• Saturday July 9, 10:00 to 12:00 Trailer Pack-up, uniform inspection, and paperwork finalization day.  Meet at Scoutmaster’s House, 5 Short Court Nesconset.
• Sunday July 10, 12:00 noon, Troop luncheon at Orient Point Ferry, Pictures and embark on our trip to Yawgoog.
• Tuesday July 12, Care Package drop off to Mrs. Johnston.
• Sunday July 19 Return to Orient point 5:00 pm

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.

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).

 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.

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.

In it’s 47 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.

~Tuesday night Zepolies

~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.

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.

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.

To celebrate the Fourth of July we will decorate Smithtown with our flags.  We need your help.

Flag placement 8:30 am meet at the storage facility behind James Crest Florist off main street.

Flag retirement 5:00pm

Pleas spend a half hour to help the Troop perform this community service.

Thank you,

Scoutmaster Sean

Just a few pointers for the first time Yawgoog campers.

Scout gear pack up – Saturday July 9 10:00am to 12:00 at the 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 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

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

Please visit this website and print out the merit badge workbook for the badges you are taking.

Also, some merit badges have pre-requisite that need to be completed prior to attending camp.  Here is a document that explains what needs to be done before camp for a successful week.  2016 Merit Badge Pre-Recs

You may need this information for camp.

Parton meetings for Yawgoog will be Wednesday night 7:00pm – 8:30pm behind the Nesconset Library.  Patrol leaders please bring supplies to make your patrol flag.

Scoutmaster Sean

PS. Today Sunday afternoon, June 26th, between 2-5 please come to the storage unit (behind James Crest Florist, Main street Smithtown) for trailer clean-up.  Please and thank you of course.