from Scoutmaster Hank Manz:
This is a longish post and those who have been to camp before may decide to skip over it. There are some changes, however, so at least give it a quick scan. Above all, read the section about what route to take once you get to Crystal Lake Road.
Camp Guides
There is a quite a bit of information in the leader guides for each camp. The guides are posted on the Web site for the Daniel Webster Council. The links are given below.
Camp Bell (our first week of camp)
http://www.dwcbsa.org/camps/CampBell/2007BellLdrGuide.pdf
Hidden Valley (our second week of camp)
http://www.dwcbsa.org/camps/HiddenValley/2007HVLdrsGuide.pdf
Troop 160 Web site. There is a lot of great stuff here—just click on the link, then scroll down to Summer Camp.
http://www.troop160lexington.com/home/reference/
Mandatory Reading
Go to the Troop 160 Web site at http://www.troop160.com and read the first three postings. Explore the links embedded in those postings.
When Should I Arrive?
If you are driving, be in the parking lot of the camp no later than 1 PM. We cannot start to check in until all members of the troop and all leaders are there so don’t be late. Aiming to be there by 12:45 PM would be a good idea.
The road to Camp Bell is through Hidden Valley. Allow some extra time to navigate that road.
How Do I Get There?
There are directions to camp on the Troop 160 Web site at
http://www.troop160lexington.com/home/reference/
Scroll down to Summer Camp and then look for both the Google directions and for the directions developed by Troop 119. There are several alternatives. The route through Tilton is attractive because of the fast food restaurants in that town. There are, however, shorter ways to get there.
Once you turn off onto Crystal Lake Road there are two ways to get to the entrance to camp. To help keep the peace with residents, use the correct access route. The route is NOT optional. Use the following link to get those directions. Camp Bell is Week #7. Hidden Valley is Week #8.
http://www.dwcbsa.org/camps/HiddenValley/summrdir.htm
Again, using the correct route is not optional. The camp gets considerable heat from neighbors and we need to do what we can to prevent that.
What Will Check-In Be Like?
Check-in has changed considerably. You can check-in in your Class B uniform, but have a Class A shirt handy for pictures later in the day. The check-in procedure has been greatly reduced so that this year we expect to be in the unit no later than 3:30 PM. Pictures will be taken in the unit and you should have a Class A uniform on for that picture.
What Should I Bring?
Much of the time spent in camp will be in shorts and T-shirts. Sandals may be worn around the campsite, but are not good for trail wear so pack some sturdy footwear and some good socks. Besides the obvious like T-shirts, pants, and socks, the items you must have are detailed on the troop Web site. Read those postings I mentioned earlier.
Don’t forget that everybody attending Camp Bell will require a mess kit and eating utensils. Make them reusable. Don’t depend on paper plates and plastic utensils.
In addition, check the merit badges that the Scout will be taking. Read over the requirements to see if there are any prerequisites. Check out http://www.meritbadge.com. Do what you can before camp and bring it with you. David Belford sent out a detailed e-mail about merit badges. If you don’t have it, ask me for a copy.
There were very few problems with merit badge assignments except for those cases where a Scout wanted to take three merit badges, but his first or second choice required two blocks. In once case a Scout signed up for Lifesaving, but does not yet have Swimming. If he gets Swimming at Bell, then he can sign up for Lifesaving at Hidden Valley.
What Should I Pack My Gear In?
A medium size trunk or a real pack are both good options. Remember that it could be raining at check-in so pack appropriately. Remember also that you may have to carry your gear at least a reasonable distance so handles on any trunks would be a nice touch.
Scouts will be asked to carry as much personal and troop gear to the campsite as possible.
On all gear, including trunks, put a large label with:
For Week 7 (Bell)
Scout’s Name
T-160 MA
WASHINGTON
For Week 8 (HV)
Scout’s Name
T-160 MA
WINNI
Duct tape and a Sharpie make very durable labels.
What Will I Be Wearing?
As mentioned elsewhere, shorts, T-shirts, and sturdy shoes are almost never the wrong thing to be wearing. You will want to pack at least one pair of long pants. Remember that there is a floatation requirement for at least one merit badge which will require you to have a long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Check the requirements for the merit badges you plan to pursue.
Supper is ALWAYS in Class A uniform. Always. So pack at least one Class A shirt.
Where Will I Be Sleeping?
At both Bell and Hidden Valley, Scouts and leaders will sleep on cots in two-person tents on wood platforms. A sleeping pad will make the cot more comfortable. A pillow is always nice.
If you go to http://www.hmanz.photosite.com/CampBell2006/ you can see what last year looked like at Camp Bell. If you click on a picture, it will enlarge.
What Will The Weather Be Like?
Program will go on, rain or shine. Sometimes it is very hot and humid. Other times it can be quite cool. It may rain. Bring your rain gear. Bring a fleece for those chilly mornings and evenings.
Can I Call Home or Can Home Call Me?
The short answer is No. There are no phones in the campsite. There is one emergency use phone at each camp (not campsite, camp) which campers never use and which leaders only rarely use. Scouts should not bring cell phones to camp for several reasons. There is no Internet access.
If there is an emergency at home, call the main number for camp (given on the last page of this document) and ask that a message be relayed to any leader for Troop 160. At the same time, send a text message to 617-620-5011 with a short message. Calling my cell phone will do little good in real time since there is no coverage. Leave me a voicemail, but when I check my messages can be highly variable. Text messages will usually get through, but I cannot guarantee that. I have found that using the http://www.verizonwireless.com Web site to send an SMS text message is reasonably reliable. A follow-up voice mail would also be a good idea. Sending me an e-mail, however, will probably do little good because there is no Internet access.
Keep in mind that communication with the campsite will not be immediate. A twelve hour delay in relaying a message should not be considered unusual. Moreover, it may not be possible for a leader to return a call immediately.
Should Parents Visit During The Week?
The short answer again is No. Visits disrupt the troop and detract from the experience of being completely away from home.
How Much Money Do I Need?
At Camp Bell the trading post is open infrequently. Moreover, it has no phone line so the cash cards sold by the Daniel Webster Council will not work there. My own spending is about $6 per week although that appears to be on the low side. Keep in mind that the Scout may need to purchase something for a merit badge. $10 - $30 is probably a good range.
At Hidden Valley the trading post is open more frequently and cash cards work there. There is a blurb on cash cards in the leader guide for HV. Cash cards give some modest protection against loss, but they will not work at Bell. They can be purchased on Sunday at the Trading Post. The DWC Web site has additional information.
How Is The Between-Weeks Time (Saturday Noon – Saturday Evening) Handled?
Camp is officially closed from checkout time on Saturday to check-in time on Sunday. Parents should make arrangements to have their Scouts off site from checkout time on Saturday until 4:30 PM that same day when there will be an Eagle ceremony and supper for Tom Osborn. After that, Scouts who are staying for the second week may remain overnight. The troop will provide a meal the next day. Most Scouts sleep in and then have a very late breakfast on Sunday.
Scouts who are coming for the second week only, but wish to attend the Eagle ceremony, may come up on Saturday and then stay overnight.
Families are invited to the Eagle ceremony and supper, by the way.
What If A Scout Needs Clean Clothes?
There are no washing machines at camp. If a Scout is staying for two weeks, washing clothes at a nearby Laundromat on Saturday could be a very productive use of time.
Food Allergies and Vegetarian Requirements
Please let me know of any special requirements. This is especially important at Camp Bell where the Scouts prepare their own food.
Medications
All medications, even OTC medications, must be handled through the camp nurse. That is a MUST. They must be delivered in the original package with the Scout’s name on that package. Epi pens and inhalers may remain with the Scout, but the package should be available for inspection. All of this is both BSA regulation and New Hampshire law so there will be no deviation from the policy.
To make life easier for the nurse and for the Scoutmaster, please fill out a form like the one below for each of the medications and tape it to the box or bottle. There are several of these forms at the end of this document. Print out that last page and cut out as many as you need.
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Scout’s Name: ____________________________________
Medication: ________________________________________
Times Administered (circle all that apply):
When Needed (specify) __________________________________________
Breakfast
Lunch
Supper
Other (specify) ____________________________
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Are There Things I Should Not Bring To Camp?
There should be no need to state the obvious, but just in case, there is a longer list in the Leader Guide and on the Troop 160 Web site.
Short form:
Letters
It can easily take three days or longer for a letter to reach a camper. It is suggested that you mail a letter on the Wednesday before camp starts if you want it to arrive on the first Monday. The addresses for the camps are:
Week 7 (Camp Bell)
Scout’s Name
T-160 MA Washington Wk 7
Camp Bell, GSR
2-B Eileen Shore Drive
Gilmanton Iron Works, NH 03837
Week 8 (Hidden Valley)
Camper’s Name
T-160 MA Winni Wk 7
Hidden Valley Scout Camp, GSR
2-A Eileen Shore Drive
Gilmanton Iron Works, NH 03837
Note the differences in the address including the Week # and the 2-B or 2-A lower down.
The other side of that coin is that you shouldn’t expect any letters from camp before Thursday at the earliest and that would mean that the letters were written Monday. Figure the odds on that happening … Note that the addresses for the two camps are different.
Where Is The Campsite?
The campsites at both Bell and Hidden Valley are about a quarter mile from the parking lot and up a steep hill. Scouts will walk to the campsites carrying any personal and troop gear except for trunks. Pack appropriately. For two weeks at camp, my gear fits in a fairly small trunk which I can actually lift. There is no need to bring your entire life with you. And remember—if it isn’t in a trunk, then pack it in something which can be carried easily … like a real pack.
On check-in day it is doubtful that parents will want to “dash up the hill to check out the campsite.” If you plan to do that, bring good shoes.
What About Advancement?
Camp Bell does not concentrate on merit badges. Scouts may earn a merit badge or two, but are more likely to get partials which they can finish up on their own time. One Scout a couple of years ago earned two very tough merit badges by using his free time to finish the requirements that he started during patrol activities. Staff members are often available to help outside of class in their areas of expertise. At Camp Bell, first year Scouts will all participate in Curlews which is a three-day program designed to further acquaint them with the patrol method and the outdoor skills they will need for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. After each session at Curlews, the leaders will work with those Scouts in the campsite to get as much signed off as possible so BRING YOUR SCOUT HANDBOOKS.
The big advantage of Camp Bell is in doing things that cannot be done at other camps because a whole day is devoted to each area instead of just two or three hours.
Hidden Valley will focus more on complete merit badges. A Scout can expect to earn 1-3 merit badges, but make sure some preparation is done. At least read the requirements and bring with you anything which might not be available at camp which you will need to complete the badge.
Emergency Camp Contact Numbers:
Camp Bell: 603-524-0436
Hidden Valley: 603-364-2900
Hank Manz: 617-620-5011 (text messaging to this number is the most reliable method)
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Medication Forms (fill out one per mediccation and tape it to bottle or box)
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Scout’s Name: ____________________________________
Medication: ________________________________________
Times Administered (circle all that apply):
When Needed (specify): _____________________________________
Breakfast
Lunch
Supper
Other (specify: _____________________________________________
—- cut here ——————–
Scout’s Name: ____________________________________
Medication: ________________________________________
Times Administered (circle all that apply):
When Needed (specify): _____________________________________
Breakfast
Lunch
Supper
Other (specify: _____________________________________________
— cut here ———————-
Scout’s Name: ____________________________________
Medication: ________________________________________
Times Administered (circle all that apply):
When Needed (specify): _____________________________________
Breakfast
Lunch
Supper
Other (specify: _____________________________________________
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