Good morning, 635ers,

I've been asked a couple of questions over the last days regarding summer camp, so I thought I'd recap the highlights for you here:

(1) Everyone should meet at EMS at 11:30 tomorrow morning. Scouts should be wearing their Class B T-shirts under their Class A uniforms (including neckerchiefs), so we can ensure everyone has all of their proper uniform parts.

(2) If you don't have a Class B or would like to get another one, we will have them for sale for $10.

(3) All scouts who have medication should give that medication to me (or the person I designate) in the parking lot. If it's prescription medicine it needs to be in the original packaging that shows the dosing instructions.

(4) Everyone should have his scout book. If you're under 1st Class and you forget it, there will be beatings. If you're 1st Class or above and you forget it and I find out, you will have to go down to the dining hall each morning to fetch my fresh coffee for me.

(5) All first year scouts will be in the First Class Adventure program each morning. All other scouts will be taking merit badges. You should have reviewed the merit badges being offered to come up with a plan for what you'd like to take. If you haven't done that and you can read .pdf files, you can find a list of the MBs being offered by going to http://scoutingvermont.org/MountNorris/mtn_leaders_guide.pdf and checking out pages 23/24. A suggested gear list is on page 31. Remember the warnings on the bottom of that page: NO FIRE ARMS, NARCOTICS, OR CHAINSAWS. Because I just know you were *so* looking forward to bringing them along...

(6) At the end of the week, all scouts will be participating in our flag retirement ceremony at the closing campfire. Families are invited to come up Friday afternoon for the closing bar-b-que. The cost is $8 per adult, $5 for children under 12. Please be prepared to pay the appropriate amount when you arrive on Sunday so we can let the camp know how many of our people they need to plan for.

(7) Remember, this Quest for another High-Speed, Low-Drag, Kevlar-Coated, Ready-to-Romp Award is brought to you by the fearsome SPL Leo G. and his Marine-in-Training Thomas C., so you had better be prepared to rock on, all week long.

I'm going to be reachable off and on between now and then but you'll probably have most luck by calling my cell phone. I'll be out of range most of this afternoon but should be around in the morning if you need me.

(8) The mailing address for Mt. Norris is:
Boy's Name, Troop 635
Belvidere Camp Site
Mount Norris Scout Reservation
PO Box 117
Eden, VT 05652

(9) Directions for getting to Mt. Norris from EMS. IMPORTANT NOTE: Please do not go up on your own or leave before the rest of the group. We need to meet in the EMS parking lot to ensure everyone is squared away and plan to leave around noon.

--Take Rte 15 North to Johnson
--Take left onto Rte 100C
--Take Rte 100C to it's termination and take a left on Rte 100 North
--Follow Rte 100 for about 5 miles. At the bottom of a big, long hill there is a sign for Mount Norris Scout Reservation. That would be the place you're looking for. Take a left and meet in the parking lot.

PREPARE TO BE AWESOME.

Your Scoutmaster,

Sonnick