The link below is a page from the Camp Russell Leaders Guide which pertains to scouts going to summer camp. If your son is attending please print it out and refer to it.

SummerCamp2014_Parents_Sheet

GEAR UP FOR CAMP
Check out June’s issue of Boys’ Life for the the best way to keep hydrated this summer. In our Scout Shop and at camps this summer, we’ve got Lifeline’s Survival in a Bottle, which includes a flashlight, batteries, survival blanket, emergency poncho, 5-in-1 whistle and a reusable zipper-lock bag. Only $10.00!

PROGRAM & POPCORN KICK-OFF & ANNUAL RECOGNITION DINNER
Two great events – one night. Join us on Wednesday, 6/25. Recognition Dinner at 5pm. Program Tables at 6:30pm and Popcorn Kick off at 7:15. We’ll have you out of there by 8:00pm. Register for the dinner online here. It’s only $10 and includes hamburgers, hot dogs, potato and macaroni salads, pickles, chips and drinks.

MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR RENEWAL
All who are currently registered as Merit Badge Counselors will be receiving a confirmation card for this coming year in the mail. Be on the lookout for it. Remember, you must be registered with the BSA to be a Merit Badge Counselor.
Click here to renew online.

SUMMER CAMP PAYMENTS
Units and packs are responsible for collecting all camp payments, due Sunday, June 1, and handing them into the Scout Service Center. Please make sure you coordinate with your unit and that you are on the roster for attending camp this summer. The Council is no longer accepting individual camp payments. Click on the links below to download forms:
-Cub Scout Day Camp Form
-Boy Scout Resident Camp Form
-Cub Scout Resident Camp Form

NRA RIFLE INSTRUCTOR COURSE
RTC is offering those with prior firearm experience, ages 21+, an NRA Rifle Instructor Course at a significant discount to Scouters. The course will be held June 20-22 at Camp Russell. Click here for more on the course and how to register.

OPERATION SUNSHINE
Operation Sunshine applications are due Sunday, June 1. Don’t forget that anyone applying for a campership needs to have participated in fundraising either last Fall or this Spring. Click here to download the form.

SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT
The 11th Annual David M. Philipson’s Sporting Clays Tournament is on Saturday, July 19. Come out and have fun while shooting 100 targets per person! Register online here.

MIGHTY RUN
Fall Scout Camporee is at the Mighty Run, September 12th & 13th. Join the committee, help us plan the Camporee, build obstacles or run in a Scout flight! For more info, email Bill at preacheronapan@yahoo.com.

This Saturday 6/7/2014 is Relay for Life at the Whitesboro High School track on Rte 291, off Rte 49. They are looking for 4 scouts to be the color guard at 11:30. You would be carrying the flags once around the track (1/4 mile). This can be counted as community service time and/or for advancement “participating in a flag ceremony.” If you are interested let Mark Smith (Deven’s dad) know by calling 368-5973.

This is a reminder that final payments for summer camp are due by May 28. Also anyone who hasn’t had a Doctor’s Physical since last July 2013 needs to have one prior to going to camp. There is a new physical form which can be found at the National BSA website. You will also need to fill out the OTC form attached at this link — CLICK HERE

All: We will be meeting at Greenlawn Cemetery, (next to JAY-K) at 6 PM to place American Flags on Veteran’s graves for Memorial Day. This usually takes 30 to 40 minutes. We will then go to the School for our regular meeting. Please wear your uniforms and bring your scout books.

The Troop will be meeting at Perry Jr. High at 6:30PM for Swim Night instead of our normal troop meeting.

Next week 5/21/14 the Troop will be placing American flags on the grave of Veterans in Greenlawn Cemetery on Route 5 in New Hartford. This will start at 6PM and then we will head to Myles Elementary for our normal troop meeting at 7pm.

This is a reminder that we have a Troop Committee meeting prior to the Troop Meeting this Weds 6 PM in the Myles Cafeteria.  The following events will be discussed:
·       NH Rotary Pancake Day May3
·       Spring trip to Scranton May 9-11
·       Council Recognition Dinner May 15
·       Family Picnic June 18
·       Summer Camp July 26- Aug 2
We will be going over our treasurer’s report, discussing troop advancement.
 
All Committee members, Uniformed Leaders need to attend.  Parents are encouraged to attend and give input.  We need to add adults to the Troop Committee in several roles.  This is an opportunity for you to spend quality time with your son(s).
 

From ScoutMaster Obernesser:

Opening Cedarlands for a week of resident summer camp August 3-9 was based on having 150 Boy Scouts signed up by April 15. This is the minimum number that the Executive Board required to have in order to open. Back in the fall, several troops committed to going to CSR for the week and turned in their estimate of scouts attending. It appeared that we had more than enough scouts and proceeded with the planning necessary to open a camp. Several troops have since backed out and /or have few attendees. As of last night there were only 107 scouts signed up. A decision has been made not to run a resident camp this year. This leaves us with somewhat of a dilemma as we have signed up 28 scouts to attend the week of August 3.

Our option is to go to Camp Russell, (as we have done for the past 2 years), and use Cedarlands as an outpost high adventure for the older scouts. The 1st and 4th week at Russell have vacancies. Weeks 2 and 3 are full. I am not available week 1. At this point I would like to sign the troop up for week 4 which is July 28 –August 2. I need to hear back from everyone who has paid their $50 deposit.

Can you go the week of July 28? Leaders who have requested vacation, can you switch dates?

Let me know ASAP.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
We would like to share with you that our Scout Executive, Michael Donaghue, after 30 years of service to the Boy Scouts has decided to pursue other interests. We wish him well, and if you see him, be sure to thank him! Our interim Scout Executive is Brad Bowersox, who is our Area 3 Director.

10 COMMANDMENTS HIKE CANCELLED
Please be aware that this weekend’s 10 Commandments hike has been cancelled.

ANNUAL CLEAN AND GREEN
Reminder: Saturday, April 26 is Clean and Green Day. We encourage you and your Units to participate in your local community’s Clean and Green initiatives to improve the streets and natural resources around us. Make sure to log in your community service hours.

IMPORTANT SUMMER CAMP INFORMATION
Boy Scout Summer Camp: Deposits due Tuesday, April 15. $50/Scout. If your Unit hasn’t made its $100 site reservation, please do so as soon as possible.

Provisional Troop: Not going with your Troop, or want to go again? Well you can! Both Camp Russell and Cedarlands will both have Provisional Troops this year. If you’re interested, contact Sam Getman, Council Camp Coordinator.

Camperships Available: Generous donations have allowed the Council to offer ten, $100.00 camperships for Scouts to apply for use to attend Cedarlands. Use the Operation Sunshine form, fill it in, print on the top: CSR CAMPERSHIP, and turn it in by April 15.

Operation Sunshine: Applications due Sunday, June 1. Click here to download the 2014’s application.

MOM & ME CAMPOUT
Don’t have any ideas for Mother’s day? Come join us for our annual Mom & Me campout! Mom & Me is a special weekend of adventure for mom and son doing the things that Scouts do: shooting sports, climbing, hiking, arts and crafts, games and much more! Mom & Me will take place Friday, May 9 – Saturday, May 10 at Camp Kingsley. Click here to register.

ANNUAL BSA GOLF CLASSIC AT TEUGEGA COUNTRY CLUB
Join us on Monday, May 12, 2014 for our annual Golf Classic! This year’s event will be at the beautiful Teugega Country Club in Rome. Registration and lunch will begin at 11:30AM, shotgun start at 1:00PM. Awards, cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres immediately following play. For more information, and to register individual golfers and teams, click here.

COUNCIL ANNUAL RECOGNITION DINNER
The date is May 15, the location is Daniele’s Banquet House on Rt. 5 in New Hartford, and the cost is $25.00 per person. Registration will be available shortly. Come join us in recognizing some great Scouters at this annual dinner. Reminder-nominations for Silver Beaver and District Award of Merit are due this week!

COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING DATE CHANGE
The date changed to Thursday, June 19, and the location will be the Scout Service Center in Utica. An invitation to all the council’s voting members has been sent out reflecting this change.

OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING OPPORTUNITY
All leaders should be trained for their role in Scouting and that includes training in outdoor skills and leadership. All Cub and Scout Leaders should are urged to join your council trainers on May 3-4 at Camp Kingsley when we are offering Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills, Outdoor Skills for Webelos Leaders, and Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) for Cub Scout Leaders. Registration will be available on-line this week.

NYLT REGISTRATION
Registration for National Youth Leadership Training, May 23-25 and May 30-June 1, is now available on the Council’s website. Scouts, parents and leaders are urged to register now! Space is limited.

WOOD BADGE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Receive the highest level of adult Scout leader training available by attending Wood Badge Training. We are partnering with the Otschodela Council in Oneonta to run the course over 2 weekends late this summer (August 15-17) and early fall (September 20-22). Any adult leader may attend and enjoy this amazing experience. More information is here.