What Parents Need to know about Summer Camp
What to pack:
- Scout Handbook
- Class “B” T-shirt
- Bathing Suit
- Jacket or Sweat shirt
- PJ’s
- shorts, pants, t-shirts
- daily change of underwear
- socks
- rain gear
- hiking boots
- sneakers
- Sleeping bag
- Clothes hanger
- towel & wash cloth
- soap & shampoo
- toothbrush & paste
- MEDICATIONS
- comb / brush
- sun screen
- insect repellent
- flashlight
- extra batteries
- compass
- whistle
- pen / pencil & paper
- Water Bottle (Nalgene)
- Spending Money
- Scout Spirit
Optional:
- Pocket knife
- fishing pole & tackle
- camera
- bible / prayer book
- watch
Please pack the above in a duffle bag. A small back pack should be carried on the ferry- with the last minute things, a snack, and a t-shirt to change into after we arrive at camp.
DO NOT PACK the SCOUT UNIFORM!!!! IT MUST BE WORN ON THE FERRY SUNDAY
Expect everything brought to camp to get dirty, wet ( especially your child) and possible mixed with other scout’s gear. PLEASE LABEL everything.
What NOT to pack:
cell phones, MP3 players, ipods, electronics games little brothers & sisters. Please use prudent judgement. Adult leaders will have cell phones if your child needs to call home. We will not be responsible if expensive electronics are lost or damaged. Furthermore, there is no electricity in camp to recharge these items.
If your son needs a medical device or other item you would like us to “watch out for” please let us know. From experience, one child lost an expensive medical prosthetic shoe insert, if the adults knew he had this device we would have made arrangements to look after it’s care.
MEDICATIONS: Many kids in the troop require daily medications or medical devices. Before we leave for camp, please speak with the scoutmaster, Sean McCarthy/ Andy Bobor, and arrange a schedule. This is best done at the gear drop off day (Saturday before we go). Please keep medications in the original container with the pharmacy label on it.
Gear Drop Off:
On Saturday July 9, 10:00 to 12:00 the troop will meet at Sean McCarthy’s house, 5 Short Court, Nesconset ( south of 347 off Regency Court & Lake Ave. cell #631-553-7830) to drop off any gear going to camp.
Please bring a complete scout uniform on a hanger for inspection.
Troop Bank
Some scouts may have trouble being thrifty. We understand this. At the gear drop off you can make arrangements with the troop banker if your son needs help in managing money. Rule of thumb $4-$5 per day is a high average, the scouts may want extra for a special item or gift.
The important thing to remember is we do not have the facility to make change at camp. For example, if you want your scout to have $5 per day please give the banker an envelope with 7 $5 bills (a $20 $10 $5 just will not work).
Some scouts may want to purchase that special gift or tee shirt. Make arrangements with the banker to hold and release extra cash for this purchase.
The bank is “open” every morning and run by one of the adult leaders in camp.
Traveling to camp:
The troop will meet at the Orient Point ferry on Sunday July 10 around 12:00 noon. We usually meet at the snack bar just north of the ferry terminal. Bring a lunch and a camera. The troop will return the following Sunday July 17.
The ferry company has made arrangements with local farmers to use a field just to the north of the ferry terminal, behind the snack bar. Please meet there at 12:00ish.
What to expect on Sunday July 10: Travel Day
12:00 to 1:00 meet, greet, check in, and eat at the Orient Point snack bar
1:00 to 2:00 Pictures & board ferry
3:00 to 4:00 exit ferry board bus to camp
4:00 to 6:00 check in at camp, medical forms will be reviewed, kids can change shirts relax & wait in field
6:00 to 7:00 settle in to campsite
7:00 Dinner at campsite – traditional subway hero
8:00 to 10:00 finish setup camp
11:00 lights out
Life in Camp:
Buddy system will be observed at all times.
If Scout and buddy leave campsite sign out / sign in book must be logged.
Wild life your son will encounter is varied and for the most part equal to what we have here on the island. But, the most ferocious, brazen of all the creatures that call Yawgoog home is the “Mini Bear”, Tamias Striatus. This fearless eastern chipmunk has for years caused troop 349’s scouts countless sleepless nights and episodes of great anxiety due to cookie theft investigations. The next most dangerous creature calls the depths of Yawgog pond home. The Yawgoog snapping turtle is a legendary creature who over the decades has acquired size, agility, and abilities only equaled by the Lockness monster.
Draw your own conclusions, but Scouts beware!
Typical day in Camp:
wake up – chores /camp clean up – flag raising – breakfast – merit badge session 1 & 2 – lunch – Merit badge sessions 3&4 – change into uniform – flag retiring – dinner – troop activity – campsite activity – lights out…..
As a first time scout your son can expect to have two merit badge classes per day. One will be Mammal studies taught by assistant scoutmasters. The other will be a craft taught by camp staff. The materials for the craft may cost between $5 to $10 depending on the craft your son chooses. Your scout will also go to a scout skill class or other activity during one of the merit badge sessions. Finally he will have one “free’ time period per day. Adult leaders will coach the scouts to use this “free” time constructively.
Fishing is allowed and encouraged at camp. The lake at Yawgoog is a “catch and release” lake. The fish are mostly vegetarian and are wise to all the tricks. The best bait is leftover bread from lunch or dinned. No need for exotic lures or live / frozen bait. There are a couple of “favorite” spots on the lake. Older scouts will share with younger scouts if asked nicely. You may take a fishing pole to camp or rent one at the Ashaway aquatic center, $1 or $2 for the week. Due to space restraints of our trailer, we recommend renting or borrowing a pole. There are usually several around camp your son can use. The troop will actually rent a couple of poles from the camp for your son’s use.
Special Meals:
If for some reason your child requires a special diet please return this e-mail and I will send you a form for the camp. With advance notice, the camp is very god a accommodating special diets weather it is medically necessary, religious or by choice.
We have a form for that! Nobody goes hungry at camp.
Family Day & Camp Visits:
Family day is Saturday July 16th, you are welcome to come experience camp for yourselves, if you wish to do so. We usually have two or three families visit each year. Curious enough they seldom return the next year, I wonder why??? However, the scouts always return with mom & dad’s blessing…..
Care Packages:
The troop has a long 40+ year history at Yawgoog. Several traditions cannot be varied. One such tradition is Wednesday night care packages. Every scout gets something from home.
Mr. & Mrs. Johnston are in charge of care packages. More details will be sent to you prior to departure, in general all packages are to be dropped off to the Johnston’s house before Tuesday July 12th.
Please keep the packages to the size of a shoe box. Pat drives a big car but with over 70 scouts space is limited.
Well I’ve tried to cove everything If you have any questions or concerns please talk to us.
Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Sean
