As mentioned, five adults, who include Mike McGowan, Ray Burton, Brie Hall, Peter Mitchell, and me, are planning to spend the entire week at camp. Other adults are more than welcome and encouraged to spend a few days with us at anytime during the week. Individual meal costs are as follows: breakfast: $3.00, lunch: $4.00, dinner: $5.00. I will need to know what adults are planning to attend and how long they intend to stay so we can coordinate meals and sleeping arrangements (i.e. number of cots) with the camp. If you would like to spend some time with us, please let me know by MONDAY, 5 JULY 1999.

This is the final pre-camp meeting held at Camp Squanto for the adult leaders and the Senior Patrol Leader. At this meeting we will submit the troop roster and merit badge forms as well as sign-up for Troop Swim and other events. Any changes in personal merit badge schedules after this date will be made only with the Scoutmaster's and the camp's joint approval.

Scout leaders include those assigned to the Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Quartermaster, and Patrol Leader positions. Summer camp leadership assignments will be made, and the Scouts assigned to these positions will be notified before the end of June. A pre-camp planning meeting will be held for all leadership positions on WEDNESDAY, 7 JULY 1999, at the Scouthouse. The meeting will run from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. If you are assigned to a leadership position and for some legitimate reason you cannot attend this meeting, please let me know as soon as possible.

Camp Medical Forms were distributed to all Scouts and adults planning to attend camp. 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.

The camp requires that all medications are checked-in at the Health Lodge upon arrival at camp. With the exception of emergency medications that a Scout or adult must have with them at all times, such as inhalers or epi-pens, all medications will remain at the Health Lodge throughout the week. Scouts requiring prescription medications must visit the Health Lodge at the appropriate time(s). IT IS THE SCOUT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REMEMBER TO GET HIS MEDICATION. SCOUTS WHO MISS MORE THAN ONE SCHEDULED MEDICATION MAY BE SENT HOME, WITHOUT DELAY, BY THE CAMP MEDICAL STAFF.

As usual, the camp will be taking official photographs of each troop. The price for the 8x10 photo is $7.00 each. I will need to receive payment for anyone who is interested in ordering a photograph by WEDNESDAY, 7 JULY 1999.

All Scouts should check-in between 1:15 PM and 2:00 PM on SUNDAY, 11 JULY 1999. The camp will be conducting medical exams and swim tests shortly afterward, so please do not be late. ALL SCOUTS SHOULD ARRIVE WITH SWIMSUIT AND TOWEL ACCESSIBLE FOR THE SWIM TEST AND SHOULD HAVE ALL PERSONAL MEDICATIONS READY TO TURN OVER TO THE MEDICAL STAFF. Check-out is at 10:30 AM on SATURDAY, 17 JULY 1999. Parents are encouraged to attend the Awards Ceremony at 9:30 AM, before leaving on Saturday. The troop does not provide transportation to or from camp - this is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.

All vehicles are to be parked in the Camp Parking Lot. Vehicles will not be allowed to continue into the camp or to the troop sites. All personal gear should be dropped off at the staging area designated for the DAKOTA site on Sunday. Personal gear will be available for pick-up at this same staging area on Saturday. All equipment will be delivered to and from the site by the camp staff. Any particularly valuable or fragile equipment (i.e. personal radios) should either be securely locked-up or personally carried in/out by hand. Extremely valuable equipment should not be brought to camp.

Many footlockers come equipped with a cheap, universal lock and key; virtually everybody has this same key. For this reason, a secondary lock is recommended. Combination locks are specifically advised. If a secondary lock is used, a spare key or copy of the combination will be required for the Scoutmaster, should the owner lose his key or forget his combination. We would prefer not to be forced to break into footlockers because of lost keys or forgotten combinations.

Weekday visitors must sign into camp at the Camp Office and then proceed to the Medical Officer upon arrival. All visitors over age twenty-one will receive a wrist bracelet which they must wear while in camp. Any visitor wishing to eat at camp should advise us at least twenty-four hours in advance so that we can notify the camp staff. PLEASE NOTE, PETS ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED AT CAMP, EVEN DURING DAYTIME VISITS, PER ORDER OF THE PLYMOUTH BOARD OF HEALTH.

Massachusetts State Law requires that any Scout or leader, who leaves the camp property at any time, report to the Camp Director and signs out of camp at the Camp Office. Upon returning to the camp, the Scout or leader must sign-in at the office. The Scoutmaster's permission must be obtained before any Scout leaves the camp even if only to enter the State Reservation.

The Camp Squanto emergency telephone number is (508) 224-2010. The camp fax number is (508) 224-9444. ALL SCOUTS MUST HAVE WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE SCOUTMASTER TO PLACE OUTGOING TELEPHONE CALLS.  Scouts should not have cellular phones at camp. Generally, parents should not expect phone calls from their son(s) during the week. Instead, Scouts are encouraged to write home. Any questions regarding the telephone policy should be addressed to me.

Incoming mail tends to take some time to reach Camp Squanto; be sure to mail any correspondence by Tuesday, at the latest, to be sure it arrives by week's end. Outgoing mail may be deposited in the mailbox at the Camp Office. Scouts wishing to mail letters or postcards should bring their own stamps.

As always, elections to the Order of the Arrow will be held at camp this year. If you are First Class rank or higher, have camped outdoors for over fifteen (15) days and nights, and are not currently an OA member, then you may be interested in running in the election. If you believe you are eligible and are interested in becoming an OA member, you should contact Mrs. Lomax at 359-XXXX before camp to confirm your eligibility.

Troop 89 has maintained a proud tradition of looking sharp at official ceremonial events by attending them in full uniform. Full Class A uniforms will be required for Opening and Closing Colors, the Troop photograph, campfires, memorial and vespers services, and other special events. Full uniform includes Scout shirt, Scout shorts, Scout belt, Scout socks, and hiking boots or shoes other than sneakers or sandals. Hats - Scout issue or otherwise - will not be allowed, and neckerchiefs are not required. Please be sure your uniform is clean and in good condition with all patches up to date. If you would like to take advantage of the Troop Uniform Exchange, please contact Mrs. Greenaway at 359-XXXX.

A personal equipment list for Summer Camp is attached. Although some substitutions may be made, the essential items on the list demand special attention. This list is for your use; please be sure you bring everything you need. No Scout will be permitted to remain in camp without the proper equipment. If you have any questions about any item on this list please give me a call at 359-XXXX.

The following items are not allowed at Camp Squanto at anytime:

Per the Troop Confiscation Policy, inappropriate items will be confiscated from the Scout and returned to the parent at the end of camp. Some items, such as fireworks, are illegal in Massachusetts. Such items may be submitted to the Plymouth Police Department, and the Scout(s) may be expelled from the camp. In general, Scouts should not bring to camp anything that their parents would not approve that they have in their possession. As always, common sense is the best method to determine what Scouts should and should not bring to camp.

It is not unusual for parents to take advantage of their child’s or children’s absence from home during the summer camp week for their own vacation. While this is understandable, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE A CONSTANT MEANS OF CONTACTING THE PARENT(S) SHOULD THERE BE AN EMERGENCY OR OTHER PROBLEM. Please be sure that you leave with me a phone number and location where you can be reached if you are not going to be available at your normal home or work telephone number. Thank you.