12 - 18 Jul 2026
Schedule your summer around summer camp at Camp Conestoga
Contact Dave Berchtold, bsa.berchtold @gmail.com if you have a schedule conflict and need an alternative summer camp
SIGN UP, PAY, MED FORMS, PERMISSION SLIPS
(COWBOY SHOOTING COMPETITION AND ZIPLINE)
DUE BY 21 APR
SELECT MERIT BADGES ASAP
As of 18 Mar:
32 scouts signed up (35 if include those that signed up for MBs)
32/32 have selected merit badges + 3
6 adults signed up
12 Pathfinders (9 signed up + 3 MBs selected but not signed up)
Merit Badges Filled
Orienteering and Geocaching Summit 6
Movie Making and Photography Summit 5
Wilderness Survival Summit 1
Actions are in red below
Links are in orange
New and undecided scouts, see section below titled "Should I go or should I not"
ACTIONS
PARENT REGISTER YOUR SCOUT [Click here] - by 21 Apr 2026. If any scout is unable to register by 21 Apr 2026, contact Dave Berchtold at 614-504-7341 or bsa.berchtold@gmail.com so he can determine with Camp Conestoga if late registration will be accepted.
ADULT VOLUNTEER REGISTER YOURSELF [Click here] - by soonest to facilitate T-shirt orders; otherwise by 21 Apr 2026. If unable to register by 21 Apr 2026, contact Dave Berchtold. Requirements to attend include: register with Scouting America as a leader, Current Scouting America Youth Protection Training through 18 Jul 2026, Scouting Medical Form Parts A, B, and C (requires physical examination after 01 Jul 2025 with a preferred no later than date of 15 Jun 2026), and medical insurance card.
SCOUT SELECT MERIT BADGES [Click here] - SOONEST to have best chance of getting your first choice selections. Note all Eagle required or Eagle optional merit badges are in the morning summits except Environmental Science, which is offered in the morning and afternoon. The morning Eagle merit badges include: Swimming, Emergency Preparedness, Life Saving, First Aid, Personal Fitness, and Camping. Cooking merit badge is now being offered every other year at this camp; this is an off year. The merit badges that are new offerings for the camp include: Woodcarving, Electronics, Railroading, Energy, Digital Technology, Graphics Art, Moving Making and Photography, Electricity, Theatre, and American Heritage. There's some offerings that require some explanation:
a. Stained glass - this is an activity. It does not contribute toward any merit badge.
b. Open archery - this requires no sign up. Scouts show up as desired for instruction and practice. If you want to do this, you'll want to leave Summit 3 or 6 open
c. Open rifle - this requires no sign up. Scouts show up as desired for instruction and practice. If you want to do this, you'll want to leave Summit 3 or 6 open
d. Open shotgun - required age 14 yrs or older, requires no sign up. If you want to do this, leave Summit 6 open
e. Open swimming and boating - requires no sign up but will need an afternoon summit open
d. Paul Bunyon Woodsman - this is not a merit badge; it is an award. You get a patch for a blanket or backpack, not the uniform, and a wallet certification card. One of the requirements is to help scouts earn the Tot'n Chip, a perfect fit to assist our new scouts at camp so they can earn it too.
e. NOVA Award - the camp is going to spend time on working scouts through the original program requirements of "Up and Away" module (i.e. about fluid dynamics), one of three modules, for the NOVA Engineering Award created in 2019 under BSA. Scouting America no longer administers this STEM program, has removed the awards and requirements from its websites and national advancement database, and no longer registers counselor positions. Councils are allowed to administer the program as originally designed or may modify it. Our Council, Simon Kenton, continues the program as originally intended. Camp Conestoga program at summer camp will follow the original program requirements making work at Conestoga compatible toward NOVA Award in our Simon Kenton Council. To complete this module requires completing one of the following merit badges: Aviation, Kayaking, Rowing, Canoeing, Oceanography, Scuba Diving, Chemistry, Plumbing or Swimming. The only other pre-requisite for this program is requirement #1 (see http://usscouts.org/usscouts/advance/nova/scout-nova-9.asp)
f. Personal Fitness - Dave Berchtold intends to hold a Personal Fitness MB clinic starting in Apr for area Dublin troops. If any unforeseen circumstances arise to cause a start delay, he will host it sometime during the warmer months of this calendar year.
Helpful resources to complete the merit badge and activity sign up form are below:
Camp Conestoga merit badge schedule
Merit badge pre-requisites - A prerequisite is a requirement for a merit badge that must be completed prior to the Scout arriving at camp to earn the merit badge at camp. Simply put, if a Scout does not have the requirements for a prerequisite completed, the Scout will not complete the merit badge at camp and will get a "Partial". A Partial is a blue card with some and not all requirements. Partials issued never expire until the Scout is 18 years of age. That means that a Scout can either find a counselor at home or return to camp next year and pick up right where he left off.
Merit badge costs - these are additional costs the scout will need to fund at summer camp
PARENT MAKE PAYMENT
In mid-Mar, each family who has signed up by that time will get a final amount due payable by 21 Apr.
21 Apr 2026 - final payment of the amount owed is due. The discounted Camp Conestoga fee is $420, for those that make the 03 Mar 2026 deadline, any new scout not yet having rank that joined the troop since mid-Jul 2025, or any transfer scout from another troop that is Scout rank or below that joined the troop since mid-Jul 2025. Otherwise, the fee is $440. The troop fee is $35/scout which pays for adult volunteer registration fees, T-shirts, gear transport, food, etc. For families with more than one scout going to Camp Conestoga, a $35 discount is applied to every child after the first one.
Make payments via 3 options:
Venmo - (@treasurer_troop299skc Code: 7807). Provide scout's name and "Conestoga $50" in the ‘What’s it for?’ section.
Check - Get Jennifer Gohring a check made out to "Troop 299". We recommend making arrangements with her to get the check directly to her. Alternatively, bring the deposit to the troop meeting on 03 Mar and the final payment on 21 Apr.
Scout Account - Use your son’s troop account AFTER contacting Jennifer Gohring to confirm the scout's account balance.
Payment to drivers if carpooling are to be paid by cash on the day of transport. $10 is recommended for this outing to summer camp and another $10 to return to Dublin.
PARENT SUBMIT SCOUTING AMERICA MEDICAL FORM AND INSURANCE CARDS
21 Apr due date
Insurance Cards
15 Jun due date
We are not intending to accept medical documentation in the month of Jul; families should have everything turned in 15 Jun. Schedule the medical examination needed for Part C now. Parts A, B, and C of BSA/SA medical form are required of adults and scouts if staying at camp 72 hours or more. For those staying less than 72 hours, only Parts A&B are needed. For visitors on Wed for family night, no medical form is required unless spending the night. If BSA forms part A and part B have no significant changes since you last filled them out, you can re-initial part A and write an updated date. Part C cannot be re-initiated and the medical assessment by a physician must be after 01 Jul 2025. To request an extension of a due date for medical documentation submittals, send an email to April Lehman at "april.n.lehman@gmail.com". Medical forms can be emailed to April Lehman at "april.n.lehman@gmail.com" OR delivered to her at 6585 Weston Cir E Dublin, OH 43016 at the folder inside the front storm/screen door OR brought to the troop meeting 21 Apr (for Parts A & B and insurance cards)
PARENT SUBMIT COWBOY SHOOTING PERMISSION SLIPS [Click here] - by 21 Apr to bsa.berchtold@gmail.com with copy to april.n.lehman@gmail.com. The scout brings his own copy to summer camp. In this program, Scouts will fire a rifle, pistol, and shotgun under the supervision of an NRA Range Safety Officer and NRA certified instructors. The age requirement for participation is 14 years of age, or 13 and has completed the eighth grade, as of 13 Jul 2026. The camp has not yet released their program schedule; however, expect a mandatory safety briefing Monday night with competition Thursday night.
SUBMIT ZIP LINE PERMISSION SLIPS FOR SCOUTS [Click here] - by 21 Apr to bsa.berchtold@gmail.com with copy to april.n.lehman@gmail.com. The scout brings his own copy to summer camp. Scouts that enroll in the COPE program (done by completing the merit badge sign up form) and want to zip line need this permission slip. Any scout has opportunity to use the zipline during the week and similarly require a permission slip.
Note: While not collecting permission slips for family members, any visiting family member on Family Night will need to complete a permission slip to use the zip line. We recommend completing it from home and bringing it with you.
PARENT SUBMIT DIETARY REQUESTS [Click here] IF HAVE ANY - by 21 Jun although we recommend doing it just prior to completing the sign up form to register your scout.
TIMELINE
01 Jul 2025 . . . . . .No Part C medical examinations before this date
03 Mar 2026 . . . . Complete sign up form to register scouts; sooner the better
03 Mar . . . . . . . . . $50 deposit due; sooner the better
03 Mar . . . . . . . . . If paying deposit by check and haven't yet paid, bring check to the Troop meeting
03 Mar . . . . . . . . . Merit badge selections due; sooner the better
03 Mar . . . . . . . . . Preferred due date to submit dietary restrictions
06 Mar . . . . . . . . . Roster and deposits due to Camp Conestoga
Mid Mar . . . . . . . Final payment amounts sent to families
21 Apr . . . . . . . . . Complete sign up form to register scouts; sooner the better
21 Apr . . . . . . . . . Final payment due; sooner the better
21 Apr . . . . . . . . . Medical Part A&B due
21 Apr . . . . . . . . . Medical Insurance Cards due
21 Apr . . . . . . . . . If paying final payment by check and haven't paid yet, bring check to the Troop meeting
21 Apr . . . . . . . . . Permission slip for Cowboy Shooting Contest due
21 Apr . . . . . . . . . Permission slip for rappelling due
TBD Apr . . . . . . . Troop Swim Test (taking the swim test prevents taking it at summer camp)
01 May . . . . . . . . . Final payment and roster due to Camp Conestoga; send swim test results
05 May . . . . . . . . Scouts due date to have gotten blue cards from Scoutmaster for merit badges
05 May . . . . . . . . Scouts due date to have gotten green cards from Scoutmaster for rank sign offs
05 May . . . . . . . . T-shirt order due
15 Jun . . . . . . . . . Medical Part C due
21 Jun . . . . . . . . . Dietary Restrictions form due to Camp Conestoga (families submit digitally)
23 Jun. . . . . . . . . Mock check-in; review all med docs (Outing Coordination Team Only)
07 Jul . . . . . . . . . Video meeting (For adult volunteer participants)
07 Jul . . . . . . . . . Recommended date for scouts and adults to review Emergency Procedures and Health & Safety Guidelines
08 Jul . . . . . . . . . Video meeting (For families with scouts attending summer camp)
10 Jul . . . . . . . . . . Medication turn in (for families with scouts taking medications or have special medical needs)
11 Jul . . . . . . . . . . Fishing license on hand for those that need it
12 Jul . . . . . . . . . . Departure/Arrival (Bring blue cards, green cards, OA paperwork)
18 Jul . . . . . . . . . . Adult volunteer Youth Protection Current through at least this date
TBD - ILST
ADMINISTRATIVE AND INFORMATIONAL
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. We have been going to this site for many years.
References
a. Leaders Guide - not yet available
c. Adult Training Opportunities - not yet available
e. Camp Map
f. Schedule First and Last Day
g. Evening Program Schedule - not yet available
Suggested Reading BEFORE Summer Camp
b. Health and Safety Guidelines
Points of Contact
Camp Conestoga Office: 814-445-2018
T299 Summer Camp Outing Coordination Team Lead:
Dave Berchtold, 614-504-7341, bsa.berchtold@gmail.com. Cell phone 614-749-3777 when at summer camp
T299 Attending Adults:
Phone list to be provided to parents of attending scouts and troop adult leadership before
departing for summer camp
Departure and Arrival Procedures 12 Jul 2026
7:00 a.m. Arrive St. Patricks parking lot
7:05 a.m. Drivers meet with Dave Berchtold
7:15 a.m. SPL meet with scouts for attendance, Class A
SM meet with adults for attendance, Class A
7:20 a.m. Load vehicles / trailer
7:40 a.m. Scout group photo
7:45 a.m. Released to depart; lunch enroute
1:00 p.m. Arrive Camp Seneca; gear drop
1:45 p.m. Muster troop to walk to health lodge
1:55 p.m. Align troop in alphabetical order
2:00 p.m. Health Lodge Check-In
Mr. Berchtold & Moncrief to front office to check-in
Driving Instructions - CLICK HERE
Mail/Care Packages For Scouts
Camp Conestoga
Attn: Scout Name -T299 Seneca Campsite
255 Conestoga Camp Road
Somerset, PA 15501
Conestoga recommends sending mail one week in advance of camp. We recommend putting the date of the camp in the lower front part of the envelope marked, "For week 12 - 18 Jul 2026"
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
Special mentions below . . .
* Blue cards to include 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 14.5" in height or less - 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.
* Cardboard, carpet remnant, foam pad to place between bed frame springs and sleeping bag
* 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 camp. Daily uniform varies requiring Class A, Class B T-shirt (which will be provided), and civilian outdoor appropriate attire. Avoid shirts with graphics or language that can be offensive.
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 and comfortable.
Gas Money for Your Driver:
$10 each way
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 from the troop 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 for the merit badges they selected. 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 the merit badge instructors/counselors on Monday. If participating in the evening Merit Badges, bring blue cards for those too.
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 (Until the camp releases their 2026 program plan, what is listed below is from 2025)
* 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 - 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.
Readiness Metrics (as of xx)
Troop Readiness as of (insert date)
SPL Identified:
Leadership team identified:
Sufficient adult leaders:
Drivers identified:
Scouts Signed Up: %
Scouts Paid: %
Scouts with all medical documentation submitted: %
Scouts with Part A: %
Scouts with Part B: %
Scouts with Part C: %
Scouts with medical ID cards %
2025 Highlights Photos: 2024
Photos: 2025
32 scouts (55% of the registered scouts) and 9 adults attended summer camp at Camp Conestoga in 2025. The scouts earned Honor Unit. The scouts earned 151 merit badges (average 4.7 merit badges per scout) and 12 partial merit badges across 49 different merit badges. The scouts worked 30 hours of conservation project work around our campsite and a nearby site. Star scouts earned three hours of conservation project for Life Rank. Those needing similar hours for camping merit badge and other rank earned their hours. First year scouts learned and completed 39 rank requirements for Scout through First Class ranks. All of them earned Scout rank. We had numerous scouts ready to Board or ranked up to other
SHOULD I GO OR SHOULD I NOT
Top 10 REASONS SCOUTS SHOULD ATTEND SUMMER CAMP
10. Learn skills; part of the journey of turning boys into men
9. Develops independence and self-confidence; get past the fear
8. Love camping
7. Develops social skills; unplug from technology
6. Best summer camp value for the money
5. Launching platform for growth and advancement and staying with scouting
4. Develop leadership skills, followership skills; and making ethical decisions
3. Merit badge attainment in short period of time
2. Develops relationships with troop peers; happier and connected scouts
1. It’s safe fun; hang with friends; gives mom and dad a vacation
Top 10 MYTHS ABOUT SUMMER CAMP
10. I can only eat mom’s cooking
9. I will never like camping or the outdoors
8. One of my parents has to be there
7. Bathrooms are latrines and there’s no hot water for showers
6. It’s expensive and of low value
5. I won’t have or make any friends
4. I can’t go because I don’t have a tent
3. I can't go because I have special needs
2. I’m not missing out on anything if I don’t go
1. I'm too young to go; I'll get homesick and bullied; it is just unsafe
Mom and Dad of the First Year Scout,
My experience as a parent and scouter is that when parents "let go" from the ways of Cub Scouting and let their child grow as a Boy Scout, their son begins to mature toward his fullest potential. In some cases, the scout steers for the off ramp too early and you're left questioning what to do. After all, the transition from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts is a large one where boys are thrown into a new environment around new people in a peer group that looks older and already connected. My advise below is going to apply in most situations albeit not all situations, for all families, or all scouts.
Your family decision whether to send your son to summer camp is more important to his future in scouting than you may know. I'm not shy about calling it a game changing decision because it may well influence the longer term trajectory of his scouting journey. The parent who thinks their son is not ready for their scout to go to summer camp is usually, not always, misjudging of summer camp. Summer Camp matters. If you are a parent that is not ready for your scout to go to summer camp, my advice is "let go". According to our Scouts, they consistently tell the Scout Master that summer camp is the best time of the year. At today's Sunday Scouting event at St. Patrick church, I met three dads and a grandfather who were once in scouts. They reminisced about their scout days and responded to a question I asked regarding their best memory in scouting - you got it, summer camp.
Scouts develop and grow by getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Mountains today are mole hills tomorrow. We are experienced with homesickness and special needs of scouts. We work with you before departure on what we need to know to help bridge your son to the troop.
If mom and dad are not ready, maybe they are questioning, will my son be safe? The only thing ahead of fun for our priority is safety which starts before the time we leave for summer camp until he is returned to you. Our elder scouts and adults regularly monitor the first year scouts to help them through the week.
When your scout comes home at the end of the week, he will have survived and maybe even thrived in something without you, learned skills he didn’t have, navigated social situations, and proven to himself he can handle change and the outdoors. Don't be surprised if he stands taller, is more confident, and starts to think differently about scouting.
There's one scout who I recall from years ago that did not like camping at all. His mom required he attend every troop outing for a year before making an informed decision. The scout did a 180; he loved it more than anything else in scouting. Stay the course and 9 times out of 10, you'll be rewarded. One of the quickest things that benefits the new scout is a sense of belonging and getting acclimated to the peers and adult leaders in a troop. Summer camp does that in a big way.
Scouts attending their first summer camp will attend the Pathfinder Program. The sign up form for the scout gives the parents an option for their scout to opt out of the Program. We strongly discourage this in most situations and we require that families that want to opt out of the Pathfinder Program discuss it first with the Scoutmaster, Mr. Scott Moncrief, to ensure the decision is an educated and informed one and in the scout's best interest. First year scout attendees meet together in the mornings to work on rank requirements as a patrol. For the new scout, working with other new scouts in the troop is a bonding experience with who will become their future friends. During Summit 3, the new scouts work on merit badge activities to earn a merit badge in either swimming, rowing, or personal fitness. Last year, the Pathfinder Program scouts satisfied the following rank requirements from their mornings together:
Scout Rank - 1e, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b;
Tenderfoot - 1c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 5c, 8;
Second Class - 1b, 2g, 3a, 3c, 3d, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e;
First Class - 1b, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7f
After lunch and the open hour that follow it, Pathfinder Program scouts can work on merit badges and activities based on their selections in the Merit Badge Sign Up form. The program offers a great mix to develop rank skills, attain rank, and earn merit badges.
ONE OF THE SCOUT RANK REQUIREMENTS REQUIRES YOUR SCOUT TO WORK WITH HIS PARENTS ON THE CYBERCHIP AWARD. PLEASE DO THIS BEFORE SUMMER CAMP so your scout can earn scout rank while at summer camp.
New scouts might ask how many merit badges or activities should I sign up for and are there any specific ones I should take? The answer is it is up to the scout with help from mom and dad. There are some things to consider. If your scout likes to spend time with another scout in the troop, maybe they share in a mutual interest. There's comfort in numbers. The weather is generally pleasant but usually get rain sometime during the week. For some scouts, not an issue. For others, they might prefer some time indoors. Handicraft merit badges bring scouts indoors. Younger scouts tend to get more fatigued than older scouts. If this is a concern, leaving one of the afternoon summits open is a good strategy to give a scout some opportunity for down time, rest, spending time with friends, going to the trading store for a treat, etc. The best advice for mom and dad is to guide your scouts when filling out the merit badge and activity sign up but let the scout make the final decision. The worst thing that can happen is he is in a merit badge summit because someone else thought it was a good idea and he can't stand it. Don't worry yet about the road to Eagle and which merit badges to take now. Besides, the only available Eagle merit badge for scouts in the Pathfinder Program is Environmental Science, a merit badge better taken in a couple years. That merit badge also extends across 2 summits, limiting options for other merit badge and activity selections. Feel free to talk to some of the adult elders and scouts to get various viewpoints but let the scout follow his heart and interests.