Parents & Scouts:
As of this message, we’re just about 72 hours or so away from departure time, and I hope you are all starting to get packed and ready to go. Be sure to pack those rain coats / ponchos – and leave the umbrellas home (with all your coveted electronics and cell phones).
This is a final reminder for all about transportation to and from camp – Transportation to and from camp is your responsibility. While the Troop does coordinate transportation for all other outings – we don’t for Summer Camp. IF YOUR SON WILL BE CARPOOLING WITH ANOTHER FAMILY… please remember that NO GEAR will return home on Saturday inside the trailers. Make sure that there is enough room in the vehicle for all boys and their gear!!
PLEASE NOTE – As was mentioned on Monday night, there is limited access to the High School due to construction of a new roundabout at Field Drive/Cumberland Road and reconstruction of High School parking lots. Access to the high school is open only from the main entrance on Cumberland Road. Access is ONLY from the south on Cumberland Road. Monument Street will be open to Cumberland Road. I have also attached a map showing the information.
Here are a few more tips and reminders to help you and your son prepare:
1) When packing – Be sure to leave all medications out of the tote. Any PRESCRIPTION medications must be in an original pharmacy container. Please put all of your meds into a zipper bag, with a 3×5 index card that has your name, your medications, and their dosages on the card. YOU will be turning in your meds to the camp’s health staff at camp, and answering any questions they might ask about them. Please be prepared to answer questions about whatever meds you take, or allergies you might have.
2) Be EARLY to the High School parking lot. We begin loading the trailers at 9am – but they are first come, first served, which is why I said at Monday night’s meeting to be there by 8:45 am. If you are there early, you’ll be on time, and you’re guaranteed space on your appointed trailer. Any gear that doesn’t fit in the trailer will be walked in to the campsites by the gear’s owner. Just remember – if you’re on time you’re late – if you’re early, you’re on time.
3) When you arrive at the High School – DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OR PARK anywhere near the trailers. We need space behind them to move around and load gear. Adults will be there to keep traffic away from the trailers.
4) Check in with Mrs. Baker before you take any gear to the appointed trailer. Make sure you actually speak with her – don’t expect her to see you and know you are there. Once you have checked in with her, she will tell you which trailer you are assigned and you can move your gear to the trailer. Once it’s been loaded, go stand on the grass with your patrol to await further information/instructions.
5) Wear your Class A uniform shirt on Sunday. TUCK IT IN to your shorts. Leave the neckerchief and slide at home (with your coveted electronics and cell phones).
6) Be sure to have money with you for lunch. We will be stopping at McDonald’s in Martinsville – and lunch was not included in the cost of camp.
7) Remember to have a filled water bottle with you (not inside your tote). It will be hours before you see your gear again, and it will most likely be warm – or hot – at camp. Staying hydrated is important. Very important. With that said – also be sure you are drinking plenty of water each day NOW to help ensure you are hydrated at camp. Remember the goal… CLEAR and COPIOUS.
8) Make sure you have an inexpensive watch as you will need to be able to know what time it is all week long for things like Merit Badge classes, meals and more. (Leave the expensive watches, or watches you really care about at home along with those cell phones and other electronics.
9) Have rain gear easily accessible with you (in a backpack). We’ve had many years of dry weather on Sunday, and many years of wet weather. We’ll weather the weather no matter the weather… if we’re all prepared.
10) Personal Snacks are allowed – but they must be labeled with the Scout’s name, and they MUST be kept inside the Troop Trailer. NO ONE is to be eating near or inside their tents. And please, be responsible for your own stuff inside the trailers – don’t make the Quartermasters mad by leaving a mess. Remember we’re only in camp for 6 days. Don’t bring your own personal candy store. A few snacks per person is great.
11) Scouts can be picked up from Ransburg on Saturday morning at between 9:30 & 10:00 – but please understand that they will NOT be released to leave until ALL of our campsites are cleaned and we are released by the Ridge Commissioner. Please plan on sticking around until the Scouts are released to leave. It is not fair to the rest of the Troop to take them home early. Everyone in camp needs to complete the normal police-line procedures. The sooner we get it done properly, the sooner we can all go home.
12) And once more… LEAVE ALL CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONICS AT HOME. We have a strict NO ELECTRONICS policy. They simply don’t need their phones with them. They will survive without talking to or texting their girlfriend, BFF’s, siblings, grandparents or yes, even YOU for a week. NO ELECTRONICS means NO CELL PHONES. PERIOD. Don’t let them bring them. Don’t send it with them. LEAVE IT AT HOME. Otherwise, you might be phoned at some strange hour of the day or night requiring YOU to come down to Ransburg to pick him up and take him home. NO CELL PHONES.
Yours in Scouting,
Stephen Hunt Summer Camp Director