Webelos Crossovers & New Scouts

These Scouts are always afforded the lowest possible camp fee rate. Because many troops don’t know what Webelos will be joining their troop until after the March 15th deposit date, a special registration category will be established for them. This will also include any Scouts who join the troop as new Scouts between March 15th and the beginning of the troop’s week at camp.

Camperships

The Connecticut Rivers Council will continue to award camperships to Scouts in need of funds to attend camp who might not other-wise do so. The annual campership fund is limited and fluctuates from year to year. Similar to Webelos crossovers and new Scouts, campership Scouts will also be afforded the lowest possible rate to attend camp. The unit process for paying for these Scouts is to be determined.

Specialty Camp Programs

Registration for all Specialty Camp programs will be accomplished on an individual scout basis. These programs will include Trail to Eagle Week, COPE & Climbing Week, S.T.E.M Week, and various other daily or weekend programs.

Payments

ALL deposits and subsequent payments for camp MUST be made online through the CRC web site. Payments may be in the form of an E-Check or credit/debit card. There is no charge to the unit using this method of payment.

For more information visit ctscouting.org

Program Planning

Program Planning will be the Tuesday before your troops week at camp. This time will be used to learn about the daily schedule and the program that each department offers. After that, the SPL will have the opportunity to sign your troop up for program. Each week it will begin at 7:30 p.m. outside of Leever Lodge. Your troop should send the Senior Patrol Leader and an adult leader that will be attending the week of camp. During this time, a health officer will be available to check any med forms.

Merit badge sign-ups are 100% virtual. ALL Scouts MUST be signed up for Merit Badges via the registration site, BlackPug, BEFORE arrival at camp. At the end of the week, troops will receive a packet containing a merit badge report with instructions on how to download Blue Cards. The camp retains a record of the badges earned. To help your Scouts in earning merit badges, we offer the following suggestions that you may wish to include in your camp planning.

Requirements are changing all the time, sometimes after this guide is published. Units can consult scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/ to verify the up to date requirements and changes. Make sure the scouts understand these changes and that this is what will be expected from them. See to it that each Scout has not only thoroughly reviewed the requirements of his sought after badge, but prepared them-self before leaving for camp.

Don’t allow over scheduling. We set no limits on the number of badges a Scout can attempt, but sometimes their desires are greater than their time or abilities.

Scouts are in camp for many things other than merit badges, and they shouldn’t miss out on other opportunities. Knowing their capabilities, you can guide them in being realistic and having a positive experience.

Many merit badges require work to be done outside of camp. Please review these requirements and have the Scout complete any prerequisite requirements prior to camp with written verification to show their counselor. For example: Reptile & Amphibian Study, Personal Fitness, and Astronomy require weeks of observation and documentation. Camping requires days and nights of short term camping. Cooking requires previous meal planning and meal preparation.

See that the badge makes sense. Wilderness Survival (Scouts need to be 1st class), Camping, Lifesaving, Climbing, Shotgun Shooting, and Astronomy are just some examples of badges not meant for younger Scouts whatsoever. Please don’t allow a Scout to take a badge so far over their head that they have a rotten week.

Some merit badges are more difficult than others. Please have your Unit Advancement Committee review the requirements of badges and help guide Scouts toward appropriate badges that they can have success with during their week at camp.

IT IS RECOMMENDED SCOUTS TAKE NO MORE THAN 3 MONDAY-FRIDAY MERIT BADGES A WEEK.

Please note that some merit badges require Scouts to have specific materials for the badge. Leatherwork and Basketry require the purchase of materials from the trading post. COPE requires long pants for some activities. Camping merit badge requires one backpack per Scout. A photography merit badge requires a digital camera. Welding and Metalwork require jeans. Please review the requirements of each badge so Scouts have the proper materials and equipment with them when they arrive at Camp.

*New* Half-Week Badges