Every Scout Should Go to Summer Camp!
A traditional part of the Boy Scout program is a weeklong residential summer camp experience at a Boy Scout camp. Troop 850 sends a large contingent to Scout summer camp every year, usually in July. This is a great opportunity for young Scouts to get accustomed to the Troop and to earn their first merit badges. Our summer camp destination varies. We have attended:
2011 Summer Camp
In 2011, we will attend Camp Powhatan near Roanoke, VA the week of June 19-25. This is a full week of activity for the Scouts and is one of the highlights of our Scouting year.
We will leave for Virginia on Sunday morning June 19th and arrive in early afternoon to check-in. The boys will sleep on cots, two to a canvas tent on raised wooden platforms. Monday through Friday, the Scouts attend merit badge classes which they have chosen and the 1st year Scouts will also attend a special program (‘Brownsea Island’) geared toward new Scouts. This program is a great way to quickly attain their Tenderfoot rank and learn basic scout skills.
Other activities include swimming, hiking, rifle shooting, horsemanship, archery, morning and evening flag ceremonies, campfires, and boating. The cost for the week including transportation will be $320 for each Scout and only $50 for Adults. The Troop will cover the bulk of the camping costs ($160) for all adults. Anyone attending camp must complete a medical form which includes an examination by a physician. Camp Powhatan is part of the Blue Ridge Mountain Council. For more information, go to www.brmcreservation.org, click on “Summer Camp” and “Powhatan”. Be sure to watch the You Tube video and read the Leader’s Guide.
Summer camp is a great opportunity for rank advancement and especially for earning a number of the “required” outdoor merit badges such as swimming, camping, lifesaving and many others. We encourage all of our Scouts to attend summer camp.
