Camp Friedlander

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You are probably asking "What is summer camp?"     The troop will be attending summer camp the second week of July at Camp Friedlander in Milford.  Many of you have been down to Cub World,  and Camp Friedlander  is just up the hill from the Fort and Castle.    During the week the  scouts will have the opportunity to earn up to 4 or 5 merit badges, some  being the important "Eagle" required badges such as First Aid and  Swimming.    They will have time to do swimming, climbing, and other  activities every afternoon after the day of "classes" are finished.  Scouts will have their "day pack" with them during the day holding  water, their Boy Scout handbook, merit badge worksheets and booklet,   and pen or pencil to write with.  Camp provides the tents,   three meals a day, and all the dust (or mud) you can possibly want.    There is a "family night" the last night of camp so the scouts can show their families what they have been doing AND to take dirty clothes home, but not the scout.

Summer Camp Info : https://danbeard.org/attend-camp-friedlander-summer-camp/

Camp Forms Library : https://danbeard.org/camping/camp-forms/

Merit Badges:
As usual we need to  have our merit badge choices turned in Merit Badge Selections are due Feb. 26th, latest March 1st.  As some of  our scouts have discovered in the past some merit badges fill up within  30 minutes.

There is a Scout Activity Schedule, otherwise known  as a "wish list"  included with this email.  Please fill that out using  the attached "merit badge offerings"

Current Merit Badge Offerings
https://danbeard.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-Merit-Badge-Schedule.pdf

The Wish List
http://legacy.danbeard.org/pubs/CF_Individual_Scout_Activity_Schedule.pdf

New scout parents, this section is for you:

The first year of camp is  a great learning experience for your new boy scout and we want to make  sure that scouts have a good foundation to start with, so we will place  new scouts in the following merit badges:

First Aid - 9am (preferred)
Swimming – 10:30am (preferred)
Trailblazer (2nd Class/1st Class) - 2pm

What  is Trailblazer?  Trailblazer is exactly as the name implies.  It is a  way to begin to blaze your "trail" as you start your scouting  experience.  It is designed as a great learning tool for first year  campers.   You will meet with other new campers and learn basic scouting  skills to get your 2nd class and 1st class requirements signed off.     With those three classes selected you can then pick one more merit  badge at 3:30 or 4:00 to fill your activities.    The troop will be  teaching the scouts many of these requirements before camp and then they will be completed while at camp.   Scouts will bring their Boy Scout Handbook everywhere they go while at camp.

Second year and other experienced scouters, please pick one if not two Eagle Merit badges at camp.  Any questions please ask Mr. Williams.  

Cost:
Dan Beard Council sets the price for camp at  $425.  The troop will add $5 to the cost so we can provide snacks to  the scouts during the week.    There are “camperships” that are  available from Dan Beard Council to anyone who finds it challenging to  make the payments for camp.  Please Mrs. Guilllermin, Mr. Banish or Mr. Williams for more information on those camperships.

Campership Application: http://legacy.danbeard.org/pubs/2023_Campership_Application.pdf

Want to camp for two weeks?
Interested in attending two weeks of camp?   If so there is a $100 discount that is available for those scouts who  want an opportunity to earn even more merit badges.  We have had many of  our scouts take advantage of this and come home with eight if not more  merit badges.    Pretty awesome.

Swim Test:
Camp Friedlander wants to make sure that every scout can swim.   On "check-in" Sunday, Camp Friedlander  conducts a "swim test" for all campers to make sure that scouts can  safely enter the water.   To make this process faster our troop will be  conducting the same swim test at a local YMCA saving some valuable time  on Sunday.  If your scout can not swim or is concerned about swimming  this will give you ample time to get some swimming lessons scheduled.  Camp Friedlander also offers Instructional Swim classes at camp and those listed on the Merit Badge Time Schedule included on this email.   More details will follow about that.

Medical Forms:
When you take your son to his well-care check-up, take a copy of forms A, B, C, as well as the snorkeling release form with you to be filled out.  Forms are good for one year. This way you can avoid extra fees for a physical or you will be turned away at camp on  “check-in” Sunday.   The Annual Health and Medical Record form is now  an editable PDF which you can fill out online and print, click the link  below to open the current form.
https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-001_ABC.pdf

Special Dietary needs:
If  any scout has some specific dietary needs there is a form that needs to  be filled out for that.   This needs to be turned in a few weeks  before camp.

http://legacy.danbeard.org/pubs/2020_Special_Diet_Request.pdf

ACE/COPE and Climbing Consent Form
For those scouts who have camped for a few years, Friedlander is once again offering both the ACE and COPE programs at camp.  This is a great way to have a new camping experience at summer camp.   We ask that all scouts fill out this form that way you can climb the tower during your open/free time.  

http://old.danbeard.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/COPE_Climbing_Consent_Hold_Harmless.pdf

OA Members:
Brotherhood ceremonies are taking place at camp on  Wednesday night and if you have performed over 4 months of cheerful  service since your Ordeal you can participate in your brotherhood  ceremony on Wednesday night.   Please contact me for more information on  Brotherhood requirements.

Camp Guides:
Dan Beard has published their 2023 Summer Camp Guide and you can find that by following the link below:   (Yes, the link says 2020, but it is the 2023 guide)

http://legacy.danbeard.org/pubs/2021_Camp_Friedlander_Guide_12_1_2020.pdf