One highlight of our Scout year is our week at summer camp.  In August, we’ll be going to Resica Falls Scout Reservation in the Poconos.  We had a great time at Resica last year, and it’ll be fun to go back.

Summer camp brings swimming, boating, archery, crafts, riflery, fishing, and the chance to work on outdoor merit badges.  It also includes our outpost hike, a chance to earn merit badges and lots of other opportunities for fun.

2019 Summer Camp

• 2019 Summer Camp Guide – This booklet contains the following information:
  • Directions to Camp
  • General information about the camp including mailing address and phone numbers
  • A list of what to bring to camp
  • Information about spending money
  • Our schedule in camp
  • Lots of information about the camp’s program
• Summer Camp Junior Leader Information – This is the handout from our junior leaders meeting. It has all the instructions to allow our junior leaders to prepare for camp and do a good job when they get there.
• Summer Camp Adult Leader Information – Includes the goals for our adult leaders at camp, and might be good reading for adults coming to help out

Preparing for Summer Camp:

Sign Up for Merit Badges

Deadline:  July 15, 2019

• Start by carefully reviewing the 2019 Summer Camp Merit Badge Info packet
• Next choose which badges you plan to work on at what time
• Use the 2019 Summer Camp Merit Badge Selection Form to submit your preferred Merit Badges.
• For Scouts 13 and older, who are First Class or higher, and don’t have morning leadership obligations, one fun option would be to take COPE. If you want to do that, you must mail a COPE Application to the camp so that it gets there by August 1. There’s more information about COPE in the 2019 Summer Camp Guide

Medical Forms

Deadline: July 22, 2019

• Annual Health and Medical Record (Parts A, B & C are required)
  All summer camp participants, both youth and adult, are required to complete this form annually. That includes the portion completed by a physician. There are a set of FAQs pertaining to this change on the BSA Web site.
• Photocopy of Insurance card:  Along with the completed Medical Form, a photocopy of the front and back of a parents/guardian’s insurance card need to be submitted (same deadline as Medical Forms)
• Summer Camp Drug Administration Form
  All Scouts going to camp must have a Parent fill out and sign this form. It gives the camp medical staff permission to administer over the counter medications to the boy. It also provides instructions for administration of any prescription medications the scout needs to bring to camp.
• Allergy Action Plan Form
  Please submit a copy of this allergy action plan with your medical form, if you have severe allergies that might require emergency action.
• Medical Storage Release Form (for adults only)
  Adults who wish to retain their own medications, rather than have them administered by the camp staff, must complete and sign this release.
• Food Allergy Plan Worksheet (ONLINE ONLY)
  If you have food allergy or dietary restrictions, fill out this form at least two weeks before camp and submit to the Council directly (instructions in the form).  A copy of this form must also be sent to Bruce Dordick, John Schultz, and Arland Hotchkiss (click HERE to email all three) for Troop records.
• It is important to note that all adults staying overnight in camp must have Parts A and B of medical and the drug admin form. Any adult wishing to swim typically needs all three parts.
• NEW: Any adult planning to stay more than 72 hours in camp, must be registered with the troop (can no longer just come as a guest). This would require any training (e.g. YPT) along with a completed BSA Adult application.
• NEW:  Any adult wishing to stay overnight in camp must have completed YPT and background checks.  Details on completing this training can be found here

Tent Pairings

Deadline: July 21, 2019

• The tents at Resica Falls hold two people, and a cluster of two man tents surrounding a dining fly will be assigned to each Patrol to use as their Patrol’s area
• Scouts must tent in their Patrol’s area with another Scout from their same Patrol. (adults tent with adults)
• Patrol Leaders (PL) and Troop Guides (TG) are responsible to consult their Scouts and work out tent pairings for the Patrol that are acceptable to everyone.
• Once the Patrol’s list of tent pairs is complete, PLs and TGs must get back to everyone, confirm who they’re tenting with, and make sure they’re OK with it.
• PLs and TGs must give their Patrol’s final list of tent pairings to the SPL by July 24
• If your PL or TG hasn’t confirmed who you’re tenting with you by July 21, call Dave Mulvey at (267) 628-1033

Arrange Transportation To/From Camp

Deadline: July 29, 2019

Transportation to and from camp is being coordinated by Mr. Michael Myers. Please advise Mr. Myers of all carpooling arrangements or ability to transport foot lockers in addition to scouts. Mr. Myers’ contact details are as follows; e-mail transportation@troop542.com.  Cell phone # 267-664-6037. Please keep the following transportation related facts in mind:

• Transportation of Scouts both ways will be accomplished by Scout Leaders and parents
• Space for parking and unloading cars is very limited so car-pooling is necessary
• Parents are encouraged to get together with other parents to arrange car-pooling. For example parents may agree that one of the parents transport 2 or 3 Scouts to camp and another of the parents transport the same Scouts back again
• Once you’ve worked out a car-pool, please let Mr. Myers know the details
• Keep in mind that Scouts will have foot lockers and other gear that will require space in the vehicle
• If you have a van, pick up, or other means of transporting extra foot lockers, please coordinate with Mr. Myers
• It’s our objective to have the Scout transportation roster completed by July 29, 2019.

Drivers transporting scouts home from camp on August 10 are requested to to be at camp no later than 10:00 AM and advise Mr. Myers if anything happens that would delay arrival at camp. Those drivers should also check in with Mr. Myers upon their arrival at camp, and check scouts out of camp with Mr. Myers before departure.

Get Everything Packed

Deadline: August 4, 2018

By the day before we leave, everyone should be packed and ready as follows:

• Medical paperwork listed above turned in
• Merit badge request form submitted
• Who you’ll be tenting with confirmed by your Patrol Leader or Guide
• You know where your parents will be so we can reach them in case of emergency
• UPDATED: You have arranged with your Patrol Leader or Guide to have a backpack and vittles kit (fork/spoon/spork) for our outpost hike. The Troop has backpacks available to loan, but Patrol leaders are expected to organize this by working with the quartermasters ahead of time. DO NOT EXPECT TO HAVE A BACKPACK AVAILABLE UNLESS PRE-ARRANGED. New Scouts are NOT expected to purchase a backpack for the overnight. 
• Your Class A uniform; Scout Shirt, Troop Neckerchief, Scout Pants (shorts preferred), Scout Belt, and Scout Socks, is complete and ready to wear on Sunday morning
• If you’re bringing any medication, it’s in a zip lock bag with your name and Troop 542 clearly marked on it and ready to turn in at the church
• Your extra key for your lock, or a copy of the combination is ready to turn in at the church
• You have a brown bag lunch for Sunday
• You have a sleeping bag either stuffed into its stuff bag or packed in your footlocker
• Everything else is packed in a locked footlocker (a suggested list is in the 2019 Summer Camp Guide). If you need a footlocker you can try Walmart or Amazon

Leave For Camp at 8:30 AM on August 4

Be at the church ready to go on Sunday August 4 at 8:30 AM, don’t forget the following:

• Be sure you’re in your complete Class A summer uniform (Scout Shirt, Troop Neckerchief, Scout Shorts, Scout Belt, and Scout Socks). If you don’t have Scout Shorts you may wear long Scout Pants, but this is undesirable.
• If you’re bringing any medication, prescription or non-prescription, make sure it’s in a zip lock bag with your name and Troop 542 clearly marked on it. This bag must be turned in upon arrival at the church. Scouts may not have pills or medications in your possession at camp. The only exceptions are insulin, asthma inhalers, and EPI pens for those who need them. Adults may retain their own medications, but must provide a signed release to the camp office in order to do so.
• Bring an extra key for your lock, or a copy of the combination to turn in at the church before departure
• Bring a brown bag lunch. The first meal we’ll get at camp will be Sunday’s dinner.
• Your Patrol Leader or Guide should have confirmed with you who you’ll be tenting with. If you haven’t heard from him by July 26, call Mr. Hotchkiss at 267-879-1102. We want everyone to know who their tent mate is before we leave.

Summer Camp Fee

The full price is $425.  If you were able to submit the required $50 deposit by the April deadline, we still may be able add you to the list.  If you are interested in attending, please get in contact with Thomas Rhodes ASAP so you can provide the $50 deposit.  The full payment is due by our June 17th Closing Campfire

Scouts attending any other Summer program event at Resica are eligible for a discount on their Summer Camp fee.