Harpers Creek Camping

When:  

Meet at First Presbyterian Church at 2pm Tomorrow

        We Will Return Around 1pm on Saturday (we will call as we get closer to town)

Where:

        Off the Blue Ridge Parkway between Hwy 181 and  Grandfather Mtn.

        It is called Gragg Prong

What:

        Have your son pack a sandwich and chips for dinner Friday night

        We will be making our dessert (details of who needs to bring what are below)

        We will provide granola bars, hot chocolate/apple cider, oatmeal for breakfast

        We will stop and get lunch on the way home

Cost:

        $15 per person covers breakfast and lunch on Saturday

Dessert on Friday Night:

        Peter bring 5-6 med. Granny Smith apples

        Robinson bring 20 oz Sprite

        Will bring ½ cup Brown Sugar

        Harper bring box of yellow cake mix

        Patrick bring 1 stick of butter

        Elijah 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Weather:

        The weather looks very good.  Only 10-20% chance of rain with temps 52-75 degrees.

Details:

        We are going to end up with a very good turnout. 

        We will leave from the church and hopefully get up to our location around 4-5pm. 

        From there we will hike in about 1-2 miles and set up camp.  For new Scouts, don’t worry, we have tents.       

        There is a stream so you will be allowed to play in it and also fish if you bring a rod.

Packing Suggestions:

        (This is a list of suggestions but it may not include everything so don’t rely on it as your only source)

• Backpack
• Boots
• Several pairs of good socks that go above ankle (1-2 to hike in and out an 1-2 to end up getting wet)
• Short pants (scout pants are great)
• Gym shorts/bathing suit
• Ziploc bag to put we clothes in (not required just good to have)
• Shoes that can be worn in
• Underwear
• Long sleeve shirt
• May want long pants for cooler evening
• Light waterproof raincoat or shell
• Sleeping bag
• Canteen(s)
• Small flashlight
• Hat (optional)
• Mess kit/bowl with eating utensil
• Some like to bring bug repellent/sunscreen.  It is optional and someone else may have it if you don’t

Important:

        To go you must have a signed waiver form.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

        Other than the 20 oz. Sprite that Robinson brings, NO SODAS.

Summer Camp Reminders

Scout Camp is around the corner!  July 7-13th.

If you haven't submitted your final payments for Scout Camp, please do so as soon as possible.  Scouts who have signed up for merit badge classes that have program fees with receive an email soon with their final fees.

Scouts need to have a BSA Medical form updated every year. We are required to have each scout's updated medical form and a copy of their insurance card at the start of camp.  The medical form can be found at http://www.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/whole.pdf.  Parts A, B, and C must be completed and signed by a medical provider.  Piedmont Urgent Care offers camp physicals for $50-- no appointment necessary.  Most primary care physicians will only charge your co-pay for a physical, but you must make an appointment and have it completed before camp, so please plan ahead.

If you have any questions, please talk to your scout leaders.  Thanks!

Summer Camp Planning

If you haven't made plans to join us for scout camp this summer, it's not too late!  Camp Raven Knob still has space available, but the troop needs to know soon.  We are going to Sunday, July 7th to Saturday, July 13th.  Camp Raven Knob is located near Mt. Airy, NC, about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Hickory.  If your thinking about going and need more information, please speak with Mike Webber, John Fuller, or Mark Roberts.  Don't miss out!

Scouts- If you haven't turned in your merit badge class preferences, please do so soon, so that you have that opportunity to get the classes that you want.  Otherwise, I'm putting you all in basket weaving MB for the whole day!

See you on Tuesday...

Whitewater Center Pics

We had a great day at the National Whitewater Center.  The weather held out long enough for us to run the ropes course, raft the whitewater course, and finish up our day on the Big Zip-- a zip line that traverses the whitewater course, giving us a bird's-eye view of Class III- IV rafting.

National Whitewater Center

We will be going to the National Whitewater Center on Saturday, April 27th.  Please met at the church at 9:30.  We will return at 5 pm.The cost of admission is $54 per person, plus the cost of lunch.  There is a restaurant/ market there where you can purchase lunch, or if you wish, you can bring a bag lunch.  We'll have a cooler available with us.

The Whitewater Center has many different outdoor activities available, including whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, zip lines, ropes courses, climbing walls, and mountain biking.  The NWC offers an all-day pass that allows participants to try all activities for one price.  We do need a head count to reserve rafting times, so please let us know by Tuesday if you plan to attend.  You can email, call, or let the leaders know at the next troop meeting, but we need to know by Tuesday.  You also need to go to http://usnwc.org/play/wp-content/uploads/Assumption-of-Risk-waiver.pdf and download the release waiver, print it, sign it, and bring it with you on Saturday.  Each scout must have this on Saturday to participate.  I will have BSA consents to sign on Saturday, but please bring your own NWC waiver. Invite your parents to join us. Thanks!

I hope everyone can make it.

No Troop Meeting for April 16th

We had a great time at Hart Square this past weekend.  Thanks to the Hart family for their hospitality and allowing us to visit their village.  Congratulations to the troop's new OA candidates- Jackson, Carson, Baylor, Patrick, and Will.  I'd also like to welcome the newest members of our troop-- Peter, Charlie, and Elijah!  These guys are ready to have fun with their friends and do some cool stuff in scouting.

We will not meet tomorrow night, but will meet again next Tuesday, April 23rd.   Please continue to sell scout cards.  If you want more to sell, please let me know and I can get you more cards.  Remember, sell 10 cards and your Scoutmaster gets a new, aerodynamic haircut for camp!

Please mark Saturday, April 27th on your calendar.  We are planning to go to the National Whitewater Center in Charlotte.  I will send out more information about this trip soon.

Hart Square Preparations for the Weekend

Please meet at the church at 6:00 pm Friday evening.  We will be traveling to Hart Square in southern Catawba County.  Hart Square is the largest collection of historic log cabin-style buildings in the US. It's a truly remarkable place and Dr. and Mrs. Hart have been so kind to allow the scouts to hold their camporee there.

Once there, we will check-in and set up our campsite.  A campfire program will begin at 9pm.  Please plan to eat dinner before the trip.  The scout leaders will make a Dutch Oven dessert for cracker barrel before taps.

Meals

We plan to patrol cook for this camping trip.  Please plan to bring $20 to cover the cost of the camporee (patches, awards, and other expenses) and for groceries/ meals.   We will have paper plates and plasticwear, but you may bring your mess kits, if you wish. You may bring your camp stove to heat water for warm drinks.  Water will be available onsite.  Please bring a water bottle for your personal use throughout the day.

Campfires

Campfires are allowed if we keep it in a barrel or artificial pit.

Clothing/Gear

Please bring your Class A uniform for the campfire program, flag ceremony, and Chapel on Sunday morning.  If you do not have one, that's OK.  I have some tan Class B uniforms (troop t-shirt) that will work fine.

The weather forecast is improving for Friday.  Currently, there is a 30% chance of rain Friday night, but clear and sunny Saturday and Sunday.  The high should be around 70 and low 45-50.  A rain jacket would be a good idea.

Saturday afternoon, we will hold an Order of the Arrow election that will be supervised by the district OA advisor.  

Sunday, we will have a chapel service, pack up and clean up camp.  We will plan to break camp and depart Hart Square around 9:30.  We should be back in Hickory shortly after that.  Scouts will have access to the adult leaders' cell phones to call home for a ride if they need.

I think we should have a terrific time!