Summer Camp at Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch – Camp Cris Dobbins was a great time.  Here are a few updates:

1. Merit Badges – all scouts will receive a printed record of all completed and partial merit badges earned at camp.  Completed merit badges will be recognized and awarded to the scout at the September Court of Honor. At that time the scout will receive the badge, blue card, and award card.  A few merit badges had a partial completion – these may have one or more requirements left to complete due to weather, timing, or could just not be completed at camp.  We will arrange completion as a group or individually and make merit badge counselor information and remaining requirements available.

2. Additional Camp Fees – this year at Peaceful Valley all costs for special programs, merit badge fees or materials, and miscellaneous fees were billed to the troop when we arrived and not paid individually at camp by the scout as in the past.  We will give scouts/families an itemized list of the costs to be paid to the troop.  Hopefully your scout had some extra money come back home as they did not have to pay these.

3. Photos – please use this link to upload all the summer camp photos taken during summer camp. They will be posted to photo.blakejr.com.  The raft trip has already been uploaded.

https://drive.google.com/a/3bonline.com/folderview?id=0B1iRyjWtIyXcfnhYR0ZhSHlzNlkwTVJSNFVIbUIyR3RZMS02MUpXQTBEUHNFdXRoaG5HNU0&usp=sharing

if you need help please let Robert know at robert@3bonline.com.

Additional information on packing/travel for summer camp:

Items discussed at Troop meetings & recommended items from a scout parent who has sent three scouts to CO over the past 8 years – some of these are not on the gear list:

• Money:   $20 for groceries for travel up, $40-$60 for 8 fast food meals ($5-$7.50 per meal), $50-$75 for Trading Post (snacks, ice cream, souvenirs, etc – there will be lots of items for sale to tempt them – this is a great time at home to discuss spending expectations.)
• Money for older scouts (not first year campers) – you were given a list of your individual fees for the merit badges, trail rides, scuba, or other activities you registered for.
• Money – If you do not want your scout to carry full amount you may portion cash into labeled envelopes and give to one of the adults going.
• Day 1 – eat breakfast and bring sack lunch.  See Troop 545 Travel Plan June 11-21.
• Good article – Three Things Parents can Do
• Gear List (below) is for week of camp, so additional clothes, etc will need to be added for travel days up and back.
• Trunk – for clothes and gear for the actual week of camp, scouts will not have access to trunks until they arrive at camp.  Shoe boxes and zip bags can be used to keep small items from getting lost among clothes.
• Small duffel bag – clothes, jacket, swim trunks, water shoes, towel, toiletries for whitewater rafting and travel days until scouts arrive at camp. For return trip they can repack it or use day pack since it is just one overnight stay.
• Day Pack – always keep flashlight, rain gear, and water bottle.
  1. For car travel for Day 1 sack lunch, snacks, books, wallet, and personal items.
  2. At camp for Scout Handbook, merit badge books, swim gear, wallet, etc.
• Water shoes – used for whitewater rafting, pool, and showers shoes at camp.
• Wallet – need to keep on them or in their day pack.
• Lip balm – for high altitudes, some scouts get really chapped if they get dehydrated or lick their lips.
• Laundry/dirty clothes bag – can be a large garbage bag. Have them put one in each – trunk, duffel, and day pack.
• Laundry line – length of rope to tie between trees or can be tied to canvas tent poles inside tent.
• Camp Chair
• Sleeping Bag – the rated temperature on the bag is survival temperature and not comfort temperature. So, a 20 degree bag might be comfortable at 40 degrees (varies by person.)
• Sleeping Bag Liner – this can be an actual purchased liner or a small fleece blanket.  This will add 10-20 degrees of warmth to the bag.
• Cot & Pad – sleeping pad works best for travel and cot for camp. Scouts will stay in canvas tents with wood platform floor at camp.
• They will have access to their sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tents, etc. on travel days – they do not need to put them in duffel bag.
• Rain Poncho – keep in day pack.  They have many short rain bursts during the day at camp.
• Shoes – no open toe shoes for trip or in camp.

Gear List – The Boy Scout Handbook pages 264, 292-295 & Gear List Peaceful Valley

Additional Information from Camp Cris Dobbins-Peaceful Valley SR – Parent Info – with mailing address (camp is rural so allow for this when mailing items) and other information.

Check out the Cris Dobbins Program Guide for more information on the camp programs.

Travel Plan – Troop 545 Travel Plan June 11-21

Sedalia Campsite – Cris Dobbins Map

Adults attending will find the 2015 Cris Dobbins Leader’s Handbook useful in preparing for camp.

Required Medical & Participation Forms
1. BSA Medical Part A, B, C
2. Colorado Medical Form Addendum (1)
3. Noah’s Ark Whitewater Rafting Participant Release

Scuba Medical Form – PADI Medical Form

Troop 545 will hold a fundraiser at Mooyah on
Thursday, May 7 from 4:00pm-10:00pm. Invite your
friends and family.  All they have to do is mention
Troop 545 when they make their purchase and
a % of the sales will come back to the troop.
MOOYAH-Fundraising_Poster

We celebrated Christian’s attainment of the rank of Eagle and two palms at his Eagle Court of Honor. Christian is Troop 545’s 43rd Eagle Scout.