Summer Camp 2021

Sunday, July 11 -
Saturday, July 17, 2021
J N Webster Scout Reservation
Ashford, Connecticut

Event Description

This year, Troop 54 will attend summer camp at June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation, our first time at their summer camp. This camp is out-of-council for us as it is in Connecticut Rivers Council. July 11-17 is their Week 3. Our Scouts will stay in two-person canvas wall tents on wooden platforms (one participant per tent, due to COVID-19, except for siblings). Each Scout will have a cot. Meals will be prepared by the camp and served in their dining hall (at scheduled times and via "grab and go" service to ensure distancing). We will be in Site 4A.

To get a picture of camp life, you can look at the Camp Video.

Registration

• Youth Registration Fee is as follows:

  Payment Amount Due Date Deposit $50 3/14/21 Remainder of Early Pay Fee $400 4/27/21 Regular Rate $475 After 4/27/21 Webelos Crossovers and New Scouts Fee $450 Before camp

• Additional Leader Fee - Leaders beyond those planned and needed by the Troop pay their own $120 additional leader fee through the Troop.
• Annual Health and Medical Record - each youth or adult member staying at camp one night or more must submit this form (Parts A, B and C) at or before the last regular troop meeting of the season on June 15. It is recommended that you keep the original and submit a copy. See this web page for details on how to complete the form and to get the form. Note that this requires a physical exam within the year before camp (with doctor signature) and a copy of both sides of your medical insurance card. If your doctor did not complete Part C, transcribe information from the doctor-provided record onto Part C.
• Camp-specific Med Forms:
  • Part D - Each youth and adult participant must submit this form.
  • Medication - Each youth taking prescription medication must submit this form.
  • Special Needs - Each youth participant with special health care needs or disabilities must submit this form or a document based on it.
  • Treatment for Allergic Reactions - Each youth participant with an allergy must submit this form.
• Camperships (Financial Aid):
  • Troop Campership Application - To apply for a troop campership, submit this form to the Scoutmaster by April 13.
  • Council Campership Application - To apply for a council campership, follow the instructions on this page (due April 1 but potentially acceptd later).
• To stay overnight at camp with the troop, an adult must be a registered member of the BSA.

Program

Activities at camp include merit badge sessions, patrol activities and troop activities (such as camp fires). The following documents/pages provide some detail:

• 2021 Merit Badge Program - This matrix lists which merit badge is offered at each time so that a Scout can plan his day.
• 2021 Summer Program Guide (Part 1) - Detailed camp information, including camp rules and procedures.
• 2021 Summer Program Guide (Part 2) - First Year Camper Program, COPE and Climbing Program, Program Areas, Merit Badge descriptions, Camp Program Planning Chart (available activities),
• Merit Badges - This area of the U. S. Scouting Service Project provides the current requirements for each of the merit badges.
• Theme Days - Read this and consider packing some theme clothing.

Badges earned during Summer Camp will be presented at a Court of Honor in September.

What to Pack

See our summer camp Packing List. To emphasize a few items to bring:

• Full uniform (shirt, pants, socks, neckerchief, neckerchief slide, belt) - we will wear these daily for evening meals and assemblies.
• Drink mix packets - everyone needs to avoid becoming dehydrated. If you have difficulty drinking water, bring something to mix into it.
• Flip flops - to wear in the shower. It is probably a good idea not to touch the floor.
• Mosquito net - see our page for details.

COVID-19

As camp approaches, the COVID-19 pandemic is fast approaching the point on April 19 when all Massachusetts residents age 16 and over are eligible for the vaccine and just months from the point when vaccine supplies are sufficient for anyone who wants to take the vaccine. How Camp Will Be Safe This Summer from the Connecticut Rivers Council summarizes the COVID-19 controls to be employed during summer camp. Some specifics provided a few days before our week at camp:

• Masks are required for everyone (regardless of vaccination status) indoors or when social distancing cannot be maintained.
• Masks are required for everyone in the dining hall.
• Each unit will perform daily health checks using a camp-provided process and form.

Friday BBQ

The camp has confirmed that families will still be welcomed for the Friday Evening BBQ and Campfire. This is the regular meal for camp participants. Visitors need to pay via the Troop by noon on Sunday, July 11, using the following payment links:

• Each Adult - $9
• Each Youth (under 12) - $5
• Each Youth (under 5) - no cost

Participating families who plan to participate should arrive 5:00-5:30 PM. Our plan is to pack up and clean up our site on Saturday. If a Scout is taken home on Friday, he should be sure to do his share of the cleaning up and packing up before leaving.

Travel

The camp wants to have trailers brought to the sites in the morning, and Epworth has services Sunday morning, so this plan was updated on July 7 to eliminate meeting at the church for departure.

The key requirement is for your Scout and his stuff to be at the camp close to but not earlier than 1:00 PM on Sunday. If you want to simplify the process of moving into the site, you can leave your tubs and other gear (e.g., sleeping bag, pillow, poles, fishing rod) at the Scoutmaster's house to load into the trailer at one of the following times:

• Saturday, 4-5 PM
• Sunday 8:30-9:30 AM
• Call to arrange another time on Saturday or Sunday (before 9:30 AM).

The drive to the camp takes about 55 minutes. Have lunch before arriving at the camp or bring a bag lunch to eat at the camp (nothing that requires cooking). Our first camp meal will be dinner. Everyone should drive to the main parking lot. The camp staff can move your stuff (if you brought it yourself) to the camp site.

Scouts can carpool to get to the camp. 2 pickup trucks should be sufficient, especially if you send your gear in the trailer.

Each Scout should have his swimsuit and towel in his day pack, with a water bottle, face mask and any prescription medications, to be ready for med check and swim check before we complete unpacking and camp setup.

The one drawback to this change is that we won't be able to gauge how many bicycles will fit into the trailer, especially for the drive back. As a result, it is likely that anyone bringing a bicycle will need a family member to pick up his bicycle at the end of camp. We only have five Scouts going to camp, so if everyone transports his gear in the trailer, 1-2 pickup trucks should be sufficient to bring the bicycles back.

Late arrivals at camp - Advise the Scoutmaster in advance. The troop is expected to show up together.

Return - Our estimated return to Epworth is 11:00 AM on Saturday. Bear in mind the Nouvelle Arche services likely will be in progress when we arrive at the church.

Page updated 7/7/21 J. Froimson