RRIVAL AT YAWGOOG
Please come to Tim O'Neill Field by 3:30pm on Sunday, July 14 (this is the main field to your right upon entry to the property, through the gate). If you're after 4:30pm you may have to walk your trunk/gear to the camp- there are no vehicles allowed in camp. We try to park near the front corner. Gone is our red trailer. Working on it's replacement- this year will an open, dump trailer. Look for your leaders. Remember, there is no food program Sunday evening, so eat early, bring something with you, or buy something locally. Bring drinks to hydrate.
CAMP SET UP SUNDAY- ADULT HELP ALWAYS NEEDED
All help setting up the canopy tent would be greatly appreciated. It usually takes about an hour or so to set up camp. Don't wear nice clothes. :-) We have a new canopy, so more adult help would be great.
ID
All leaders will receive a wristband that needs to be worn when in camp all week. This applies to all adults staying in camp- wear them loosely as they must be shared- we only get 4.
VISITATION
Visitation is Wednesday again this year. Please plan on attending by 6:30-6:45pm. You must visit Bucklin Hall office (the big central building with the timbers and bridge) to sign in as a visitor to camp. Everyone who attends will be given a wristband upon signing in. Sign out upon departure. Anyone who can or wants to help with Boards of review like last year is welcome to assist. Hopefully less rain. The kids tend to be busy, so they may not be around too much or as much as you'd like. Perhaps. :-)
ELECTRONICS and PHONES
Electronics: while not recommended, we realize the day and age we are in. During the day, phones and electronics are not allowed with the scouts. At night, if they are awake enough, they can usually use their electronics (phones/games, etc) for an hour, time permitting, attitude and behavior permitting. When not in use, we put them in a secured and locked box to protect them from the elements, misuse, abuse and the sad lack of ethics that sometimes occurs. Send a charger if your Scout likes his electronics/phone. Speaking of phones.... service at Yawgoog is horrible unless you have AT&T. Sometimes you'll get a whiff of signal on Sprint or TMobile, but it's unlikely. Verizon is sketchy. Airplane mode helps save batteries, but we usually shut them off during the day/non-use periods. Bluetooth speakers are allowed but only to the point where they begin to bother others- especially the leaders who may not appreciate today's "music." No speakers will be cranked up in camp- sound carries and other troops do not appreciate lack of noise discipline. Plus, it scares off the wildlife. Exception: if you have specific anti-skunk sounds, feel free to play those. :-) Headphones are preferred so as not to bother others who may be doing work (adults), badge work or are trying to sleep.
SPENDING MONEY:
We are suggesting $5 per day per Scout for spending for the week. All money will be collected and placed in our lockbox and handed out as necessary. Give your Scout five dollar bills if possible.
MEDICATIONS
All meds need to be collected for our other lock box. Please provide instructions for any meds brought to camp. Any meds that need refrigeration NEED to be turned in and the camp must be notified. Please let me know upon arrival at 3:30 or earlier as I must check in the meds with all our forms at 3:30.
DIET RESTRICTIONS, ALLERGIES
Let us know of any special diet restrictions ASAP. Yawgoog is a peanut & tree nut free reservation. Any scout with known severe allergies to things like bees etc., should have an EPI-pen. Please let us know if your scout requires/has one.
SATURDAY PIZZA
We plan on having a pizza night as usual on Saturday night. Any donations towards the cause are appreciated.
ROPE COURSE- REQUIREMENTS
If you are doing the ropes courses, long pants, closed toe shoes and socks are REQUIRED. You cannot participate in shorts and sandals.
WATER PARK!!!!
This is year 3 of the WATER PARK in Sandy Beach. Extra towels and bathing suit recommended. Must get Swimmer badge to use. We will be choosing time(s) Monday.
CONDUCT
For the Scouts: Shenanigans are not tolerated ... much. Nothing to jeopardize the safety of others. If you're not sure if you're crossing a line, you probably are, but ask an adult leader. Respect for the leaders, your troop or others is important. We, as leaders, don't like to yell. ... much. Please don't make us. Yawgoog is taking a much less lenient approach to conduct and have instituted a Code of Honor that all Scouts MUST sign. Parents must sign or the Troop leaders will sign as your proxy.
BUDDY SYSTEM
We are going to be enforcing this safety measure more stringently. It's a HUGE campus (1,800 acres) and all campsites are full. Lots of Scouts in lots of space. Two Scouts are easier to find than one.
EARLY/MID-WEEK DEPARTURES
Any scout leaving the property early (doctor's appointment, sick call, ending camp early) must be signed out by a Troop leader.
DRESS PARADE AND RETREAT
The Dress Parade is Sunday at 12:30- arrive early (11am is a favorite time to start, parking is tough if you're late). Bring a pop-up tent, umbrella or shelter or make friends with someone who has one. It’s HOT (some would say VERY HOT, I would say LUDICROUSLY HOT) on the field (except last year- that was hot, humid AND canceled due to the monsoon). Cameras are strongly suggested. Folding chairs or blanket as well. Leave the pets at home- the cannon (literal cannon, very loud) tends to frighten them (and some small children). After the parade ends, we will be striking camp and we have a lot of Troop gear to haul as well as personal gear. Parents are encouraged to help. Time and weather permitting, we will have our annual Post-Yawgoog awards. IN THE EVENT OF BAD WEATHER (OR PREDICTIONS), PLEASE CHECK YOUR PHONE OR EMAILS SATURDAY NIGHT (JULY 20) FOR ANY SCHEDULE CHANGES- YOU WILL BE CONTACTED.
SEND MAIL TO YOUR YOUR SCOUT
We send and receive mail every day at Yawgoog. Mail is sorted and distributed to the three camps. Outgoing mail at each camp is picked up every morning. There are mailboxes located in each of the three dining halls and in the Bucklin building for out-going mail. Each Campsite has its own mailbox, and it’s important that incoming mail bear the correct information in the address, including the Scout’s Name, the Camp Name (Three Point, Medicine Bow, or Sandy Beach), the Campsite, the Week the Scout is in Camp, and the Troop Number and Community.
Example:
Joey Scout
Camp Three Point Campsite Tuocs Week 3
Troop 1 Cumberland Hill
Yawgoog Scout Reservation
61 Camp Yawgoog
Rockville, RI 02873
MEMORIES
"Remember the deer in camp, the skunk in camp, the prank we pulled on R***, the storm where we had to go to the mess hall, the storm where the flaps blew open overnight, the time Z*** got mosquitoes IN his bug net all night and looked like he had measles, the survival camp we made, the water dodgeball, the scoutmaster splash, the fish L*** caught and then fell in, the campfires, C****'s birthday, the dessert bake-off proving Mr. Flanagan should not be in a kitchen, the kids we met from NY, the bear behind the dining hall, the canoe trip, the sleepover on the island, the new and improved food at the dining hall, the BBQ from the Narragansett troop next door, learning to swim, learning to swim Better, winning competitions for camp and for me, winning Troop of the Week, J*** throwing Mr. Flanagan's tomahawk when he didn't think he knew, the costumes at the Costume Contest, the hikes, S** whittling sticks ALL THE TIME, the Reveille bugler who can't bugle, the kids falling out of their hammocks/not able to get into their hammocks, the book work, the fun classes, the BORING classes, the games, the water carnival, the land carnival, the new water park, the..." Let's add some good memories this year! (The names of the innocent/not-quite-so-innocent have been changed).