If you are going to Camp Alexander for Summer Camp it is time to start thinking about Merit Badge Selections. Registration starts 4/28/2023 which is right around the corner. The popular ones fill up fast and it is first come first served. Please come prepared NEXT TUESDAY APRIL 25th 2023 with your selections written down to turn in.
There are 4 Merit Badge sessions daily Monday thru Thursday while at camp. Some Merit Badges require two sessions and some Merit Badges are only two days long. Please see the following Schedule and Merit Badge Matrix and start developing your ideal schedule. Please also pick a couple of backup Merit badges in case the camp cannot accommodate your first choice.
For more detailed information when selecting your Merit Badges see the link below and read pages 17-32 of the Leaders Guide.
Please see the below information on medical forms necessary for Camp Alexander. According to them and in BOLD in the Leaders Guide is the following.
THE NUMBER ONE BIGGEST HEADACHE FOR UNITS COMING TO CAMP IS NOT HAVING THE MEDICAL AND MEDICATION FORMS COMPLETED CORRECTLY!
Forms are required to be reviewed for accuracy, scanned, and uploaded to the camp electronically ahead of time. We will do this as a unit. PLEASE DO NOT UPLOAD FORMS YOURSELF. No more showing up at camp with a stack of forms so we need to have this done early. Let’s make sure this is not an issue for our Troop and I ask that everyone have them completed and turned into the Troop no later than Tuesday, June 13th 2023!
Direction and details from Camp Alexander is below.
HEALTH & MEDICAL RECORDS
The State of Colorado and Department of Social Services have strict rules that Camp Alexander must follow. Please read the following section carefully. Each person attending Camp Alexander must have an Annual BSA Health and Medical Record within 12 months arrival at Camp Alexander.
Required Medical Documents:
BSA Medical Form (Parts A, B1, B2, & C – both youth and adults)
Copy of Health Insurance Card (both youth and adults)
Colorado Addendum – Additional Information/Sunscreen Permission Form (youth only)
Consent to test for COVID-19 (youth only)
Permission for Medication Administration/Medication Log (only if taking prescription meds.) – must have permission form completed with signatures. Must be completed for each medication your scout will take at camp. Fill out the days and times on the log, our staff will complete the log as medications are administered. (youth only & only if needed) o Required for any medications (including over-the-counter and supplements) o Medications Must be in original container
Colorado Addendum – Contract to Carry emergency Medication (youth only – & only if needed) The BSA Form must be completed and signed by a medical doctor, M.D., D.O., R.N.P. or P.A./C. These are the only signatures which the Colorado Department of Social Services will allow to sign the Health Form. Chiropractic doctor, D.P.M. signatures are unacceptable under Colorado Department of Social Services requirements. On B2 (page 3) of the BSA medical form there is a section where prescription medications are to be listed. Below the list there are two signature lines: one for a parent and a doctor. A parent signature is required even if NO medications are listed and the parents must check either yes or no for over-the counter medications (ex. Tylenol, ibuprofen).
NO OTHER FORMS CAN BE ACCEPTED! It is the Scout’s parents responsibility to supply a BSA Health and Medical record before camp admittance. All Scouts and adult leaders are required to participate in a medical check with the Camp Alexander Medical Staff upon check-in. Scouts without a completed BSA Health and Medical record, including signatures, by 4:00 PM Monday must be picked up that evening by a parent, or taken home by unit leadership. Failure to provide a completed BSA Health and Medical record is not an exception to our refund policy.
This week’s meeting will be a game night since we just had our Penetente family campout. We will be playing Ultimate Cabbage at Wilson Ranch Park which we can walk to from the church. Arrive and leave at the barn like usual and we will walk there and back.
Departure: We will aim to DEPART the church at 5:00, so please try to arrive a little early so we can assign riders and drivers. [Several people are making custom arrangements to drive down Saturday morning or early on Friday].
Food: The scouts have arranged a meal plan for themselves. Adults are on their own to provide meals.
Campsite: This is car camping, and we have two sites reserved (site 1 and 2) that are fairly large. Most of us will be in tents. It will be in the 20s at night, so bring your layers.
Return: We plan to return to the church by noon on Sunday.
Camp Cards are here! Lots of great deals this year. Cards are $5, Scout gets $2.50 for each card sold in his account. This is a fun and easy fundraiser, easy to sell and great return. Don’t forget to register the number on the card for even more savings. I liked the $10 off at Safeway last year and it is still there when you register the card. Cards will be available tonight at the meeting in sets of 10, if you miss the pickup just contact me. No obligation, if you don’t sell them just return them in the same condition we gave them to you. All money must be returned then we will deposit your share in your account.
We need to get our numbers up on our flag program! They have fallen in the past years and if we are going to give our time we might as well have a few more flags to place. On April 8th at 8am the Scouts will be walking certain neighborhoods and placing flyers on doors. We need all available Scouts (and Parents)to participate so they can be in pairs and we can be done in under 2 hours. Mr. Petree will pick Scouts up a designated location. We are starting early because everyone is so busy this time of year so please think about giving some of your time. There will also be a cash prize raffle for those that participate!
April 14 – 16, 2023. Car camping. Families are welcome. There will be rock climbing on Saturday with an opportunity to earn the Climbing Merit Badge.
Previous climbing experience or gear is NOT required but if you have it, bring it. NOTE: you can rent climbing shoes ($10 for the weekend) at REI which we highly recommend. Get a size that fits tightly with no wiggle room.
Plenty of hiking is available for those not interested in climbing. It’s about a 3 hour drive.
Hope everyone had a fantastic and safe Spring Break. Its time to get back to Scouting!
This week’s meeting will be a uniform inspection, so come in class-A uniforms. We will be working on some rank advancement, so bring your books to the meeting. Nate will be teaching a lesson from Nate on drugs and use prevention.
We will also be calling out those elected into the Order of the Arrow, so if you are an OA member please bring your sashes.
After polling some of the families in the troop it appears that many have a lot of exciting plans this week, and will be on adventures with their families. Due to what is expected to be a low attendance this week, we are going to pass on our Tuesday Troop meeting.
Whether out and about or enjoying a staycation, remember to Live the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Be Prepared , and Do a good turn daily while you are off.
It appears that we were not able to get enough folks signed up to meet the minimum group rate and therefor will save this game night location for another time in the future when we can plan a little further in advance.
We will change out game night to Skyzone this evening since we don’t need a reservation or advance notice. Skyzone is located at 1750 E Woodmen Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80920. The park is only open until 8pm so we can start 6:30pm instead of 7pm so you can get a full 90 minute jump. Tickets are $23.99 per person and they require a waiver and Skyzone socks to jump. Bring the ones you have (because you have all been there) to avoid having to purchase the.
Sorry for the late notice and hope to see you all tonight.
This week’s meeting will be a game night since we had a mountain biking day this weekend. We will be going to Gripstone Climbing & Fitness at 6220 Tutt Blvd. The admission will be $20, but Mr. Anderson knows the owner and might be able to get us a better deal. If you have climbing gear, bring it, since rentals are an extra $5-$7.
We need to get our numbers up on our flag program! They have fallen in the past years and if we are going to give our time we might as well have a few more flags to place. On April 8th at 8am the Scouts will be walking certain neighborhoods and placing flyers on doors. We need all available Scouts (and Parents)to participate so they can be in pairs and we can be done in under 2 hours. Mr. Petree will pick Scouts up a designated location. We are starting early because everyone is so busy this time of year so please think about giving some of your time. There will also be a cash prize raffle for those that participate! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BA5AF2BA1FEC52-flag2 Maureen Reiser 208-596-3115
Due to predicted extreme cold weather, the trip leaders have decided that the outing this weekend will not include camping. We will do a day trip to the Canon City bike trails on Saturday. Here’s the updated plan:
– Meet at the barn at 900 Saturday to pack and split into vehicles.
– Ride and enjoy the scenery throughout the day (with breaks)
– Lunch will be provided, per the trip meal plan (Miles is shopping)
– Plan to return to the church by 5pm Saturday.
Given the schedule change, we understand if other boys would now want to participate, and they are welcome to, but we may need additional drivers. Please update the Signup Genius if you want to join the trip.
Send your questions to Mr. Anderson (801 791-7854).
If your scout is a 1st class or higher, not going to Northern Tier AND interested in NYLT, please have them write a quick “scholarship application” tonight and submit before our council meeting tomorrow.
See the full post below but here are the questions:
1. Why do you want to attend NYLT?
2. How might you apply what you have learned when you get back to the troop? Describe 3 specific actions you can take to apply what you have learned to benefit the troop by the end of the calendar year.
For our March campout, we’ll be doing some Mountain Biking, down in Canon City, “the Banana Belt of Colorado”. We will be riding at the South Canon open space. This is a new trail system, purpose-built for mountain biking with a great variety of trails for new and experienced riders. We will be camping at Temple View Campground, which is just a few miles up the road:
We will meet at the church at 5pm to load gear and bikes and plan to return by noon on Sunday. We will be car camping and riding bikes on Saturday. You don’t have to have a mountain bike to attend, but it is highly encouraged. Please make sure it is in working order. Mr. Anderson will bring a tool kit, but he won’t have spare parts for everyone’s bikes. We will have opportunities to work on the Cycling Merit Badge too.
We really need drivers with bike racks. The drive is under an hour, so it’s an easy one.
Please sign up as soon as possible so we can get started figuring out logistics!
*Dates this year are 6/11-17 (same as Northern Tier, sorry!)
“The NYLT course centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE, what a leader must KNOW, and what a leader must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the patrol goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership.”
“Through activities, presentations, challenges, discussions, and audio-visual support, NYLT participants will be engaged in a unified approach to leadership that will give them the skill and confidence to lead well.”
In order to be considered for the Troop 287 NYLT $100 scholarship please complete the following questions in an email to winslowfamily4@gmail.com before our next council meeting on 3/14. The council will review the submissions at that time. Please let me know if you have any questions.
1. Why do you want to attend NYLT?
2. How might you apply what you have learned when you get back to the troop? Describe 3 specific actions you can take to apply what you have learned to benefit the troop by the end of the calendar year.
Welcome to the website of Boy Scout Troop 287 at Wilson United Methodist Church, located on the northwest side of Colorado Springs, CO, in school districts 11 and 20. We are in the BSA Pikes Peak Council, Frontier District.
To the left, you can view our news and events. Below you can browse information about our troop, subscribe to our blog by email, download documents, and access useful links.
