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.
The morning starts off with reveille at 7:00 AM, flags will be at 7:55am (Units doing morning flags should arrive no later than 7:50am), and breakfast at 8am. Units will eat at tables assigned during the SM meeting. Units attend various activities from Nature hikes and ScoutCraft skill activities to Archery and Rifle shooting sessions. Also during the morning is instructional swimming and boating, where every Scout can improve their skills or learn new ones.
Rolling lunch is between 11:30 am - 1pm, followed by options for various other activities including merit badges that run throughout the afternoon.
From 4:00 – 5:00 PM there is open swimming and boating, a time for cooling off and fun. Also available on the waterfront are kayaks and paddleboards for qualified individuals. Open shoot at the archery and rifle ranges, open climbing at the climbing tower (13 years old and over), mountain biking, BMX biking, and zip lining are just some of the activities going on in this time block for everyone to make some memories with. Evening flag is at 5:55pm (Units doing flag duty should arrive no later than 5:50pm). Dinner is at 6pm, with everyone in their Class A uniform. Units will eat in their assigned areas. After dinner, troops enjoy free time and can do things like water polo, open boating, volleyball, the climbing tower, softball, frisbee, troop campfires, etc.
At 9:30 PM prayer bell tolls: a time for everyone to remember the 12th point of the Scout Law and reflect upon their day. At this time scouts should be back in their camp sites pre-paring for quiet hours. All the fun and games will resume bright and early tomorrow.
Quiet Hours and Lights out:
The Grover Memorial Bell will toll 12 times at 9:30PM every evening, one for each point of the Scout Law. During this time we ask that the Camp stop and reflect in silence about the 12th point of the Scout Law A Scout is Reverent. By now, all Scouts should be in their campsites. Taps is sounded at 9:45PM. Lights out -- all quiet. Quiet hours are 9:45PM till 7:00AM.
Mattatuck Tracks Program
The Tracks Program is designed for first year Scouts who are looking for an introduction to summer camp! These Scouts will have the opportunity to earn First and Second Class requirements and their Totin' Chit! Any first-year Scout who visits each of the departments listed below during their week of summer camp will receive the Mattatuck Tracks Award at the end of week Campwide Court of Honor! Sign up for this program is the Sunday night of each week just after dinner on the grass in front of the main office!
For Information on *NEW* Half-Week Badges see below!
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.
Half-Week Badges
Half-Week badges are an opportunity for Scouts of all ages to maximize their potential Merit Badges earned without a burdensome schedule. Above are the currently offered Half-Week badges. The meeting times of each badge have been included so Scouts can see which badges they could pair together for a maximized schedule.
*New* Half-Week Badges
Pets Merit Badge: 12:00-1:00
Public Speaking: 1:00-2:00
Fire Safety: 1:00-2:00
Insect Study: 2:00-3:00
Textiles: 2:00-3:00
Landscape Architecture: 3:00-4:00
Law: 7:00-8:00
Disability Awareness: 12:00-1:00
Collections: 1:00-2:00
Indian Lore: 1:00-2:00
Mammal Study: 2:00-3:00
Digital Technology: 2:00-3:00
It’s time to dust off your cowboy hats and boots for Wild West Week at Mattatuck! Scouts are encouraged to bring their own cowboy hat to wear throughout the week as they learn skills worthy of a true pioneer while making classic camp memories.
Once upon a time, in a camp not so far away, Under the Sea Week awaits brave deep water adventurers! Scouts, get ready to step into an enchanted world of rivers and lakes at Mattatuck this summer!
Brave knights, prepare for a legendary adventure during Knights and Gnomes Week at Mattatuck! Sharpen your wits to embark on quests of teamwork, creativity, and honor.
Scouts, grab your binoculars and safari hats for an unforgettable journey through the untamed wilderness of Mattatuck. Become an explorer as you discover teamwork, survival skills, and a love for the great outdoors.
Get ready for an an out-of-this-world adventure at Mattatuck! Astronaut Week is sure to be a perfect blend of fun, discovery, and teamwork that’s truly out of this world.