Troop 810 - Summer Camp I

June 20-26, 2010

Heritage Scout Reservation
Farmington, Pennsylvania

Many scouts did merit badges and worked on rank advancement. We also had two birthdays at camp. The camp food might not have been great but it was ok. There was an all out camp war on Thursday Night complete with Catapults and Water Baloons. After the war one of the troops hosted an ice cream social at the dining hall. We also had a great beginning and ending campfire with lots of skits and songs to see and hear.

Due to the distance not many parents were able to come on parent’s night but we had the fun opportunity to cook foil dinners at our own campsite. The last day we were really busy with all the packing and driving but it was good to know we were going home. I think everyone was happy to see their families at the end of the week. Those enjoying a funfilled week at camp were: Abid(3), Alex, Danny, Doug, Eric, Erich, Greg, Ian, Jack, Jacob, James L., James S., John V., John W., Kevin, Nick, Peter, Raymond, Stephen K., Stephen P., Mr. Deran, Mr. Finn, Mr. Kimatian, Mr. Makowski, Mr. Sewell(4) and Mr. Soroczak.

Trip Plan for Summer Camp at Heritage Scout Reservation

Prepacking: We will be packing up troop gear after 4:00pm (~5:00pm) mass on Saturday, June 19th. Only a few scouts will be needed to help pack.

Date and Time of Departure: Sunday June 20, 2010, meet at 7:30am in the parking lot behind the Old Church. Please use parking spaces and do not park in the church driveway. Sunday's are busy! We will leave as soon as we are packed, 8:00am at the latest.

Carpooling is encouraged, if you can drive either way, please let me know as soon as possible, so we make sure all campers have a way to and from camp.

Destination:
Heritage Reservation is located at 300 Heritage Road, Farmington, PA 15437. We will be staying in Camp Freedom at the Massachusettes Bay Campsite.

The reservation is the crowning jewel of Boy Scout facilities in the northeast section of the United States. Heritage Reservation, which opened in 1980, is home to four different types of camps on nearly 2,000 acres of beautiful woodlands in Southwestern, Pennsylvania. The centerpiece is a 270-acre lake, providing plenty of room boating, fishing, sailing, water-skiing and swimming. Located close to Nemacolin Woodlands, Laurel Caverns and Ohiopyle, Heritage is a centrally located camp, with plenty to keep any unit busy during a week of summer camp. Heritage Reservation can accommodate 1,200 campers plus staff, and is considered to be one of the finest multi-camp reservations in the Boy Scouts of America.

Directions from Assumption Church (Link to Mapquest): For lunch on Sunday we plan to stop at a service plaza on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Please pack a lunch or bring along money to purchase something at one of the fast food restaurants. 3.5 hours with no stops.

1. Start out going SOUTH on BROADVIEW RD/OH-176 toward W ROYALTON RD/OH-82.
2. Turn LEFT onto E ROYALTON RD/OH-82 E.
3. Merge onto I-77 S toward AKRON.
4. Merge onto I-80 E via EXIT 146 toward YOUNGSTON (portions toll).
5. Merge onto I-76 E PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE via the exit on the LEFT toward PITTSBURGH (portions toll) (Crossing into PENNSYLVANIA.
6. Take the I-70 W exit, EXIT 75 toward PA-66-TOLL/US-119/GREENSBURG/WHEELING W. VA.
7. Take the exit on the LEFT toward PA-66 TPKE N/US-119/DELMONT/CONNELLSVILLE/GREENSBURG.
8. Merge onto NEW STANTON YOUNGWOOD RD.
9. Merge onto US-119 S via EXIT 1 toward CONNELLSVILLE/GREENSBURG.
10. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto BLACKSTONE RD/US-119 S. Continue to follow US-119 S.
11. US-119 S becomes US-40E/NATIONAL PIKE.
12. Turn RIGHT onto DINNER BELL FIVE FORKS RD.
13. Turn RIGHT onto HERITAGE RD.
14. Turn RIGHT to stay on HERITAGE RD.
15. 300 HERITAGE RD.

Estimated Time of Return: Saturday, June 26th at 12:30pm in parking lot behind Old Church. Scouts will phone parents enroute if we end up being earlier or later than this.

General Information

Medical Form: An Annual Health and Medical Record with sections A, B and C completed as well a copy of both sides of medical insurance card, is required for all campers/adults to attend summer camp.

Supplemental Medical Form: Each camper must also complete a Heritage Reservation Supplemental Medical Screening Questionaire.

Medications: All medications that need to be taken during camp must be in their original container with instruction label attached. Place medications in a ziplock bag with the scouts name and turn them into the adult leaders prior to departure. Medications will be stored in a secure location and given to scouts by an adult leader as directed on the Supplemental Medical Form.

Bring: A camp chair and a sleeping pad, cots will be provided by the camp. Pack according to the BSA handbook for a week long campout.

Wear: Red Class B t shirts and scout shorts/slacks with swim trunks under them for swim test when we get to camp.

Money and Valuables:

• Campers are encouraged not to bring valuables to camp. There is not a system at camp to secure these items. Heritage Reservation cannot take responsibility for any valuable items. Put names on every item prior to arriving at camp.
• A scout may want to bring $25 - $40 spending cash for a T-Shirt, an occasional ice cream, soda, crafts, or even to repurchase a lost or forgotten item. We recommend bringing the money in small denominations in an envelope with his name on it. Adult leaders keep the envelopes while in camp so the scouts do not lose all of their money. The scout signs out the amount they want to take from the envelope and then returns the envelope back to the leader for safe keeping.

Troop Photo: The troop will have a group photo taken at camp. We plan to have this duplicated and given to the scouts after camp along with their summer camp patch.

Telephone: (724) 329-8534 - The Heritage Reservation office is staffed during normal business hours. After hours, there is an electronic answering system: select the prompt for the respective camp you are calling to be transferred. As Scouts and Leaders can be all over camp and are not near a phone, messages will be taken and delivered to the unit via the unit mailbox. Scouts may make outgoing phone calls from camp courtesy phones with an adult present. Phone cards are required for long distance calls.

Mail for scouts at camp:
Scouts Name
Troop 810 / Camp Freedom
Heritage Reservation
300 Heritage Road
Farmington, PA 15437

Detailed Information: Heritage Reservation 2010 Guidebook

Camp Coordinator: William Makowski - 440-717-3492 (contact if you have any unanswered questions)

Evening Program

Sunday 6/20:

• Leader Meeting, 7:30pm, Program Hall: A first day orientation to prepare you for the rest of the week.
• Campwide Tours, 7:30pm, An opportunity for Scouts to become familiar with the layout of camp. The tour will conclude at the Campfire Cirle for the Opening Campfire.
• Opening Campfire, 8:30-9:15pm, Campfire Circle: Following dinner, sit back and enjoy the staff welcoming you to camp with skits, songs and special messages.
• Cracker Barrel, 9:15-10pm, Commissary at Liberty, Dining Hall at Freedom: Following the campfire you will have a chance to meet the staff while enjoying some special treats.

Monday 6/21:

• Campwide Event, 7:45-9pm, Campers will compete as patrols in a variety of activities. Events will challenge each member's Scout skills, teamwork and spirit.

Tuesday 6/22:

• Vespers, 7:45-8:30pm, Duty to God Chapel: The twelfth point, Reverent. Take time to reflect all that is good. The Camp Chaplain is looking for any Leader or Scout to assist with the Vesper Service. If interested, please notify your Camp Director by Sunday night to arrange for your place in the service.

Wednesday 6/23:

• Visitor Night, 3:30-10pm, Invite your friends and family to camp for a visit and give them a tour. During the afternoon, visit program areas and in the evening have them visit your campsite for the campsite cookout and the Order of the Arrow ceremony.
• Unit Campsite Cookout, 6:30pm, at Campsite: Each unit will cook their dinner in their campsite. Guests are welcome. Please notify the Program Hall by Sunday how many guests you expect. Guest meals are $5 each.
• Order of the Arrow Call Out Ceremony, 8-8:45pm, Meet at the Parade Field.

Thursday 6/24:

• Campwide Event, 7:45-9pm, Campers will compete as patrols in a vairety of activities. Events will challenge each member's Scout skills, teamwork and spirit.

Friday 6/25:

• Closing Campfire, 7:45-8:30pm, Campfire Circle: To finish off your last night with us, we will have some special entertainment and recognitions to share with you. Some units will be chosen to perform skits or songs for the rest of the camp to enjoy.