All,

All are doing well. Yesterday the troop won the camp spirit stick for the day.

The boys performed the flag ceremony this morning and did a great job.

Today the young men are back in the their classrooms in the trees to start their second series of merit badges.

All,

This morning we got up and hiked Dome Rock Trail after morning chow.

Then took a trip down to San Isabel Lake until noon chow.

Later today we will do some more hiking as well as conservation project for the camp.

More adventures to come.

Stay Tuned!

All,

Yesterday was full of Merit Badge classes. Any free time was spent by most at the lake fishing, back and fort to the Trading Post, or whittling a project.

The rain didn’t stop the campfire fun. With no burn-ban we had a great time socializing around a troop campfire last night.

While missing you all, everyone is safe and having a great time.

Mr. Petree

Just wanted to drop a note to let everyone know we have arrived safe and sound.

All the scouts have settled in to their new homes for the week, got the lay of the land, their schedules, and are ready to hit the ground running.

We had a great opening campfire last night. There was a little home sickness before bed, but that quickly subsided.

All is well, and we will post updates as service allows.

Mr. Petree

Troop/Parents who are driving:

Just a reminder that tomorrow is the day you drop off your kid with a bunch of dudes you really don’t know well and send them off to a place where there is no cell service and wait patiently for six days for them to return safe. Haha! Just messing around. It’s gonna be fine!

Remember to fill up your fuel tanks tonight or tomorrow morning PRIOR to showing up at the barn for cross load and roll out. I would like to convoy from here to there, just to ensure nobody makes a wrong turn, gets, lost, held up at a light, etc. Our route will be south on I-25 to Exit 74 toward Rye on Hwy 165. Here is a link to the route:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/6460+Flying+W+Ranch+Rd,+Colorado+Springs,+CO+80919/San+Isabel+Scout+Ranch,+18353+CO-165,+Beulah,+CO+81023/@38.1744562,-104.8503225,10.56z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x871351eca14a0ee5:0x6960917c224dd986!2m2!1d-104.8677408!2d38.9269429!1m5!1m1!1s0x871474dfbcac772f:0xf4b351c97cf8f504!2m2!1d-105.0408036!2d38.003256!3e0

I will drive the lead and have a designated trail vehicle.

Last minute packing:

Snacks are good to bring (please don’t go crazy), but remind your Scouts all snacks and anything else that is a smellable will be stored in the troop trailer prior to evening close-out/bed time. It is a good idea to bring an identifiable bag for each individual’s smellables. Every year we have stuff left in the trailer and no one knows who’s stuff it is. No food will be stored in tents what-so-ever! Too many bears around that area.

Camp chairs: if you have room, these are a good idea to bring so they have somewhere to sit during our camp evenings when they are not at some other function, or in the morning while putting their shoes on while enjoying that morning cup of coffee. Also, some merit badge classes are in the woods. A chair is good so they are not sitting on the ground or whatever. Either way, they will have a chance to use them.

If there is anything else that may be helpful to any of us, Please dont heistate to shoot me a text saying so!

We are all going to have a great time this week; the adults attending with your kids, and the parents staying home without them!

We will be chatting back and forth starting tomorrow evening with Ray’s first “Scoutmaster Daily Update”

See you in the morning!

Dan

Parents,

The troop will supply regular patrol gear for the week (cooking, easy up canopy, tools for rank advancemtn training, etc.), as well as cots for each of the Scouts and adults. So, no worries on bringing any of those items, unless you really want to because you have a really cool cot or whatever.

I will suggest bringing or making room in the budget to purchase a hammock. Our first year at camp, many of the boys brought or bought hammocks and they were a hit. So, it has continued for the past several years. If you plan on purchasing one prior to camp, I suggest paying a visit to Sierra Trading post over off of Powers Blvd. They have a pretty good selection of hammocks and are very reasonably priced. The Scout shop also has hammocks over on Fillmore, which are the same as what they will get at camp, and should be the same price (around $25-30 i think). Hammocks serve as a nice little resting area for the boys when they are all set up in the trees away from our main campsite.

Comments on the Troop site:

Ok, so the troop site does accept comments, but it is finicky. Here is how you do it:

1. Go to whatever post you want to comment on and click on the “comments” link. Fill out the form and submit your comment. Email and name is required.

2. I should get an email telling me there is a new comment. I then have to go into the admin sesction of the site and “approve” the comment. Then it will be posted to the site.

To view comments on the site, you have to do step 1 above and scroll down to the bottom where the comments are.

Maureen and I tested this process this morning and I think it will work out, if you want to use it. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate an “automatic approval” for the comments. I’m guessing because WordPress doesnt allow that?

Let me know if anyone has any questions or concerns. Or if you want further explanation about anything Summer Camp/Troop/Scouting related.

Dan

Troop/Parents,

This post is for those first year Scout and parents to help out with some common questions you may have.

If you have additional useful information, please pass tit along with either a comment to this post, or email me directly and I will do a subsequent post.

Getting there:

We have had so many parents sign up to drive on Sunday that I am absolutely blown away! Thank you so much for volunteering your time, fuel, and patience to have a bunch of pre-camp Scouts in your car for a couple of hours!

We will meet up at 9am on Sunday, 10 Jun 22, at the barn. Please be there on time (or before) so we can get the Troop trailer loaded with troop and Scout gear, cross load and get a vehicle load plan where each Scout is sitting. I would also like to ensure everyone’s phone number is on a roster so we can make contact as neccessary throughout the week.

We have 26 Scouts and 5 adults headed to camp. The roster will be supplied to each of the adults for informational purposes, but Ray will assume all duties as the point of contact once we leave the barn.

I would like to head out in a convoy no later than 10am. With 26 Scouts loading and cross loading equipment and all that, I think we will be just fine on time (jinxed it!).

Arrival:

We will drop the Scouts and gear in wherever the deisgnated location is, and the Scouts may or may not have to carry their stuff to the campsite (Apache). We will be allowed to drive to our campsite and drop Scouts and gear there. Then all vehicles will have to depart the area (say goodbye’s then). The troop trailer will be parked at the campsite, so will my truck. This is to facilitate the trailer’s use as a bear bin and have a vehicle at the site for emergency evacuation and such.

I will take the lump of paperwork we have collected from you and head over to check us all in. Once that process is started, the other Scoutmasters will take the troop to the campsite and the PLC (SPL/ASPL) will assign tents and all that.

Tents:

Scouts will bunk with their buddy or buddies. max three per tent. Max two years of age differential, or school grade differential. If there is a buddy team already established, the PLC will allow that, however, there will be a “no Scout left behind” concept, where everyone’s desires will be considered for buddy teams. We can also switch it up mid-week, if so desired.

Buddy teams will remain for the week. A Scout will stay with his buddy during non-course hours (after badge classes and those times). Each Scout is responsible for telling his patrol leader where he is going (Scout shop, dining facility, etc.) during the scheduled down time. The Patrol leader will maintain a system of knowing where all of his patrol members are. We also have a white board in the trailer to help with this. The SPL is overall responsible for knowing were all of the Scouts are.

Packing:

We have found that packing all of the Scouts stuff in a tuff box/plastic tote/or similar tub, is very beneficial. 1. They have ready access to their stuff. 2. it is easy to identify and mark with identifications. 3. it is easy to stack in the trailer for transport. 4. they seal to keep out mice, rodents, bugs, etc. There are many more reason they are a good idea. However, please make sure your Scout packs his own stuff. This helps him know where his stuff is. We have had parents pack and the Scout has no idea where something is when he needs it. When asked, he says, “I told my mom to pack it,” or “my dad told me he packed it.”

Bring Swim gear, just in case we can free swim.

SCOUTS SHOULD PACK THEIR OWN BAGS!

Knives:

BSA does not restrict the type of knife a Scout uses (folder or fixed blade). Hoever, there are some common sense rules to abide by. Please do not allow your Scout to bring a machette to camp. It is cool, and a great talking peice, but not a practical choice for this event. Many Scouts will bring that $30-$60 of spending money and blow it on a camp knife they found at the Scout shop. Just so you understand, most camps restrict knife sales until Wednesday, so the boys are super excited to get their “first knife,” then play with it and throw it into their knee, causing other Scouts to break out their first aid kits and do all that. Great times were had by all, and great stories continue to be shared and embellished! Not a bad thing!

Bikes:

I do not think bringing bikes is a good idea this year. Although it is allowed, I am not sure we can successfully transport as many bikes as there are desires to bring them. Many of our Scouts are first time summer campers, so lets rely on the basics of transport around camp. SISR is a small property, unlike Dobbins or Camp A, where it takes 15 minutes to walk from one MB area to another, I think bikes are not necessary. However, adults will be free to make that decision on their own as we have to visit all of the MB areas twice a day, everyday. That is a lot of walking! And they won’t let me bring my motorcycle.

Camp Merit Badge Schedules:

Thank you for being understanding in the last week of merit badge madness.

We will get hard copies of merit badge schedules on Sunday during check-in. I also have a copy of everyone’s schedule which I will have on my phone and ensure all the other adults do as well. Just in case!

Each Scout will have a map of the camp so they can find their way to their classes. With 26 Scouts, I do not think there will by any “lone” Scout headed off to a class, everyone will be in at least a small group.

Your Scout may come home with requirements remaining to finish a badge. He will know what he needs to do to finish that particular badge. With that, he will also receive a printout and an unfinished Blue Card with blanks for the items that remain unfinished.

Any Scoutmaster attending camp can sign off as the merit badge counselor for those remaining requirements. We still have a few Scouts with outstanding requirements from Summer Camps in the past. It is no big deal. He will get those items completed so dont fret about it. As long as he maintains a copy of that Blue Card/printout, he will be alright.

Uniforms:

We are required to travel to and from BSA Activities in Class A uniform (no sash required). Your Scout will wear his Class A to camp, every morning for flags, every evening for flags, and on the way home on Saturday. Sorry, parents! You can use a pressure washer on them when you get home to get the stink off!

Hygiene:

Please ensure when your Scout packs, he packs deoderant. I have no issue calling a kid out who “forgot” to put deoderant on (tactfully, of course). These kids are going to be very active for the week, and really, help us out here!

The Scouts will be required to shower twice during the week. Tuesday evening and Thursday Evening. Then they will put deoderant on right after that. being Clean is one of the points of the Scout law. They will be reminded of this as necessary.

These dudes are old enough that they should have an idea of what hygeine is, so there will be no checks by adults, but we will definitely have this subject matter covered in our daily briefings and pre-bed nightly routine: brush teeth and all that!

Pick-up:

Saturday is out check-out/pick up day. I would like to have everyone who dropped off do the pick-up, but I know that is not always a possibility. However, we will be ready and will need as many seats on Saturda to bring kids home as we did on Sunday to take them there.

If you are driving both ways, it would be benneficial if you took the same Scout home with you for ease of rosters and tracking purposes.

Please try and be up at Camp by 9am on Saturday for pick up. We will be clearing the campsite during that time and all the Scouts should be packed and ready to go. We will ensure all Scouts returning with the group are accounted for and leave no later than 10am to head home to the Barn for dowload and parent pick-up. Our estimated arrival to the barn will be announced by the Scoutmaster so parents can grab their kids and strap them to the roof of the car for the final trip home (it is possible they will smell funny).

Like I said at the beginning, please let me know if there is anything you think to add to this list, or you want to see added. I probably have more knowlege about this than I am relaying because I have done this a few times and don’t remember a lot of stuff I previously asked questions about, so please ask that question and I will make a post on it!

I am sure I forgot something, so (seriously) let me know!

Don’t hesitate to shoot me a text or give me a call!

Dan 228-806-9063

Parents,

Sorry for the late message, but please stop by the committee meeting tonight when you drop your Scout off to ensure we finalize your camp docs. We are missing some forms and some signatures on forms. Carrie is heading this effort up to finalize our forms, so please don’t forget to check in and ensure yours are good to go!

Dan

T shirt and hoodie orders will be available tonight at the meeting. Please contact me if your Scout will not be there tonight and needs their order for camp this weekend.

Maureen Reiser
208-596-3115

Troop,

If you are going to camp next week 10-16 Jul, there was a development in the offerings. Bottom Line Up Front, all shooting sports and water sports have been cancelled. Please see the below email from the camp director. I am working on the situation and will update you as I get information.

If you were registered for anything water or shooting related (77% of the troop), then those events were cancelled and you’ll need to pick something else from the offerings. Let me know if you would like to discuss this and how we are trying to move forward from here. I have volunteered as a step in instructor for both archery and shotgun shooting as I am a qualified BSA instructor for both of those. I can’t do anything about rifle or water sports.

If you choose one or more of the new offerings, plet me know sonner rather than later so I can get you plugged in.

Here is the email I sent earlier and the original email from camp:

Troop, There are always a lot of questions on what to bring to camp. Here is the list from the SISR website. Refrain from bringing knives which are too big! Basiclly no bowie knives and stuf like that. Please use your best judgement. Absolutely no firearms related items, real or fake, or representative of firearms (nerf, air soft, etc.).

Phones are a big topic of discussion because many people use them as cameras and video capture devices. Here is the deal: there is no cell service out there. Any Scout can ask an adult to contact parents back home. There are hard line communications available and I have been told there is WIFI for adult leaders in the leader cabin. That is likely the only place we will be able to communicate from, and maybe send the daily rollup message from there. We will definitely know on next Sunday.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments!

Dan

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4AADA829A7FE3-summer2

Troop parents,

In preparation for gettint the 25 kids to camp next weekend, we will need some help. Please review the Signup and let us know how many kids and gear you can transport to San Isabel Scout Ranch.

It is about a 105 miles and 1 hr 50 minutes one way. We will need enough drivers to get the Scouts there and to pick them up on Saturday the 16th.

If anyone wants to volunteer to drag the troop trailer, we will need that as well for cots and other gear. I will not be able to as I will need to leave camp Friday night to make it back for an event Saturday morning.

The plan will be to meet up at 9am on Sunday, cross load equipment and Scouts, then head out to camp no later than 10am. Our arrival time is 12, so we can get our camsite and get kids over to swim checks and stuff like that.

Please let me or Ray know if you have any questions. Once we get to camp, Ray will take over all primary communications as the Scoutmaster.

Dan

We are on our 3rd flag holiday. We are in need of two Navigators and one Scout. Please sign up below if you can help us out.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BA5AF2BA1FEC52-flag

Maureen
208-596-3115

Troop,

Tomorrow night we will be meeting up at the barn. Attire will be Class B uniforms.
We will have some fun patrol challenges and further develop our teamwork. We need to get our new Patrol names, calls, flags, etc. ready. Patrol Leaders make sure you are present.
There are still a lot of adventures to have this summer and we will be taking advantage of the daylight to make sure we are prepared and everything is in order.

Many of you have troop gear that you had taken home to cleanup following outings. Things like tents and stoves etc. Please take a look around and bring those with tomorrow evening. We need gear back to make sure we are ready for the next adventure. Check twice!

Speaking of next adventure…. get ready for Summer Camp. We have signed up and chose our merit badges. All we need to do is pack… right!?!?! … Wrong!!! Many are still missing medical forms. Mr. McGuire has been asking and asking. If you turned them in… Great Job! If not, the deadline is tomorrow night. Bring them with you.

August will be Squirrel Creek Backpacking Trip and Bishop’s Castle. Post and more info coming soon.

Things you’ll need…..
1. Good Attitude
2. Scout Book
3. Troop gear you have
4. BSA Med Forms (A,B1,B2,C)

See you soon!
Mr. Petree

Troop/Parents,

If you have not already turned in your medical documents, please get them to me no later than Tuesday evening at the next meeting (6/28). I will package and mail them on Wednesday unless there is an extreme verified reason that I have not received your Scout’s documents (you’ve known about this for a while now!).

Below are the forms which need to be completed in order for your Scout to attend camp. Immunizations need to be transcribed onto the forms in order for them to be legit, so please don’t just staple your immunization records to your forms and write in “*See attached”. Because that means I will have to do the transcribing. Camp facilities in Colorado are classified as Day Care Centers and they are pretty particular about this stuff.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

There are a few things I need to cover here as well:

Daily meds: please ensure it comes to camp in the provided prescription bottle, not another pill container (because it will be held at med lodge). Campers, Scouts, kids, youth (etc.) are not allowed to self administer medications while at camp (unless exigent circumstances-epi pen, etc.). Even allergy meds. They will go to the med lodge in the morning and/or at night to get their medications. Again-child care facility.

If your Scout needs to carry meds with him on a daily basis (epi pen, inhaler, etc.), please fill out the form below the med forms. That is the “Contract to Carry meds” form. If you kid doesnt get his daily meds, Ray will have to deal with him.

Please, please, please, turn in these forms if you have not already. Over the next couple of days, I will go through my emails and print out all the forms I have received over the last couple of weeks since I was gone. If I do not have a form from you, I will email you no later than Sunday evening.

If you know you did not fill one of these out, please do so and get it to me on Tuesday. This will make the check-in process so much easier on Camp day 1. I would hate for camp to send a Scout home because they didn’t have the proper paperwork.

Dan

If you missed the dead line for ordering shirts or hoodies due to Philmount, we are still have the oppurtunity to order and receive the shirts before camp. Please contact me at fmreiser@gmail.com. Orders must be in no later then Sunday, June 26.

Maureen Reiser
208-596-3115

The scouts have spoken and we will have a water ballon game night Tuesday Jun 21st from 7pm to 8pm at Wilson Ranch Park 2335 Allegheny Dr. (just west of Centennial Blvd)

Please sign up if you can bring some filled water balloons. More balloons = more fun!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4AACAE2BABFD0-water

We will play a water balloon version of capture the flag, ballon toss, and attempt to recreate the epic water ballon battle pictured here:

Orders are due tomorrow for troop t shirts. Since we are not having a meeting tomorrow I would like you to email me your order. My email address is fmreiser@gmail.com. Please do not comment on this site, we do not get these comments. You can bring a check next week to the meeting or Zelle Carrie McQuire @ Cmack_26@hotmail.com

Maureen Reiser
208-596-3115

We are still looking for one navigator and two scouts for this Tuesday to join us for Flag Day. Please sign up below if you can help us out. Sibling are also invited to join and will get paid as the scout if we don’t have enough scouts.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BA5AF2BA1FEC52-flag

Maureen Reiser
208-596-3115

Last call to represent our Troop at the Rotary club meeting, Wednesday, June 15. Meet at the barn 11:30. Return at 2pm. Please be in Class A uniform. We accept our check twice a year and ask for a honor guard once a year. It is a difficult time during the week with so many Scouts gone or in camps. Please sign up below is you are able to join us. Contact me if you need a ride.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BA5AF2BA1FEC52-rotary

Maureen Reiser
208-596-3115