Folks,
Just a recap of Tuesday’s meeting with a few extra thoughts:
– We are shooting for an 11am departure from the Church on Sunday. Please make sure you bring all your gear, permission slip and money for food. click here to download the BSA permission slip form. Please arrive about 1030 to load the trailer and handle any last minute items. I will have two envelopes for food money. One for the trip up and one for the return trip. We will probably stop at a Wendy’s on the way so please give me enough for your son to get a meal there for the way up and back. The uniform for Travel is Class A’s. Some of you newer scouts sill do not have the Troop number and patches on the uniform. Please have them completed by departure. Plan on us arriving back Saturday the 20th around noon. We will call as we are headed back if the time changes.
– I am still missing a couple of physicals and Colorado Immunizations forms. For those that have not submitted them yet, please ensure you are using the proper forms. Other forms are not accepted. Down load the BSA approved Physical form and Colorado Immunization forms here. Again, these are the only forms accepted at Summer Camp. Please make sure a copy of your insurance card is attached.
– Contact Information: My cell is 719-648-6798. I will have reception during travel there and back. While at camp there is no reception and there is no internet. The Camp’s emergency phone number is: 970-881-2144. I you do not hear from me then everything is good! You can mail your scout a letter if you like to the following address:
Scout’s Name
Camp Jeffrey, Troop 287
2331 County Road 68C
Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545
– Medications: All Campers – Youth and Adult – must check in any medications at the time of arrival. All medications (prescription and over-the-counter) will be distributed by Ben Delatour Scout Ranch’s trained medical staff before Breakfast and Dinner, unless a special time is required by a physician . Medications must be in their original containers labeled by the pharmacy. This is not optional! Emergency medications (inhalers, epi-pens, etc…) must be checked in with the Health Director, but campers will be allowed to keep them during their stay. All medications must be listed on the camper’s medical form. If a medication is listed on the form but was not brought to camp the Troop will have 24 hours to obtain it. Please do not pack these at the bottom of the Troop trailer. Have them readily available for the check-in process.
I recommend putting all medications in a ziplock bag with your scout’s name written on it with a sharpie marker.
– Special Dietary Restrictions: I am not tracking any at this time!
Packing List:
- Complete Scout Uniform
- Heavy Jacket or Sweatshirt
- Cot or mattress
- Hiking Shoes or Boots
- Extra pants – both long and short
- Six Pairs of Underwear
- Six Pairs of Socks (preferably not cotton)
- Boy Scout Handbook
- Pencil, Notebook, Stamps, Envelopes
- CPR certification
- Flashlight & Extra Batteries
- Canteen or Plastic Water Bottle (durable bottle like a Nalgene but not a soda bottle reused)
- Toiletry Kit (Tooth brush, Tooth Pastes, Soap, comb, dental floss, etc)
- Backpack, Duffel Bag or Camp Box to store gear ( this can be a plastic tote box)
- Pocket Knife & Totin’ Chip ( no Samurai swords, or sheath knives…a regular pocket knife works)
- Raincoat or Poncho
- Tennis Shoes
Optional Equipment:
- Extra Shirts
- Hat ( Scout hat works)
- Pajamas
- Bandanas
- Watch
- Daypack or Bag ( Small back pack or camel back with pockets)
- Clothing Repair Kit
- Toothpaste & Brush (OK…this is not optional!!)
- Sun block
- Sunglasses
- Sleeping Bag
- Towels
- Chapstick
- Closed-toed water shoes for aquatics
- Insect Repellant!!! There are mosquitos at this camp.
- Fishing Gear
- Merit Badge Pamphlets
- Alarm Clock
- Camera
- Rope for Clothesline
- Clothes Pins
- Backpack & Ground Cloth, if you are planning an outpost overnight campout
Gloves, Long Pants, and Bandanna, if you are participating in Cope or Rock Climbing - Religious Literature
- Spending Money for Trading Post. $20-$40
– Merit Badges: Ok, most of you have paid for your Merit Badges in Advance. I would recommend being prepared to use part of your trading post money to spend on merit badge items just incase they require something extra. They shouldn’t but just in case i missed something… for example, in Trail to First Class there is a cost for a leather work kit if they chose to do that…around $5.
There are some things you may need to bring to camp in preparation of the merit badges. I will list them below. Also, please print up the Merit Badge Work Sheet so you can complete the entire Merit Badge While at Camp!
Rifle: Down Load Rifle Merit Badge Worksheet Here. There was a $5 fee for bullets. However if your son needs extra bullets then he can buy an additional 20 shots at the trading post for $1. No prior preparation needed.
First Aid Merit Badge: Download the First Aide Merit Badge Worksheet Here. For this merit badge, scouts must bring a completed first aide kit to summer camp. They can make it or buy it. A first aide kit could include the following:
| Item | Qty | Use |
| Adhesive bandages | 6 | Keep wound clean – p. 384 |
| Sterile gauze pads, 3-by-3 inch | 2 | Larger wounds – p. 304 |
| Adhesive tape | 1 small roll | Hold pad in place – p. 304 |
| Moleskin, 3-by-6 inch | 1 | Blisters – p. 398 |
| Soap | 1 small bar | Wash skin – p. 301 |
| Antiseptic | 1 small tube | Sterilize exposed skin – p. 299 |
| Scissors | 1 pair | Cut gauze or tape – p. 304 |
| Latex gloves | 1 pair | For bleeding or wound care – p. 299 |
| Mouth-barrier device | 1 | Rescue breathing or CPR – p. 299 |
| Plastic goggles or other | 1 | Protect eyes – p. 299 |
| Pencil and paper | 1 each | Log treatments & details – p. 292 |
Do not go overboard or spend a ton of money on this. Just put together what you can.
Robotics: Download the Robotics Merit Badge Worksheet Here. No prep needed. Just the $5 charge that you paid.
Wilderness Survival: Download the Wilderness Survival Worksheet Here. Scouts participating in Wilderness Survival Merit badge need to bring a completed wilderness survival kit or plan to purchase one in the trading post for $12. A list of items in a kit can be found here.
Emergency Preparedness: Download the Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge Here. The only requirement for this was that you have already completed the First Aide Merit Badge.
Climbing: Download the Climbing Merit Badge Worksheet Here. Climbing courses may cause conflicts with other Badge work, rafting trips, trail rides, and meal service. Scouts who miss a session will not be allowed to continue in the course. Mountain weather is unpredictable, make-ups may be necessary to complete this merit badge. If necessary, merit badge make-up will be offered on Friday morning. Requirement 1 will not be completed at camp.
All Merit Badge participants must purchase a climbing carabineer for $10.00. A carabineer ticket, bought from the trading post, will be redeemed during class for the actual carabineer. The scouts use the carabi- neer during class and keep it as a functional souvenir. The Scrambling Program does not require a carabineer ticket. This was covered if you paid the troop already.
Fishing: Download the Fishing Merit Badge Worksheet Here.
The Fishing and Fly Fishing MB’s require the Scout to catch & release one fish. The Ranch has three species of trout available; brook, brown and rainbow, including trophy fish over 20 inches.
BDSR has acquired a private lake license allowing all Scouts and Adult Leaders to fish in Weaver Lake without a Colorado fishing license. However, a BDSR Fishing Conservation Permit is required for anyone fishing on the ranch. It can be purchased at the Trading Post for $2.00. 100% of funds from the permit are used to restock fish in Weaver Lake. All fishing is catch and release with flies or artificial lures only. Every effort should be made to release fish alive. Elkhorn Creek has a small population of trout, but most years’ it is very difficult to fish due to snowmelt runoff until about mid-July and requires a Colorado Fishing License. When fishing anywhere on the Ranch other than Weaver Lake, or to fish off Ranch proper- ty, a Colorado State fishing license is required for anyone age 16 or older. One day, five day, and annual fishing permits are available at outlets in Fort Collins, LaPorte and Red Feather Lakes. The $2 cost was covered when you paid the troop.
Limited fishing equipment is available. If you have a fishing rod, plan to bring it for use in the Merit Badge program. But, there will be no fishing during the Fishing or Fly Fishing MB class time. Class time is for completing the other requirements. The Trading Post stocks a variety of fishing equipment.
Fly Fishing: Download the Fly Fishing Merit Badge Here.
Due to the relative difficulty of the skills involved in some of the requirements for Fly Fishing MB, it is recommended that scouts be age 13 or older. Cost for Fly Fishing is $5.00 and includes the the ticket for a kit to tie two flies required for the merit badge. The ticket is presented to the instructor during one of the open fly tying periods. Fly Tying instruction will be held in Camp Jeffrey (CJ) at Kola Lodge. It is a drop-in class that takes 30-40 minutes to complete. The $5 fee was covered when you paid the troop.
Archery: Download the Archery Merit Badge Worksheet Here. The Archery Merit Badge is an introduction to a sport of great skill and concentration. Because the Badge requires fine motor skills and good upper body strength, Archery is recommended for Scouts age thirteen or older. Scouts are required to construct their own arrow. Arrow kits are available in the Trading Post for $2.00 (prices subject to change), though they aren’t needed for the first day of class. A Scout interested in earning the Archery Merit Badge should also schedule at least two open shooting periods to qualify. The $2 fee was covered when you paid the troop.
Campers may NOT bring their own bows to camp.
The Archery Range will be open during Open Program Time from 4:00-5:15 Monday through Thursday.
Shotgun: Download the Shotgun Merit Badge Here. Since Shotgun shooting requires good upper body strength and fine motor skills, it is recommended for Scouts age 13 and over. Shotgun shooting will have a fee of $20.00 and will include all open shooting time to qualify.
Shotgun shooting open time outside of the merit badge is $5.00 for 10 shots and wristbands may be purchased at the trading post as well.
Photography: Download the Photography Merit Badge Worksheet Here. Photography is offered at the Porter Handicraft Lodge. Expect a 5 minute walk from the dining hall. The camp offers the digital option only on this Merit Badge. No film photography will be done. Scouts will need to supply their own digital camera. Most digital cameras will work (no disposables please!)
Kayaking: Download the Kayaking Merit Badge Worksheet Here. This Badge requires a swim check before Scouts may participate. It is strongly suggested that Scouts are at least 12 years old to participate in these merit badges. It is very physically strenuous. Scouts must attend all sessions to complete the merit badge.
Astronomy: Download the Astronomy Merit Badge Here. No Prerequisites required. The Astronomy Merit Badge require night time viewing for completion. This may have to be completed back at the troop.
That should about do it. After all this admin stuff…I’m ready to camp!!!
Sean
