CAMP DATE: 13 -19 July 2025
31 scouts attending
T299 Summer Camp Leader: Scoutmaster Scott Moncrief
T299 Summer Camp Outing Coordinator: Committee Member Dave Berchtold
614-749-3777 or bsa.berchtold@gmail.com
Camp Conestoga Office: 814-445-2018
Send Mail For Scouts ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE of camp to:
Camp Conestoga
Attn: Scout Name -T299 Seneca Campsite
255 Conestoga Camp Road
Somerset, PA 15501
Upcoming Preparations:
23 Jun 6 pm: Mock check-in; review all med docs (Outing Coordination Team Only)
07 Jul 7 pm: Video meeting (For adult participants)
08 Jul 7 pm: Video meeting (For families with scouts attending summer camp)
10 Jul 7-9 pm: Medication turn in and development of med use plan (for families with scouts taking medications or have special medical needs). Email sent to troop 13 Jun.
Click "Your Checklist of Actions"
Your Checklist of Actions
References
d. Adult Training Opportunities - adults sign up for these once at camp
e. Camp Map
f. Schedule First and Last Day
h. Evening Program Schedule
When: 13 - 19 Jul 2025 inclusive. The troop will be leaving St. Patrick's Church at 7 am, Sunday, July 13th and returning to Dublin on the afternoon of Saturday, July 19th. We will leave camp on Saturday July 19th around 10 a.m. or earlier. Transportation for any pickups should arrive at 9 a.m.
Where: CAMP CONESTOGA (255 Conestoga Camp Road, Somerset, PA 15501) in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, about a 4-hour drive from Dublin. We will be at the Seneca lakeside campsite - best site at the campsite - beautiful and central. We have been going to this site for many years. See camp map below at 10e in Part II below. We are sharing the camp with scouts from 14 other troops.
Driving Instructions - CLICK HERE
Required Reading BEFORE Summer Camp
b. Health and Safety Guidelines
Weather: Expect average high of 80F and average low during night of 58F. Day time high temperature rarely is outside the range of 70F - 87F. The hottest day of the year is 20 Jul and hottest part of the days are 2 pm - 7 pm. Record high is 98F and record low is 36F. Nightly low is rarely outside the range of 51F - 68F. Expect rain about once in every three days; average daily chance of precipitation is about 37%. Chance of cloud coverage that is overcast to mostly cloudy is 40% and clear to partly cloudy 60% of the time. Sunrise will be approximately 6 a.m. and sunset will be approximately 8:45 p.m. Moonlight at night will be darkest upon arrival and brightest upon departure. You'll likely be able to see Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars in the Pennsylvania sky, with the possibility of glimpsing Uranus and Neptune with binoculars or a telescope.
Gear Checklist: Click HERE. Special mentions below . . .
* Blue cards to include ones for Citizenship in Society (at Troop campsite) and Fingerprinting (Monday night) if doing those
* Green card for First Class Scouts under training for sign offs
* Pennsylvania fishing license if 16 years or older and want to fish
* Firemn chit, totin chip
* Footlocker - to transport individual Scout gear, we recommend the use of a footlocker / trunk that can fit under the bed frame scouts will sleep upon. Here's an EXAMPLE.
* Mess Kit - a change from the previous year, lunch will be served at our Seneca camp site instead of the dining hall.
What to Wear: Wear Class A to and from the camp. Daily uniform varies requiring Class A, Class B T-shirt (which will be provided at no additional cost), and civilian outdoor appropriate attire. Avoid shirts with graphics or language that can be offensive.
Merit Badge Incidentals: CLICK HERE Some merit badges requires supplies scouts buy at the scout store.
Spending Money for the Scout Store: Families decide what is appropriate for the scout. Having some spending money for refreshments or emergency supplies goes a long way to keeping a scout happy.
Gas Money for Your Driver: A recommended amount will be provided in Jul.
Food To and From Camp: Expect drivers to stop enroute so scouts may eat to and from camp.
Tents: The camp provides high wall canvas tents with wood platform floors. Scouts sleep two to a tent with a scout that is within two years of age. Scouts and parents do not use the same tent. Adults sleep one to a tent. Adults may bring their own tent. Scouts and adults are liable for damages to the tents during our visit; damage to tents will be billed by the inch. We recommend you take photos on Sunday of your assigned tent on all sides, inside and outside, with flaps unfolded to protect your interests. If change tents at anytime during your visit, recommend do the same AND upon pack out on Saturday.
Rank Advancement: Scoutmaster conferences with Mr. Scott Moncrief are available at summer camp; see the Scoutmaster to schedule. Boards of Review will be held at summer camp for scouts earning the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, and/or Second Class. Scouts can get only one board of review while at summer camp. Mr. Scott Staron is the scouts' point of contact for scheduling Boards of Review at summer camp.
Merit Badge Blue Cards: Scouts are responsible for bringing their own blue cards to summer camp. Get blue cards from the Scoutmaster, fill them out correctly and legibly (CLICK HERE), gain the Scoutmaster signature or his designee/s, bring them to summer camp, and provide them to their merit badge instructors/counselors on Monday. If participating in the Citizenship in the Society MB troop clinic, bring blue card for it. If you plan to do the Fingerprinting Merit Badge on Monday night, bring blue card for it.
Merit Badge pre-requisites - CLICK HERE
Fishing and licensing: Fishing from the stream and lake at Camp Conestoga is only by catch and release. Even under catch and release, a fishing license is required for anyone 16 years or older. If you have one, bring it. Licenses and permits can be attained on-line from Hunt & Fish. CLICK HERE. They are a contractor with the state of Pennsylvania that issues licenses. They have 24/7 phone support at 800-838-4431. The lake at Camp Conestoga has trout. A trout permit/stamp is not required under catch and release. Camp Conestoga stream and lake have trout, catfish, sunfish, blue gill, and chappies but hasn't had much stocking of fish recently. The nearby Laurel Hill Lake contains bass, trout, catfish, sucker, bluegill, perch, sunfish, and chappies. Some licensing and permitting options include:
* 7 day non-resident tourist license = $39.47 (allows 16+ years of age to fish at Camp Conestoga via catch and release)
* 1 day non-resident tourist license and trout permit = $31.97 (allows catch and keep trout at nearby Laurel Hills Lake but must release at Camp Conestoga)
* 1 year non-resident tourist license = $60.97
* 1 year non-resident trout permit = $14.97 (allows catching and keeping at most locations but not at Camp Conestoga)
** There are also multi-year options
Fishing and fly fishing merit badges require catching a fish. If taking any of these merit badges and will be under 16 years of age, bring your pole and tackle supplies; you will be able to fish. The camp can provide poles if you don't have one. If 16 years or older and do not have a fishing license, you won't be able to catch a fish at summer camp but still bring your pole and tackle supplies for other elements of the merit badges.
Camp Rules Special Mention:
* After dinner and colors on the first night, all scouts remain on the parade field for camp tour
* Staff areas are off limits
* Don't cut through other troop camp sites
* Anyone can use the area 5 feet off the shoreline of the lake
* Firewood must be from local area
* Ammunition, rifles, and archery gear may not be brought into camp by Scouts or leaders.
* Camp-wide quiet time starts 11 pm. Scoutmasters are responsible to maintain troop area quiet times from 10 pm - 6 am.
* Senior Patrol Leader Meeting/Training every day after lunch in the center room of Rohrbacher’s. If the SPL cannot make it, another member of the Troop Leadership Corp must attend. Sunday’s SPL meeting (about 7:10 pm) will take place immediately following Camp Wide Colors in the center room of Rohrbacher’s alongside the Leader’s Meeting.
* Adults and scouts must check out at main office in Rohrbacher Lodge before leaving camp.
* Seatbelts required; no riding in open bays of trucks.
* Only areas for sandals, open toed shoes, or boat shoes is in the fenced pool area and inside shower houses.
* No alcohol or controlled substances, e-cigs, or vaping on camp properties.
* Class A is encouraged as much as possible but especially for evening wide retreat, camp-wide vespers, Wed parents night, and Friday campfire. Upon arrival to summer camp, Class A is not required on Sunday.
Some of the Available Opportunities:
* Camp Adventure Award - for elite units who have gone the extra mile to participate in the overall program.
* Family Night - see Leader's Guide, item 10e in Part II below, page 31. We assume no families in our troop will participate due to the distance; however, if wrong, please notify Dave Berchtold, bsa.berchtold@gmail.com
* Polar Bear Arch patch - swimming pool 6:30 - 7:00 am. Must attend 4 of 5 days.
* Mile Swim Participation card - mandatory swimming pool every morning 7:00 a.m. Mile Swim is Friday morning.
* Paddle Craft Safety, Swimming, & Water Rescue training at times to be announced. Must be 16 years or older.
* Swampathon - Tuesday evening. Sign up at Acquatics.
* Triatholon competition (single or 3 man teams) - Monday evening. Must be Swimmer qualified. 100 yards of swimming, nearly 1 mile of running, and 100 yards of rowing.
* Open shoots daily: Rifle 3rd summit, Shotgun 6th summit, Archery 3rd and 6th summits.
* Angler Award - When complete Fishing, Fly Fishing, and Fish and Wildlife management Merit Badges.
* Leader's Woodworking - Summits 1 - 3.
* Chaplain Aid Training - time TBD.
* Eat Like Kings - Thursday night adults cook for the scouts at our campsite.
* Adult leader training, Introduction to Outdoor Skills - M thru W after lunch for 3 hrs/day
* Adult leader training, Position Specific Training - Th following breakfast for 1-4 hours depending upon position
* Adult leader training, CPR and AED Training - Th after lunch. $35 fee.
* Leader's zip line - M. Requires liability waiver release. See Leader's Guide
* T-shirt tie dye - Tues evening. $10.
* Dutch Oven cookoff - Thur evening.
Archive
- Scout Sign Up - CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
- Adult Sign Up - CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
- Merit Badge Sign Up - CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
- Review merit badges schedule - CLICK HERE
- NEW UPDATED pre-requisites - CLICK HERE
- Merit badge incidental costs - CLICK HERE
- Merit badge difficulty legend - CLICK HERE
- Citizenship in Society - CLICK HERE FOR THE REQUIREMENTS
4. Cowboy Shooting Contest Permission Forms Slip (mandatory safety briefing Monday night; competition is Thursday night)
5. How to Make Payment is by scout account debit, check, or Venmo.
a. If paying by scout account debit, indicate that on the sign up form (#1 above) when it asks how you intend to make payment. Please do not indicate you will use your scout account unless you have sufficient funds in your account (Jen Gohring, Troop Treasurer, can assist with your scout balance . . . jennifer.s.gohring@gmail.com) - OR
b. Pay using a check made out to "Troop 299". Please drop checks off at 7826 Westbury Court - OR
c. Pay by Venmo to @treasurer_troop299skc. If prompted to verify the account phone # associated with this Venmo account, use 7807. When making a Venmo payment, you should include SCOUT NAME and "Summer Camp Final Payment" with your payment in the ‘What’s it for?’ section.
6. SUBMIT MED FORMS. The BSA medical forms can be downloaded here and the Conestoga medical form is here
7. Volunteer to drive - CLICK HERE [DO NOT FILL THIS IN UNTIL PROMPTED]
8. Tshirt sizes ordered previous year
Adult Meeting Agenda
* Driver plan
* Trailer/haul plan
* Arrival instructions
* Coordination of what to bring
* Adult tent assignments
* How to deal with scout questions
* Check-in procedures and process
* First day routine
* Scout conduct
* Troop muster
* Adult standard of conduct
* Coordination boards of review
* Process for leaving the camp grounds during the week
* Adult training opportunities
Photos: 2024
Photos: 2025 (Some photos from swim test posted)
Summer Camp Outing Team - Dave Berchtold, April Lehman, and Nicholas Wongchaowart.