Troop,

Important items for the next couple of days:

• Saturday July 8, 10:00 to 12:00 Trailer Pack-up, uniform inspection, and paperwork finalization day. Meet at Asst. Scoutmaster’s House, 5 Short Court Nesconset.
• Sunday July 9, 12:00 noon, Troop luncheon at Orient Point Ferry, Pictures and embark on our trip to Yawgoog.
• Tuesday July 11, Care Package drop off to Mrs. Johnston. – 8 St. James Rd., Lake Grove NY 11755
• Sunday July 16 Return to Orient point 5:00 pm

Trailer Pack-up
Saturday between 10 to 12 we pack the trailer with all the gear you son needs for camp. Please pack your gear in a duffle bag that can be squished. I usually put my gear in a plastic bag then into my duffle for extra protection from weather. Trunks are discouraged, due to limited space in the trailer. Pack a coat hanger for your son to hang his uniform.

All medical forms need to be completed. This includes a copy of your son’s insurance card (both sides). The most important part of the form is your contact information. We don’t expect to use them, our motto- be prepared. If you haven’t turned you medical in beforehand please bring TWO copies to the trailer pack-up. No medical form, no camp, Yawgoog has a no exception policy.

Medications, If you son takes medications you can drop them off at the trailer pack-up. We will have a table set up and you can discuss your son’s needs with Mr. Spear. He is in charge of medications. Please pack the medications in the original container with the dispensing instruction label. Put all medications in a ziplock bag with your son’s name on the outside.

You can set up a “Troop Bank account” at the trailer pack-up. Remember we can not make change. If you want to give your son $5 a day we need 7 $5 bills.

The Ferry – Sunday July 9
We meet at 12:00 for lunch and pictures at the snack bar next to the Orient Point ferry terminal. We board the ferry as a troop. You must be in Class A uniform. The ferry takes about hour and half.

When we get to New London we board the Yawgoog buses. The adults and older scouts will help your son to the bus. Head counts are taken throughout the trip. The bus ride to camp takes about half hour.

When we get to camp we have “down time”. This time is used for the scoutmaster to check us in, pay the final bill, and go over each medical form with camp staff. At 5pm we are allowed to proceed to our campsite. We empty the trailer, stow our gear and have dinner (Subway Sandwiches).

The Return Ferry- Sunday July 16
We return Sunday on the 4:00pm boat leaving New London. we arrive in Orient around ~5:20pm. We will meet in the parking field to empty the trailer. Please be very careful in the parking lot, lots of cars lots of scouts walking about. Do not leave without 1. your son, 2.his gear, 3. troop picture from camp, 4. camp hat, 5. any medications left over for your son.

Tips and Tricks
A couple of tricks I’ve learned.

1. In addition to the luggage you surrender to the troop trailer, pack a day pack (small cary on back pack) with all the things you forgot. Like sunscreen, etc. Add a water bottle, snacks, you get the idea.
2. wear a tee shirt under your uniform shirt. Take off your uniform when you get to camp during the “Down Time”.
3. Keep sugary snacks to a minimum. Our biggest problem Sunday night stems from too much junk food and upset stomaches. Use common sense, if you wouldn’t give your son the junk food at home why allow him to suffer at camp.
4. Homesickness- we expect it. We have strategies to mitigate it. However, we can’t help mom and dad from separation anxiety. We have resources available at camp to call you if you son needs to.
5. Please instruct your son to talk to the adults in camp if he is having a problem. We can’t fix what we don’t know.

Troop Traditions
In it’s 48 years the troop has developed several traditions. At Yawgoog we continue several traditions that have been refined over the years.
For example:
~Sign out / sign in book. You son must inform us of his whereabouts at all times. This rule will be explained before entering camp.
~Wednesday night care packages
~Thursday night Costumes. At dinner scouts can wear costumes to dinner. This year’s theme is Vikings
~Fridaynight pudding eating contest.
~Saturday night pizza and show
~ rainy day slip-n-slide

Troop,

Life in camp:

We camp in platform flap tents, pictured below. The tent is heavy canvas with roll down sides. The boys sleep on bunk beds. The racks are made of wood with final stretch over the frame to make a bed. there are 6-8 boys per tent.

We have two campsites, Abe Lincoln and Kit Carson. Our campsite has two fire rings, and one Flush toilet latrine. The latrine has two sides, Kit carson (used only by the boys) and Abe Lincoln (reserved for the Adults in camp). The Dining hall is across the activities field in front of our campsite.

Security in camp:

Every one in camp must be registered with Yawgoog staff. All overnight campers must have a BSA medical form. Adults must wear wrist bands while in camp. 1)We require every scout leaving camp site to sign out in a book, that is located at our command center in camp. 2)We require any scout leaving the camp site to have a buddy. There are no exceptions to these two rules. Violations to this rule forfeits privileges. When in camp, Scout leaders have a reasonable idea where every scout is at all times. Your son will be instructed on the troop’s two rules prior to entering camp.

The Troop Bank –

There are trading posts in Yawgoog. They have all the goodies a scout looks for. It is suggested to bring spending money. How much thats up to you. If your son is taking a craft merit badge the supplies will have a costs, woodcarving ~$3 -5, Leatherwork ~$5-10 basketry ~$30.

If your child is not as Thrifty as you may like him to be, we set up a troop bank. The scout can withdraw money daily from the bank operated by one of the adults in camp. I suggest $5 a day. Please Note: We cannot make change in camp. If you want your son to withdraw $5 a day we need from you 7 $5 bills. You can set up the bank account on Saturday July 8 at the trailer pack-up day.

Wild life in camp:

You can expect to confront the most fiercest creature that populates Yawgoog. The mini-bear (Tamis Striatus). Mini-bears will destroy you gear looking for contraband. Don’t let their cuteness fool you. These are elusive hunters of candy, chips and all things good. Chipmunks can’t be trusted.
Scouts may encounter skunks as well. We have not had an incident in all the years we have gone to Yawgoog. If you leave then alone they leave you alone. All the other wildlife we have here on Long Island lives in Rhode Island. If your quiet,You can expect to see some deer in camp.

A typical Day –

Wake up at 7:00am, clean tent and do choirs, Flag ceremony, breakfast, 9:00am 1st merit badge class, 10:30 2nd MB class, 12 lunch, field activities, 2:00pm 3rd MB Class, 3:30 4th MB class, down time in camp, Dinner, Evening activities, 11:00pm lights out.
The schedule for the first time campers after breakfast is different everyday. However, their daily activities will always start at the picnic tables in Kit Carson campsite right after breakfast.

Troop,

Just a few pointers for the first time Yawgoog campers.

Scout gear pack up – Saturday July 8 10:00am to 12:00 at the Asst. Scoutmaster’s house, 5 Short Court Nesconset.

Please pack your gear in a duffle bag. We have limited space in the trailer and trunks are discouraged.

Please label everything brought to camp. Expect everything brought to camp to get wet, get dirty, be lost or mixed with other scout’s stuff. It’s amusing the emails and Facebook posts the week after camp of parents trying to find the stuff they sent to camp.

What NOT to bring to camp –
Electronics, cell phones, little brothers and sisters, no firearms or fire works, no pets, no bikes, no skateboards.

What you can bring to camp –

• scout spirit and scout books,
• tooth brush and tooth paste, soap, shampoo
• flashlights, pocket knives (if you have toten chip),
• bath/ beach towels, wash cloth
• 3-4 shorts, bathing suit,
• 4-5 tee shirts, underwear, socks
• You must have footwear on at all times – hiking boots (recommended, not required), water shoes (if you have them)
• Sweatshirt / lite jacket
• RAIN Gear – (rain coat or poncho )
• PJs
• Sleeping bag or blanket
• Pen or pencil, notebook
• sun screen
• Nalgene water bottle
• compass

Other items:
bug netting. For years Yawgoog was blessed with a robust bat population that controlled the bugs. About four years ago the bat population suffered a virus that decimated their numbers. As a result bugs came back. The good news the bats are starting to re-populate. I plan on taking my bug netting for my bunk, I suggest the same for your child. You can get netting at Walmart, Dick’s sports, the Scout shop for about $20.

The troop will rent for the week several fishing poles from the camp. It is not necessary to bring you own.