One of the questions we get asked a lot is: "When do you guys go camping?" Well, here's the answer. We go camping (or do some other special outing) every month, normally on the third FULL weekend. So mark your calendars in advance.
If we're going on a "regular" campout, we meet at the First United Methodist Church on Friday at 5:30 p.m. so we can pack up and leave by 6:00 p.m. BRING A SACK SUPPER for that Friday night! After the campout, we return to the Church by around 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Each patrol makes up its own menu (approved by the Troop leadership) and it's own shopping list based on that menu. A representative or two from EACH patrol going camping MUST meet with the troop on Thursday before the campout at 7:00 p.m. at the designated grocery store (the location will be announced at the Troop Meetings before the campout) to help shop for food for the weekend. That person also takes his patrol's food home with him for overnight storage.
To help defray some of the cost of food and transportation for outings, our standard dues for a campout is $10.00 per person. Some special events may require additional fees. Payment is due along with a PERMISSION SLIP signed by a parent no later than the troop meeting before the campout.
Summer camp is one of those special events. Troop 77 has a fine history of attending Summer Camp at one of the many great camps in the region. This week long trip offers a great opportunity for advancement, learning, and (of course) a lot of FUN! The popularity of summer camp is clear - almost 90% of our registered scouts attend each year, and some of them for the third and fourth time!
Just one thing to help us out: If you're taking ANY medication or have any other medical condition that requires special attention, please let us know. It doesn't mean that you can't go camping with us, just make sure the adult in charge of the campout is aware of it. Unless other arrangements have been made, all medications (clearly marked) should be given to the adult leader in charge with a complete list of instructions.
For the experienced scouts, we have other opportunities you can look forward to. We have sent some of our scouts on week-long canoe trips, backpacking treks and horse cavalcades in the mountains, and even outings at Sea Base in Florida. For older Troop 77 Scouts interested in High Adventure, we have a Venture Crew that plans its own program and activities. We plan to participate in more of these experiences in the future. We've got a lot going on -- in fact, the only thing missing in our "O TINGS" is "U".
