Dear Scout and parent:

We are all looking forward to this year's session at Summer Camp. We currently have forty-one (41) Scouts on our Summer Camp roster. If you know of anyone who is also interested in attending summer camp, but who is not signed-up yet, please instruct him to contact me (359-4948) right away.

SIGN-UP FOR MERIT BADGES, ETC. WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 9 JUNE 1999, AT THE SCOUTHOUSE BETWEEN 6:30 PM AND 8:30 PM. ALL FIRST YEAR SCOUTS SHOULD ARRIVE BETWEEN 6:30 PM AND 7:30 PM; ALL OTHER SCOUTS SHOULD WAIT UNTIL AFTER 7:30 PM. Individual sign-ups are usually completed in under fifteen (15) minutes.

First, a word about the enclosed medical form. The state requires that all Scouts and leaders under 40 years of age attending camp have a medical exam performed by a physician within two years prior to our camp arrival date of 11 July 1999. Adults over 40 years of age attending camp are required to have a medical exam performed by a physician within one year prior to our camp arrival date of 11 July 1999. ALL SCOUTS AND LEADERS, REGARDLESS OF AGE, MUST HAVE A MEDICAL FORM SIGNED BY A PHYSICIAN WITHIN ONE YEAR TO OUR ARRIVAL DATE OF 11 JULY 1999; SCOUTS AND ADULT LEADERS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO REMAIN IN CAMP WITHOUT A PROPERLY COMPLETED MEDICAL FORM.

PLEASE NOTE THAT MEDICAL FORMS ARE NEW THIS YEAR AND ARE DOUBLE SIDED. As in the past, parents (or adults) should complete PARTS I, II, III, IV, and VI on the front side. Pay particular attention to Part IV, Immunizations. CURRENT DATES FOR ALL IMMUNIZATIONS LISTED ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. Check marks or words "up to date" are NOT acceptable. THE PARENT (OR ADULT) SHOULD ALSO FILL IN ALL INFORMATION ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE FORM. The physician should fill in Parts V and VII on the front side. The physician may fill in information from a previous visit as long as the exam was conducted after 11 July 1997 for under age 40 participants and after 11 July 1998 for over age 40 participants. BOTH THE PARENT AND THE PHYSICIAN MUST SIGN EACH SCOUT'S MEDICAL FORM. The parent signs in the appropriate space in Part III, Parental Statement; the physician signs in Part V, Physician's Evaluation and Advice. THE COMPLETED ORIGINAL (YELLOW) MEDICAL FORM SHOULD BE TURNED IN TO ME BY WEDNESDAY, 7 JULY 1999. The camp will not accept copies.

Also enclosed is a copy of this year's Merit Badge Course Schedule. Each merit badge offered is followed by between one (1) and five (5) stars. These indicate the difficulty level of the badge or course:

New merit badges offered this year include:

The following badges offered are required for Eagle (indicated in bold here and on Merit Badge Schedule):

Merit badges limited to Scouts ages fourteen (14) and older:

The following merit badges offered have additional requirements which must be completed outside of camp. Individuals who have not previously completed these requirements will be issued a partial:

Merit badges which may require a small material purchase fee ($2.00 - $10.00):

Merit badges requiring special equipment include:

Some merit badges, specifically the aquatic badges, require prerequisite badges earned beforehand:

In addition, the following non-merit badge programs will be offered:

COPE, BSA LIFEGUARD, and INDEPENDENT STUDY are limited to Scouts ages fourteen (14) and older. BSA LIFEGUARD also requires SWIMMING, LIFESAVING, and ROWING merit badges, earned beforehand. COPE focuses on individual and group challenges using low and high course activities. INDEPENDENT STUDY is offered for Scouts to work on nature related merit badges such as BIRD STUDY, BOTANY, NATURE, or REPTILE STUDY; these badges are available by appointment.

At the sign-up meeting, Mrs. Lomax, Mr. Kerr, Mr. McGowan, or I will sit down with each Scout to help develop his individual schedule. Understand that we will be very reluctant to sign-up Scouts for merit badges or programs which we feel exceed their abilities or that overload their schedules. Use the rating system when deciding your top choices. Have alternate choices ready in case your first choices are not available. First year Scouts are encouraged to sign-up for the Flight to Eagle program, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, optional), to help start their rank advancement.Some troop activities, such as free swim, will not be scheduled until the week before camp. A flexible schedule will allow you to take advantage of these activities without being disappointed. Understand, however, that your schedule will, in most cases, be finalized after the first full day of camp.

If you have any questions about Summer Camp medical forms or merit badge sign-up, please feel free to call me at 359-4948. See you on Wednesday, 9 June 1999.

John J. Merck III
Acting Summer Camp Scoutmaster
Troop 89