Summer camp is right around the corner. The great thing is all water sports are on at the lake. Please be sure to bring a pair of water shoes, your feet will thank you.
A huge thank you to the ASM team for helping put together the following items. Please take time to print off the attachments and refer to them often as you prepare for camp.
Questions? (after you have read the info below).....
Below is a great note put together by a second year parent of things he wish he would have know before he and his son went off to summer camp for the first time.
Thank you Kirk for capturing these thoughts to share.
Below are some notes/suggestions from someone after their first Summer Camp of things that made the boys days go a little better during the week at camp. Sometimes what appears as a minor detail can make a big difference at camp:
1) Camp Chairs: make sure you send one and label it. There is free time after 4:00 every day and after walking around for classes all day it is priceless to have your own chair to grab.
2) Locks with 2 sets of keys or combination turned in before leaving for camp. The boys will be locking their trunks. Since sometimes people forget their combo or lose their keys the ASMs will have a box with the extra keys or combo to help unlock the trunk. (Label any key so we can tell them appart)
3) Letters/Money from home. Every day around lunch time the boys will get mail from home. It is best if family members write a short note each day plus add a little spending money to buy a snack after class. It is best to ration the money each day so there is new money to spend vs giving $20 to last all week. Also for the notes to the boys-- try not to mention all the fun you will be having while their are gone or how nice and cold the AC was at the movie that you went to see.
4) Swimming: Please take the boys swimming to practice swimming laps in the next week. All boys must pass the BSA swim test to be able to enjoy the free swim at the blob. If they can work on their strokes this week and also build up their endurance it is highly recomended. This year they will qualify in a lake so that makes thinks a little harder vs a pool.
5) Clothes: It works best if the boys pack their changes of clothes in large zip lock bags. That keeps them dry if it rains and they left their trunk open, or to keep the bugs out of the clothes if they leave their stuff lying around.
6) Cots/Mosquito Net/frame for around cot. At the Sunday meeting ASMs will setup some examples for frames made out of PVC pipe that helps hold the netting up off the cot. We will also have directions on how to make one if you do not have a frame from previous camp outs.
7) Label everything-- clothes-- on the tag, chairs, cots, trunks, etc. All the gear will be packed together so when it is unloaded at camp things look the same. Also if your boy is like mine and he takes his shirt off and drops it around camp-- all the Troop 416 shirts look the same. Put initials on the tag!
8) Fans/Batteries: Having a small fan that can be taped, hung, set on top of the trunk near their cot to cool off at night can make it easier to go to sleep. Make sure you send extra batteries for the fan or flash light for the week just in case-- be prepared.
Some folks have reported that when clicking a "Read More" link on an eBlast item, the site does not remember that you are already logged in. You are directed to an "Access Denied" page and must reenter your password. This is a known issue that has been reported to the provider, but does not have a solution at this time. Apologies, but we'll essentially have to deal with the inconvenience for now.
Money for the trading post. For snacks and souvenirs. ($20+ supply fees is usually plenty)
Certain merit badge supplies may need to be purchased. (It is known that Basketry, Leather-work & Wood Carving require kits to be purchased at the camp's store)
The archery & rifle ranges will likely be open. Archery is free, but there is a charge for rifle. Somewhere in the neighborhood of $1 for 10 rifle shells, 50 cents per shotgun shell.
All kids love getting mail, and Scouts away at camp are no different. We encourage you to have parents send letters and/or packages to their scout while away at camp. Please make sure that the troop number and a return address are present, in case the package is received after the scout has gone home.
Camp Constantin Scout’s Name/ Troop Number 3003 Park Road 36 Graford, Texas 76449
Emergency Telephone Number Camp Constantin :(940) 779-2131 (Ranger’s Office – available all year) Please note, the camp telephone number is for medical and family emergencies only.
