Summer Camp

Key information for 2020 Summer Camp

1. In a nutshell
2. Health and Medical information
3. About summer camp
4. Homesickness
5. Camp Emerson Address, Phone, and Directions
6. Merit Badge Catalog with Prerequisites
7. Merit Badge Grid Schedule
8. Merit Badge Selection Form
9. Parking Pass

In a nutshell

• Summer Camp Fast Facts:
  • Session Dates: 
    • Wk1: July 5-11, 2020
    • Wk2: July 12-18, 2020
    • Wk3: July 19-25 , 2020
  • Location:  Camp Emerson, Idyllwild, CA
  • Cost:  TBD
  • Payment Due Dates:  TBD
  • Preferred payment methods:  Deliver in person to our Treasurer, Brenda Shingleton  (Make checks payable to Scouts BSA Troop 55)
  • Merit badge selection will be managed by Summer Camp Coordinator, Joe Terreri.
  • All scouts must have health forms A, B, and C with a signature from your doctor dated in the last 12 months.  Adults staying more than 72 hours need the same (only A & B without physical for adults staying less than 72 hours).
  • CONTACTS:
    Joe Terreri (jpterreri@gmail.com)
    

Forms and other requirements for Scouts

1. Medical Forms – must use BSA forms and have a doctor’s examination and signature.
2. Copy of Health Insurance card, front and back must be included with health form.
3. Tetanus shot – must have a current tetanus shot documented on your medical form, or, complete and attach this Tetanus Exemption Request Form to the medical form.
4. Camper Release Form – indicating who is authorized to remove your scout from camp, including parents.
5. Optional:
   • Medication Form (required if any medications will be taken to camp). 
   • Dietary Restriction online form – complete online if scout has any dietary restrictions at least 30 days prior to camp.

Forms & Other Requirements for ADULTS:

1. Medical Forms – Complete parts A & B if you will be in camp for less than 72 hours. Complete part C and obtain a physical and MD signoff if you will be in camp for 72 hours or more.
2. Youth Protection Training – https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/

Create an account, log in, complete the training (25-30 minutes) and print your certificate of completion, turn in a copy to troop leadership with other camp forms. Please note that if you took this training prior to February 15, you must re-take it prior to October 1 – even if your certificate shows a later expiration date! All registered adults must re-take YPT prior to October 1.

1. All adults staying in camp must be registered with the BSA. If you are planning to attend summer camp and stay overnight, and you are not registered, please see Joe Terreri to get registered.

Health and medical information

• All Scouts must complete parts A, B and C of the BSA Health and Medical Record form. Part C requires a doctor’s physical exam. This must be submitted on the BSA form; a school or sports physical will not be accepted. Be sure to make an appointment early as many medical providers book up quickly for summer physicals. Physical exams are valid for one year, so if his last physical was prior to July of 2019, he’ll need a new one for camp this year. Scouts arriving without physicals will not be allowed to attend camp.
• All Scouts must have a Camp Emerson Camper Release Form completed by parent. Be sure to specify the Scout’s own parents as authorized to take Scouts out of camp. (Camp Emerson does not use the release form in the BSA health & medical record.)
• All adults in camp need a completed Health and Medical Record form as well. Adults staying longer than 72 hours must complete parts A, B, and C. Adults staying less than 72 hours need only complete parts A and B.
• Scouts need a completed troop permission slip, even if the Scout’s own parent is driving him to and from camp. Permission slips are issued to drivers at departure from Emerson and are retained by the Scoutmaster while at camp. They are reissued on departure home.
• Troop 55’s medication policy will be in effect. All medications must be in original containers and a medication form must be completed. Medications are placed in a ziplock bag and turned in to the camp medical officer during the health check on the first day of camp. The camp medical officer will either administer medications or turn it over to the troop adult leaders.

About summer camp

For families new to Boy Scouts, summer camp is an essential part of  the Scouting program. In the week spent at camp, boys not only work on Scouting advancement and merit badges and have the opportunity to take advantage of activities that may only be available to them at a Scout camp, they bond with their fellow Scouts, learn how to function as a Patrol, and learn personal responsibility, self-reliance and the meaning of compassionate leadership. Boys who experience summer camp advance through the ranks sooner and are more likely to stay active in Scouting than boys who don’t. There is plenty of adult and peer support, and the boys will be so busy at camp, there won’t be time to think of anything else.

Why Boy Scout summer camp instead of another camp? As with everything else in Scouting, there is a greater purpose beyond the fun and activities. Scouts come away with new skills and memories for sure. They come away with something tangible – many will end up advancing in rank and all will earn merit badges. But they also gain something intangible – self-confidence, leadership, a sense of belonging, and a value system that will support them as they grow into adulthood. Better yet, a Boy Scout troop is more than just a random collection of kids who show up for camp – it’s your son and his friends (his patrol) doing fun things together year-round.

About our camp: Camp Emerson is our Council’s home Camp. It is located in the San Jacinto mountains at approximately a mile in elevation. Scouts and their families have been camping here for over 100 years. Fun activities include canoeing in the lake, experiencing the soothing sounds of Strawberry creek, or taking a hike on over 25 miles of trails. Camp Emerson has recently undergone several facility improvements which are sure to enhance the camping experience. These include a new climbing wall, outdoor Kitchen/BBQ area, Almost half of all the available BSA merit badges are offered. Camping sites are comfortably wooded and shady, with running water and central latrine facilities, located close to camp program areas. Tents, supplied by Camp Emerson, are two-man canvas tents with wooden floors, equipped with mattresses and springs for each scout. Camp Emerson, operated by California Inland Empire Council, is now in its 100th year. Troops from around the state and even from other states return to Camp Emerson for many of these reasons. In short, Camp Emerson is everything a Boy Scout Camp should be!

Homesickness

Homesickness is an issue every year at summer camp. Usually it affects first-year campers. It need not be a problem if you properly prepare your Scout, and you observe certain precautions yourself. Please read the following articles:

• Homesickness prevention strategies for parents of children planning to attend summer camp
• Not a Happy Camper – Article in Scouting magazine on homesickness strategies
• Dreading Water – Article in Scouting Magazine about helping boys prepare for the swim test at camp

If this is your son’s first time away from home for this length of time, please read these articles and discuss the issues with your son. Note the reasons in the article why we discourage Scouts from having or using cell phones at camp, and while it may seem cruel to cut off communication with home, a homesickness situation can actually be made worse by a phone call home. The adults spending the week at camp with your son have handled homesickness before, both in our own kids and in others. If there is a serious problem that warrants a call home, we’ll contact you, but nearly all cases are handled right in camp. It’s important to ensure that your son has the positive camp experience he deserves and that you expect (and have paid for!).

Sometimes, physical discomfort can lead to feelings of wanting to go home. This is why we encourage certain behavior at camp, which you can support during your time preparing with your son. Some of these are:

• Drink plenty of water – Dehydration can lead to stomach aches, lethargy or headaches. Drink before becoming thirsty! Tasty water is plentiful and readily available everywhere in camp. Your son should have a water bottle with him and drink water frequently.
• Eat nutritious food – Three meals a day are served in the dining hall. If your son has any food allergies, is a vegetarian or has other dietary restrictions, let us know as soon as possible so we can make arrangements with the camp staff.
• Wear comfortable shoes and change into clean socks each day – If shoes don’t fit or socks are dirty, walking will be uncomfortable, and there will be plenty of walking during the week.
• Take a shower – This can help lift his spirits. There are modern, private showers a short walk from our site.

Food service

Camp Emerson provides three hot nutritious meals a day in the camp dining hall. In fact, Scouts themselves serve as the hosts, setting tables, bringing food from the kitchen, and cleaning up afterward. Meals are served family style and seconds are normally available. There is a salad bar at lunch and dinner and a varied menu.

The following is from Camp Emerson about food service: “Camp Emerson continually strives to make your dining experience a positive one during your stay with us. Great care is made to ensure quality, quantity, & variety in each meal we prepare. However there are also people who require special attention to their diet. We make it a practice to work with those who have special dietary needs. This can be done by contacting us at least 2 weeks prior to your arrival at camp.”

If you have dietary concerns (allergies, vegetarian or religious, for instance), please contact Mr. Terreri, who will include your information in our report to Camp Emerson. If you would like to discuss food service with Camp Emerson staff, please contact Camp Director TBD.