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 or tarps at the Wednesday night, 26 January 2000, meeting if they wish to use them.

SCOUTS MUST ARRANGE FOR THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE CAMP.  ALL SCOUTS AND DRIVERS SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE SCOUTHOUSE AT 7:30 AM ON SATURDAY MORNING, 29 JANUARY 2000.  WE PLAN TO DEPART NO LATER THAN 8:00 AM.  We PLAN TO LEAVE GROTONWOOD AT 10:00 AM ON sUNDAY, 30 JANUARY 2000, SO SCOUTS SHOULD ARRANGE TO BE PICKED-UP AT THIS TIME.  ALL SCOUTS ARE REQUIRED TO RETURN TO THE SCOUTHOUSE TO UNLOAD TROOP AND PATROL GEAR PRIOR TO RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES.  Directions and/or maps to the camp will be distributed to each driver.  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.  Past experience has proven that inflatable sleds work best down this hill.  Although the camp has traditionally provided some inner tubes to visitors, there is no guarantee that there will be any available this year.  Scouts should therefore bring their own sleds (please deflate inflatable sleds when traveling to and from the camp to save car space).  Please note that sledding in areas outside of the camp toboggan hill is prohibited.  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 remaining overnight.  Outside of driving, they should need to do little more than observe any sledding, skating, or other activities in which the Scouts participate.  Of course, adults are more than welcome to join the Scouts sledding and/or skating.

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.  Once again, keep in mind that the overnight temperatures inside the cabin are generally as cold – sometimes colder – than the exterior.  Scouts who camp outside gain credit towards their Eskimo Patch (if it is cold enough) and their Camping Merit Badge, while remaining no colder than their fellow Scouts “indoors”.  No one sleeping inside the cabin will gain credit towards either the Eskimo Patch or the Camping Merit Badge - no matter how cold it gets inside.  Either way, be prepared for a cold night!

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) (2)
___ gloves/mittens (2)
___ 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, deflated during travel)
___ 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)
___ troop tent or tarp (optional - for those sleeping outside)

Have a great time at Grotonwood!