The Troop 89 Eskimo patch was created in the early 1980’s during a period when the troop held two traditional winter camping trips outside of the annual Ski Trip. One of these was held at Camp Yawgoo in Rhode Island; the other was held at Grotonwood...

Grotonwood is a camp in Groton, Massachusetts owned and operated by a Baptist church organization. It is likely that Troop 89’s early campouts at Grotonwood began due to the relationship the troop had with the Medfield Baptist Church - our original chartered partner. Although we are no longer chartered to the Baptist Church, Grotonwood continues to welcome us back.

As always, Scouts - and adults as well - have the option of staying inside a cabin or camping outdoors nearby. The latter will provide credit towards Camping Merit Badge as well as the Eskimo patch if it is cold enough (very likely). Camping inside the cabin will do neither. The cabin is actually a small Dining Hall or similar facility that is used during the summer months. While there is a usable fireplace, there is no central heating or electricity, and the walls are mostly windows. Therefore, even those Scouts and adults sleeping inside the cabin should be prepared for a cold night and will need to have a flashlight with them. Scouts planning to sleep outside should obviously be prepared for frigid weather and should obtain troop tents at the Wednesday night, 27 January 1999, meeting if they wish to use them.

SCOUTS SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE SCOUTHOUSE AT 7:30 AM ON SATURDAY MORNING, 30 JANUARY 1999. WE PLAN TO DEPART NO LATER THAN 8:00 AM. IF YOU ARE NOT PRESENT AT THIS TIME, CHANCES ARE YOU WILL BE LEFT BEHIND. We PLAN TO LEAVE GROTONWOOD AT 12:00 NOON ON SUNDAY, 31 JANUARY 1999, AND SHOULD ARRIVE BACK AT THE SCOUTHOUSE AT AROUND 1:00 PM. AFTER UNLOADING AND CHECKING-IN PATROL AND TROOP GEAR, THE SCOUTS WILL BE DISMISSED TO RETURN HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS. Please note, the Troop will not be providing Saturday breakfast, so please plan accordingly.

Snow and ice, when present, add to the attractions at Grotonwood. There is a nearby toboggan run. The road leading to the cabin also climbs a small hill, and Scouts have used this for sledding as well. Past experience has proven that inflatable sleds work best down both hills. Although the camp has traditionally provided some inner tubes to visitors at the main hill, there is no guarantee that there will be any available this year. Scouts should therefore bring their own sleds no matter where they decide to sled. Scouts may also choose to bring ice skates. If the camp verifies that the lake is safely frozen for skating, Scouts may have the option of skating and even playing a friendly game of ice hockey. AT NO TIME, HOWEVER, SHALL ANY SCOUT VENTURE OUT ONTO THE ICE WITHOUT AN ADULT’S PERMISSION, NOR SHALL HE EVER VENTURE OUT ALONE.

Grotonwood is also a good opportunity for Scouts to work on outdoor advancement skills; be sure to bring any tools you will need to work on such requirements and your Scout Handbook as well. This will especially be the case if the weather does not favor sledding or skating.

In any event, Scouts should plan on spending almost all of Saturday and some of Sunday outdoors and should have the proper clothing for winter weather - hat, gloves, boots, etc. Scouts who do not have the proper equipment may not be permitted to participate in some activities. For example, Scouts should not expect to sled while wearing sneakers.

This should be a fairly relaxing trip for adults. Outside of driving, they should need to do little more than observe any sledding, skating, or other activities in which the Scouts participate. Directions and/or maps to the camp will be distributed to each driver.

Space is tight on this trip, so please try to pack as compact as possible. In addition, we will likely need to walk our equipment in some distance to the cabin. Having your equipment in a backpack or a duffel bag with a strap will make this a lot easier than having it in a plastic trash bag. Be sure to consider this when you pack.

A personal equipment checklist for this winter trip is as follows:

___ sleeping bag (winter or summer with two (2) blankets)
___ pillow
___ ground cloth or pad
___ canteen or water bottle
___ small flashlight with good batteries
___ extra batteries for flashlight
___ backpack or duffel bag
___ plastic trash bags
___ sneakers
___ boots
___ socks (1-2 pairs)
___ wool socks (1-2 pairs)
___ long pants (1)
___ long sleeve shirt (1)
___ T-shirt (1)
___ winter jacket
___ sweatshirt or light weight jacket
___ poncho or light raincoat
___ hat (wool or equivalent)
___ gloves/mittens
___ underwear (2)
___ long underwear
___ pajama or other heavy sleepwear (sweat suit)
___ hand towel
___ brush/comb
___ toothbrush and tooth paste
___ personal basic first aid kit
___ Scout Handbook
___ sled (optional - inflatable preferred)
___ ice-skates (optional)
___ ice hockey equipment (optional)
___ Troop hat / Norwich hat (optional)
___ bandanna (optional)
___ compass (optional)
___ jackknife (optional and with Totin' Chip card only)
___ small camera/film (very optional)

Have a great time at Grotonwood!