Troop 4 Columbia, Missouri Boy Scouts of America Chartered by Trinity Presbyterian Church

Summer Camp 2010 - Camp Piercing Arrow - Fort Long

1. H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation:  The reservation is located on Truman Lake, off of Highway 82, southwest of Warsaw – driving directions are attached.  H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation consists of three camps with many campsites, approx. 500 - 600 per camp.
2. Transportation:
1. The troop does not provide transportation to camp.  Please transport your son yourself or make arrangements with another parent to give him a ride.  Transportation home from camp is your responsibility also.  You may want to leave Columbia in time to meet with everyone at the McDonalds in Warsaw, at about 10:00 AM, prior to continuing on to camp. 
3. Campsite
1. Scouts are assigned to two man canvas wall tents on wooden platforms, military style cots.
2. ‘What to Take to Camp’ - see attachment.
3. Map of Camp Piercing Arrow - see attachment.
4. Camp box for gear, with padlock, combination, leave combo w/SM!  Camp box should be approximately the size of a military footlocker.  There are many plastic storage boxes available that serve quite well, as do the footlockers.
5. Toolbox (optional) for personal items, e.g. money, flashlight, neckerchief slides etc.  It is convenient if it can be locked.
6. A small rug for between the cots is nice.  The rug provides extra comfort and absorbs some of the dirt and crud.
7. New scouts will camp in their own area, not mingled with older scouts.  This allows us to keep an eye on them.  Some have trouble being away from home for that long of a time.
8. Pillow, bed sheets, or a summer sleeping bag are recommended.  It will be hot.  Sleeping pad if desired.  Battery operate fan is helpful.
9. Troop 4 maintains an electronic free summer camp.  Portable electronic devices will be confiscated and returned to parents.
4. Mess Hall:
1. All meals are prepared and served at the Mess Hall.  The scouts won’t have to cook.
2. Each boy will work KP on an alternating basis.
3. Each boy is assigned to a specific table and the troop has a specific area and number of tables.
4. Please let us know if your scout has special needs regarding his diet.  A Special Needs Form is attached.
5. Swimming pool:
1. The pool is new and very nice.  We usually don’t do waterfront MBs at camp.  We do waterfront MBs (except Swimming and Lifesaving MB) at Aqua Bummin campout at Lake Ozark St. Park in September.
6. Phone home:  One out-going phone available on site must use calling card or know how to call collect.  5 min. limit on calls when anyone is waiting, which is most of the time.  NO PHONE TAG.  If your son can’t reach you, he must not leave a message to call him back.  Make him understand that he must call back later if he doesn’t contact you.  If there is an emergency, we will contact you.  Office phone resources are limited and are not for conversation
7.  Write home:  Please send writing paper and self addressed stamp envelopes with your son so he can write a note to you.  Please send your son an occasional note in the mail too.  Mail your first letter 2 days prior to leaving for camp and don’t mail anything after the 6th day of camp.  Mail call can be an exciting time when you are getting mail.
8. Money:  One of the leaders will hold money for any scout, if you do not want them to hold it themselves.  $20 to $30 is suggested.  It is recommend that any money in excess of $10 be turned over to the Troop treasurer at camp for safe keeping
9. Merit badges:
1. Merit badges are pre-arranged.
2. All new scouts will take Swimming MB.  Bring an old adult sized LONG sleeved button shirt and long pants with belt, (not jeans or sweats) for Swimming MB.  Needed for a self rescue requirement.
3. New scouts will take the handicraft MBs in camp, Leatherwork, Basketry, and Woodcarving.  Serves to keep them very busy during downtime between classes.
4. There will be a small fee for handicraft supplies.
5. New scouts can take several other MBs during regular classes, two in the morning and one in the afternoon in addition to swimming. 
6. There are pre-camp requirements for certain MBs.  Some are four day sessions, more involved MBs are eight day sessions, such as Swimming.
10. Uniforms:  Troop 4 is a full uniform troop, not only at camp but also at every meeting.  The Class A uniform is also worn in transit to summer camp and campouts or other official scout functions.  Class A Uniform is worn to dinner every night at summer camp.  All scouts will need the Class A Formal uniform at camp.  Please bring hanger to keep uniform neat, uniforms are worn on a daily basis at camp.
1. Class A Formal:  official shirt, neckerchief, neckerchief slide, uniform scout belt, rope belt, official shorts or long pants, MB sash (for First Class scouts and above).  Official socks must be worn with uniform shorts; however, Troop policy doesn’t require official socks with long pants. This uniform is required for Boards of Review.  We will hold Scoutmaster Conferences and limited Boards of Review at camp. 
2. Class A:  uniform shirt, uniform scout belt, rope belt, uniform shorts or long pants, official socks if wearing shorts.  This is the basic uniform expected at every meeting, including misc. items listed below that have been earned.
3. Class B.  Scout T shirt, may be troop T shirt, camp T shirt or other BSA T shirt, official shorts and socks, or pants.
4. Casual Dress:   This usually consists of shorts and t-shirts, socks and shoes or boots.  No open toed sandals or shoes are allowed.
5. Miscellaneous items, these items will be worn with the Class A and B uniforms if they have been earned:  Totin chip, bead totem, rope belt.
6. Badges:  current rank badges and other patches will be in the proper place on the shirt or MB sash.  The Boy Scout Handbook has instructions on placement.  Also the BSA Insignia Guide is available for reference.  Uniforms need to be in proper order for Boards of Review.
7. Shoes:  Please, no open toed shoes or sandals in camp.  It is very rocky at Bartle.  Some sort of tennis shoes and hiking boots are appropriate.  Your son will be instructed to change footwear if he is wearing sandals.  Aqua sock shoes may be worn when going to the pool for swim time or aquatic merit badge work.
11. Casual Wear:  Scouts may dress casually (shorts and T-shirts) to attend MB classes and around the campsite.  Also at breakfast and lunch in the mess hall.  Class A uniforms are worn to dinner everyday.
12.   Health
1.  Medication:  Please package medicine in plastic bags for each day, with clear instructions written on the bag for dosage and times of administration.
2. Health Lodge:  Medical facility on the reservation, primarily First Aid facility.  Sick call is the hour after each meal.  Manned by volunteer physicians that are on the reservation as adult leaders with troops. 
3. Physicals: All scouts and adults MUST have a completed Heart of America Council BSA health form on file.  Class 1 and 2 for all Scouts and Scouters (under 40 years of age). Class 3 for all Scouters over 40 years of age.  All scouts and adults must be registered with BSA prior to attending camp.  Adults should be certified in Youth protection, an on line course through BSA.
13. Visitor’s Day
1. Arrive in camp, you can drive to the campsite, the gates will be open for you, BE THERE!!!  If you can’t attend, make arrangements ahead of camp for someone to bring food for your scout.  Visitor’s Day is a time for the scout to take a break and have some fun with their family.
2. Bring lunch and dinner.  Only breakfast will be served on Visitor’s Day!!  There will be NO FOOD available at camp after breakfast.
3. Bring goodies.
4. Bring clean towels for your son.
5. Council ring dance in afternoon.
6. Visitor’s Day begins at 10 AM.
7. Visitor’s Day ends at 5 PM., Gates are locked promptly at 5:00 pm.
8. Visitors are NOT to bring pets to camp. Alcoholic beverages, drugs, fireworks, firearms, etc. will not be tolerated.  Riders are not permitted in the back of pick-up trucks or tailgates of station wagons.
14. Let’s Go Home
1. Pick up you son(s) by 9:00AM the last day.  Please, don’t be late! 
2. It would be nice to have some help tearing down the campsite!
15.  

Phone calls:  Scouts should not leave messages on an answering machine for their parents to return a call to camp.  The phone number for camp is for emergency use only.  The scout should try to call home at a later time if he doesn’t make contact the first time.

Please try to make your new scout understand that leaving camp early is not a viable option.  It spoils your son’s camp experience and all the work that he has done to earn rank and merit badges.  Severe homesickness happens and we will do everything we can to alleviate it.  It may help if a parent would consider spending a couple of days in camp as a part-time leader close to the middle of the session.  Fulltime leaders are always welcome!  Your son won’t get homesick if you are there!

Don’t forget to have your scout pack his rain gear.  It will probably rain occasionally at camp.  We actually look forward to it as it usually cools things down a bit!

Pack the swimming suit ON TOP of everything else in the camp box.  The first thing he will do at camp is take the swim test so it needs to be available quickly.  We are a large troop so we try to get to the pool early to avoid long waits; besides, a dip in the pool helps cool us off!