confiscated and not returned for the week, so please leave them at home.  Lighters should also NOT BE BROUGHT.  We have everything we need in that area.  All food products including candy and gum should be left at home unless you are bringing enough to share with everyone.  Animals are attracted to these so they are not allowed in the tents.  Please help us in these areas and keep these items at home.

Wednesday is family night at camp.  There are campwide games and a picnic planned that evening.  Parents can come and visit that night.  There is a nominal fee (5 – 7.00)  for food.  This is planned by the camp so I need to know if and how many are planning on attending that night because I have to pay, in advance, for all people attending.  If you plan on attending , please let me know.  You can pay me that evening when you get there.  Parents can start arriving after 4:00 that day – and we usually finish around 8:00.  Parents are allowed back to the site BEFORE the evening events start but after that parents are not allowed back to the site.  Goodbyes need to be said in the parking lot and parents go their way and the boys hike back to camp.  We are in Kreif site across the river so if you are looking for us, just follow the signs after you cross the suspension bridge across the river. 

Again for medicine, please make sure that you send only enough meds, plus 1 dose, for the week.  Medicine must be in the original container with the correct dispensing information clearly printed on the label.  The dispensing information must match the information that is contained on the medication card that I have on file, or you need to bring a new medication card with you signed by the physician.  This is extremely important.  We cannot dispense medication without this!

There is a parent information sheet with a checklist of items to bring on the website.  It can be found here  http://troop1054.net/forms/form_files/Summer%20Camp%20Information%20for%20Parents.pdf  Highway 64 is closed and detoured, but taking county W is an alternative and a better detour than the route they make you take.  Just so you know. 

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Mr. Schroeder.

Reminders from Mrs. Sandberg

Reminder that the boys who are currently doing the Family Life merit badge have things that they should be working on at home.  If they haven't shown you their paperwork for this badge ask them for it. Don't let them drag their feet when it comes to completing this badge.

Reminder that the boys can also be working on their Music, Scholarship and Reading merit badges.  They are already doing many of the requirements for these badges with their school work and activities.  They might as well get Scout credit for it too.  The Troop website has directions on how to get started on these badges.

If you have any questions call Mrs. Sandberg.

Important Yearly Forms Update Information

Troopmaster, the program we use to manage scout information, is now available online.  You can now manage your son’s information online via a secure website instead of me having to update information every year.  They don’t automatically assign usernames and passwords – they allow parents to chose their own.  Please reply to the corresponding email giving Mr. Schroeder the username and password you’d like to use for troopmaster.  I will then enter the information and email you back with the  website address so that you can add/update information needed.  District/national/troop still requires other forms yearly, but the information form won’t have to be filled out for this year – you’ll just update your information online.  The updated forms you'll need to fill out can be found on the left sidebar under Yearly Updates.

Just a reminder that your health form (make sure you use the new one available on the website) and the yearly update forms due dates are coming up.  The yearly update forms need to get to Mr. Schroeder as soon as possible.  The yearly physical is due to him by May 1, 2010.  I understand there may be extenuating circumstances for the physical form having to do with insurance, but please let me know about any delays around the May 1 deadline.

Friends of Scouting Information

Last night was our annual Friends of Scouting Campaign drive.  For those unable to attend I have attached the flyer and form for you to participate in “Friends of Scouting.”  Please return the Friends of Scouting form to me as soon as you can.

Mission Family Program & Patch

The mission family program is the only patch a parent can earn for their son. It takes only 11 minutes to view. *Upon completion, a patch will be sent to you. Please allow at least two weeks for delivery.  It’s a great new program being sponsored by BSA.  Check it out!  Look for the link on our website or go to http://baylakesbsa.org/council/mission_family.htm for more information.

Boy Scout Recruiter Patch

If your son gets someone to join the troop. There is a special 100th anniversary patch that can be earned.  Look for the link in the email or go to http://baylakesbsa.org/council/files/RecruiterPatch09.pdf to get the form.

Scouting in America Video

Check out the Scouting In America video on the Bay Lakes BSA Website:
http://baylakesbsa.org/council/100yrs_of_scouting_video.htm

BSA National Photo Contest

BSA is sponsoring a national photo contest.  Get information here:
http://scoutstuff.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=12834

Camp Brown Commemorative Patches

I have the Camp Brown Commemorative Patches that families ordered at the Fall Camporee.  They ended up being $9.00 each.  Several families ordered them and I did order a few extras.  They are available on a first-come, first served basis.  Please let me know how many you would like and I’ll have them with me at our meeting.

Music Merit Badge

The Music merit badge is now being offered to any boy who is interested. This is an independent merit badge, like Scholarship and Reading. There are four requirements consisting of five activities that you need to do.

If you are a member of your school or church choir, you will have already completed or be well on the way to completing several of the requirements. Be sure to use the resource websites listed at the bottom of the worksheets.  They will be a big help to you in completing this elective merit badge.

To start print off the merit badge worksheets for the Troop 1054 website, to do so do the following steps.  1. Click on Scouts, 2. Click on Merit Badges, 3. Click on Worksheets (on left side of page), 4. Click on Boy Scout Merit Badge Worksheets, 4. Scroll down to Music and print worksheets.

When you are done let Mrs. Sandberg know so you can go over your completed worksheets.

So get started. If you have any questions you may contact Mrs. Sandberg (contact information found in corresponding email).

Reading Merit Badge

First thing to do is to print copies of the merit badge worksheets. 

Go to the Troop 1054 website.  Follow these steps: 

1. Click on Scouts

2. Click on Merit Badges

3. Click on…Click Here to Enter

 4. Under Navigation on the left top…Click on Worksheets

 5. Under Worksheets…Click on Boy Scout Merit Badge Worksheets

6. Scroll down to find the merit badge and click on DOC to print

Scholarship Merit Badge

Follow the above instructions to print off the worksheets.

This is an independent merit badge.  You may start working on it immediately and turn your completed paperwork into me when you are done.

Requirement #1…. requires that you attach copies of report cards showing that you have met this goal. If you are homeschooled follow those directions.

Requirement #2…. has 4 options.  You need to complete 2 of them.  The choices are yours to make.  Attach any required paperwork that is needed for the choices you make.

Requirement #3….attach note from principal or another school official.  I know that school is out for some of you, but principals will still be at school, so you should still be able to get the note.

Requirement #4….has 2 options.  You need to do 1. 

Requirement #5 ….has 2 options.  You need to do 1.  If you want to do this on the computer just print a copy and attach it.

Important E-mail Correspondence Information

Due to issues with Roadrunner limiting the sizes and numbers of e-mails that we send out, we have decided to move to a different e-mail host. All Scout e-mail correspondence will be sent via the following address: scoutmaster@troop1054.net . At this new address we have no limits and people who weren’t receiving the e-mails are now receiving them.  Please make sure you add the Scoutmaster address to your safe sender list so that you get the e-mails. And also, please send any Scout correspondence to the scoutmaster@troop1054.net address from now on. Thanks!

Important Support Information about the new Troop1054.net

This website is optimized for viewing at 1024x768 resolution or higher in the most updated versions of Internet Explorer 7 & 8, FireFox 3, Opera 9, Safari 3, and Chrome. While the new Troop1054.net is written to be compliant with W3C standards (xHTML 1.0 Transitional, CSS 2.1), alternative browsers (including Internet Explorer versions 6 and below) may not support all functions/effects and may not result in the desired visual experience. If you experience any issues or have any questions about this information, please contact the Troop1054.net webmaster.