Introduction

Troop 174 will go to summer camp at the Curtis S. Read Scout Reservation.  Follow this link for additional information.

Summer camp is a golden opportunity for scouts to work on many outdoor skills, to advance in rank, and to earn merit badges, optimizing fun and opportunities.  For many scouts summer camp is the high point of their year.

Week 1 is July 6-12, 2003.  Week 2 is July 13-19.  Week 2 is our primary week.  We will use the Ranger site (middle of the map) at Camp Buckskin.  This site is shared with Troop 164.

Our older scouts are planning an Adirondack canoe Trek in week 1.  They will be doing the 50-mile Long Lake, Tupper Lake, Raquette River trek.  To qualify for this Summit Base Trek you must pass the Camp Buckskin swimmer test and have Scoutmaster approval.  You must be able to portage the canoes one mile.

For scouts at least 14 years old there is also the Adirondack Challenge: full day low and high COPE courses, two days climbing challenging rock faces, and two days of wilderness hiking.

What to do

1. See Fees

See the fee schedule here. $225 for one week or $440 for two weeks.  The Canoe Trek is $230.  Partial scholarships are available for families unable to pay the full amount; see Barbara C.

2. Register

2.1  Sign up here for Summer Camp as soon as possible, but by April 14.  First year scouts sign up for Dan Beard the first week.  On the form parents may offer to help out at camp, and await a decision later as to who will really go based on the ratio of scouts to available adults.  (Trek participants have already signed up).

2.2. By April 14 the non-refundable deposit of $25 per week is due at troop meeting, or pay the full amount.

2.3. By May 5 turn in the remainder of the basic camp fee.  Make the check payable to "BSA Troop 174", write in the memo section: "Week 1", "Week 2", or "Both Weeks", and give the check to Barbara C.  After this date you have to take the money to Council, and note that fees increase on June 1.

2.4. By May 5 or two weeks later write a separate check for optional activities.  Make the check payable to "BSA Troop 174", write in the memo section what it is for, and give the check to Barbara C.

• Horse trail ride, $12
• Horsemanship merit badge, $25
• Troop picture color 8x10, $6.  (Troop Picture information and Troop 174 low-resolution web troop pictures: 2000, 2001).
• Whitewater rafting, $15 + transportation.  Usually we use the Hudson River Rafting company for the Sacandaga River.
• Portion, to be determined, of the $99 Canoe Trek transportation fee.

3. Fill out Permission form

3.1. Read Scout Permission Slip  Signed parental permission is required for optional activities, such as white water rafting, off-camp caving, water skiing, and the Forestry Merit Badge visit to a manged forest.  Give the form to Barbara C. by May 19.  There are fees for some of these activities.

3.2. On the same form signed parental permission is also required, if arrangements are made for someone other than a parent to pick up their son to leave camp for any purpose, including these activities.

4. Fill out Medical form

4.1. Print the Medical Exam Class 3 PDF form.  Scouts and young adults submit the form every three years, older adults every year.  This requires a doctor's exam, so allow time for that.  The medical form is also available from Barbara C.  Give to her when complete.

5. Complete your schedule

Please note below that your merit badge schedule, reviewed by the Scoutmaster, is due by the May 5.

5.1. See the Merit Badge Schedule Webpage or Table, whichever format you like better, for the time of day each merit badge program is offered.

5.2. Find the program that is right for you.

First-year scouts:

First-year scouts should sign up for the Dan Beard program their first week.  It is designed to help the first-year camper "hit the ground running."  Outdoor requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class are covered.

There are two 3-hour sessions each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  Try to take all morning or all afternoon sessions, because sometimes the morning and afternoon sessions are a little out of synchronization.  Then, at other times one may sign up for a troop activity or for Basketry, Leatherwork, or Metalwork.  The evening make up is for merit badges only, not for Dan Beard.

The details of this schedule are as follows.  Plan to attend the entire Dan Beard program, including all three Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class sessions, from 9:00 a.m. to noon or from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to meet requirements for three ranks at once.

• Tenderfoot:        9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.  or from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Second Class:  10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  or from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• First Class:       11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon or from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Only Basketry and Leatherwork merit badges are to be taken with the Dan Beard course.  Dan Beard takes priority over merit badges and troop activities (COPE course, climbing wall, etc.).

Consider buying before you go Basketry, Leatherwork, and Woodcarving kits from the Westchester-Putnam Council Office, 41 Saw Mill River Rd. (9A), Hawthorne, NY, 773-1135.  They also may be purchased at camp (see Handicraft).

First-Class and above scouts:

Suggestion: Take required Eagle merit badges and waterfront merit badges.  An experienced camper usually can complete four merit badges a week.

Check prerequisites on this page, which also identifies difficult merit badges for older scouts.

Some merit badges are limited by space available or scout age.  Examples are Swimming, Lifesaving, Rowing, Canoeing, Small Boat Sailing, Climinbing, Rifle Shooting, Shotgun Shooting, Archery, and Horsemanship.

5.3. Troop activities are available if you want them.  The schedule is mapped out below.  There are fees for the troop picture, whitewater rafting, and horse trail ride.  There is no charge for the COPE course and for indoor and outdoor rock climbing.

Scouts may sign up for any troop activities they want, but to give everyone a chance there may be limits.  First-year scouts see section 5.2 above for how to avoid conflicts with Dan Beard.  7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. is reserved for making up merit badge activity missed during the day.

The zip line is only for scouts who pass the Camp Buckskin swimmer test.  The zip line is a trapeze slide down a steel cable that ends with a refreshing plunge into Lester Pond.

5.4. By April 28

1. Print out and fill in your merit badge schedule card (two cards for two weeks, labeled Week 1 and Week 2).   This requires a PDF reader.  Otherwise, obtain a card from the troop.  The Scoutmaster will look over your card and advise changes.

5.5. By May 5

1. Complete revisions to your Merit Badge Schedule cards.
2. Make  a copy of your Merit Badge Schedule Card to bring to summer camp.
3. Make a prioritized list of desired merit badges.
4. Turn in to the troop both your Merit Badge Schedule Cards and a prioritized list of desired merit badges for the online signup.

For first year scouts the card for the first week (Dan Beard) should have at most something like this example.  This scout has chosen a full schedule.  Other scouts may want more break time.

5.6. Around June 20 or so, check the Troop 174 password-protected pages to see if you got into the Merit Badge courses you wanted.  Look for the Summer Camp Merit Badge Registration list.

Print out a copy of the Summer Camp Merit Badge Registration list, tear out just your registration with the times, and take it with you to summer camp.

5.7. At the June 23 Meeting for Camp Read Attendees meeting pick up your blue cards and sign out merit badge booklets from our troop library.

5.8. Do the merit badge prerequisites before going to camp, using the Merit Badge booklets you checked out.

You must bring to camp a note with an adult signature attesting that you have completed the prerequisites.

6. Pack for camp

Read supplies a large two-person tent on a platform, a cot, and a mattress, as well as food.

6.1. Get supplies listed on the Camp Read suggested equipment list.

6.2. Then, add to that suggested equipment list:

• Your blue cards, which you picked up at the Meeting for Camp Read Attendees in June.
• A copy of your Merit Badge Schedule, which you tore off of the Summer Camp Merit Badge Registration list in the password-protected pages.
• Insect control -
• Mosquito net. Consider this a requirement, not optional.  This is a rectangular net big enough to cover a cot and be tucked under the mattress to make a sealed enclosure for sound sleeping.  BSA sells one through their catalog as item A01490 for about $12.  If in stock one may be obtained at the Scout Store at the Westchester-Putnam Council Office 41 Saw Mill River Rd. (9A), Hawthorne, NY.  Get this early, because they tend to run out of them close to summer camp.
• Four poles to hold the mosquito net up over your cot.  These can be any kind of sturdy, straight sticks or 1/2 inch wide PVC pipe.  Best would be 2 poles 3.5 feet long for the edge of the bed by the sloping side of the tent and two poles 4 feet long for the edge of the bed near the center of the tent.  Arrive prepared to adjust the length.
• A roll of duct tape both to tie the cot legs to your poles so that they do not fall down, and for other uses.
• Avoid luring insects:  Bring only unscented soap and shampoo.  Use unscented laundry detergent to wash clothes before camp and to wash between the first and second weeks.
• A strong repellent with DEET is recommended, like Deep Woods Off or Cutter.  Leave mild repellents at home.
• Do not bring either aerosol or pump insect repellent, because of problems with scouts spraying them in the fire.
• Clothes -
• A backpack if you have one for clothes and equipment storage under your cot, better than a duffle bag or a trunk.
• A hanger for your official uniform.
• Clothes line for outside the tent and inside.  Use the inside line for your official uniform and swimsuit.
• T-shirts do not have to be scout t-shirts.
• Extra pair of broken-in shoes (bring sneakers and hiking shoes) and either pool shoes or sandals.  Long rubber rain boots are good for wading in shallow water.
• Swimsuit, big beach towel, and pool shoes or sandals should be packed on top, because the swim test will be given early upon arrival Sunday.  Wear a swimsuit during showers.
• Optional mesh laundry bag.  Airtight invites mildew.
• You may bring a costume to wear Thursday for the weekly camp theme:
• week 1 is Tropical,
• week 2 is Superhero.
• Your Totin' Chip Card if you have one, if not you can earn a Totin' Chip card at summer camp.  If you have a Totin' Chip card think about doing the Paul Bunyan activity (fell a tree, chop it up, and deliver the logs.)
• A hot- or cold-liquid mug.
• More extra batteries for your flashlight beyond what you might imagine.
• No electronic games, no radios (except a Walkman with headphones), no Gameboys, but do bring books and other games, such as cards, board games, chess, checkers, etc. with pieces that can be found if dropped among leaves.
• You may wish to pack some money for snacks from the Trading Post near the dining hall, no more than $20 per week in small bills.  The scout should deposit the money with the adult leaders on Sunday and withdraw what remains on Friday.
• Do not expect to phone home from the pay phone.  There is one phone for 450 scouts.
• For scouts who want to write home, self-addressed, stamped envelopes with paper.
• A comfortable folding chair.
• OA members should bring for Wednesday OA T-shirts worn during the day, and sashes for retreat.
• Label everything with your name.

7. Donate if you have extra

Camp Read requests that people who have certain items to donate please bring them to camp.  They want:

• Ball-peen hammers
• Gouges
• Chisels
• Bird cages
• Gerbil cages
• Fish tanks
• Floodlights
• Books and magazines on environmental topics and camping

8. Travel to Camp Read

Leave for Camp Read 6:00 a.m. or earlier Sunday morning.

Camp Read is in Brant Lake, NY, about a 4-hour drive 200 miles north of Westchester, about a half hour north of Lake George.  MapQuest map.

Troop 174 does not provide transportation to Camp Read.

See the Getting to Camp page for

• Council transportation by bus, and fees.
• Driving directions to Read Scout Reservation and Brant Lake area map

Bring a bag lunch or eat an early lunch before you arrive on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Then, see the map for the Ranger site at Camp Buckskin.

9. Arrival at Camp Read

• Arrive at 10:00 a.m. Sunday.
• Park in the designated Camp Buckskin parking area near the dining hall.
• Meet at the Ranger site at Camp Buckskin.
• See The First Day at Camp on the Camp Buckskin page.
• The Trading Post by the dining hall will be open Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., so they may buy if they wish camp t-shirts, merit badge kits, etc.
• Always use the buddy system.  Scouts do not wander off alone.
• Parents may help their sons move into the tent platform and go with their sons on the Sunday Camp Buckskin camp tour.
• Tell the adult leaders any dietary preferences or restrictions.
• Parents and other family members on day visits, not part of the official troop staff, should pay $3 for breakfast, $4 for lunch, $5 for dinner, and $3 overnight.  Space is limited.
• Daby's General Store, which has groceries and a deli,  in downtown Brant Lake closes at 1:00 p.m. Sunday.

10. Between the first and second week

• There is no adult supervision over the weekend.  Parents are responsible for their son.
• Parents and their son may sleep Saturday night in tent platforms.
• No meals are provided.  No Saturday lunch through Sunday lunch.  The next meal is Sunday supper.

11. Pick up scouts at Camp Read at the end of the week

• Before 9:30 a.m. Saturday scouts should have completed checkout, be picked up, and on their way home.