Hello Troop 918 Parents, 
Despite the heat and humidity, we had a very successful week at summer camp!  We had 22 scouts from 918 and 2 from another troop spend the week cooking their own meals for an entire week.  There were lots of merit badges achieved, several scouts advanced in rank, and overall I think everyone had alot of fun.  
As I reflect on the week, I think one of the best things about spending a week in the extreme heat with scouts while they go to merit badge classes, swim, cook their meals, clean all their dishes is that many of them figured out they can do something really difficult.  There were certainly ups and downs.  They had the freedom to explore the camp with only a buddy, independence to choose what they wanted to do with their free time and make and learn from their mistakes.  The look of accomplishment as new scouts achieved their first rank and merit badge, seeing the older scouts teach the younger scouts, and watching the cooking patrols work as teams is pretty special.  I would encourage all the parents to come on a camp-out sometime to really see your kids in action!
I really want to thank the dads (Doug, James, Mike, Jeremiah, Jeff, Joe, and Ken) that did join us in the heat last week!  These guys took off work to spend a week with your Scouts in the extreme heat...if you haven't thanked them, you really should!
We will take time to celebrate the accomplishments of summer camp at our next court of honor.  If there are merit badges that your scout did not fully earn (ask them they should know), they can complete the requirements in the next couple of weeks and go to Beaumont on Aug 2 to get the last requirements signed off.  See our troop website for details.  If this isn't an option for you let me know...there are other ways to complete them.
We are planning to take the month of July largely off (as many will be out of town).  We will have an ice cream social at Silky's on July 8.  This is the only meeting planned.  We will come back with a full schedule of meetings in August.
Jason

2025 Merit Badge Makeup Day – Presented by the St. Louis Eagle Scout Association

The St. Louis Eagle Scout Association invites all scouts to its annual merit badge makeup day on Saturday, August 2nd from 8 AM to 12 PM at Beaumont Scout Reservation. This event is designed to help scouts who began a merit badge at summer camp, but did not finish, to complete the badge with counselors. All badges that are offered at a GSLAC summer camp will be supported at this event. The climbing tower, rifle range, shotgun range, archery range, and pool will all be available and staffed to allow scouts the opportunity to finish their badges.

Hi all - the Parish Picnic is coming up soon, and we still need volunteers for the trash/recycling duties that Pack 918 sponsors.

This is a great way to get involved and support our charter organization, plus you get the golf carts which are bonus when it's hot and you are over walking! :)

Last reminder before Tuesday’s prep meeting and we’re one week from you not hearing from me for a few months (communal sigh). 

• Summer Camp Prep Meeting – the Troop will hold their weekly meeting this coming Tuesday on June 17 at the Knights.  This time will be used to prep and pack all troop gear for summer camp so all we pack on June 22 is personal gear.
• Summer Camp Parent Meeting – nothing formal, but Troop adult leaders will be available to answer any questions on June 17. 
• Packing List – page 11 of the leader guide (https://scoutingevent.com/Download/312149143/OR/2025_Camp_Gamble_Leader_Guide.pdf) has a recommended packing list for Summer Camp.  It’s pretty straightforward, but we can answer questions on June 17.
• Note: everybody will need their own mess kit, utensils, and mug/cup.  Nothing extravagant, here’s a good example: https://www.rei.com/product/252676/uco-eco-4-piece-mess-kit
• MARK EVERYTHING WITH YOUR SON’S NAME.
• Options to think about, but not required:
• Small fan and extra batteries for the hot, humid nights.
• Mosquito netting that fits over a camp cot.  The canvas tents will close but they will not keep all of the mosquitos out.
• Small daypack for carrying their book, water bottle, etc. around with them to their merit badge classes, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
• For towels they probably need one beach towel and one bath towel.  The beach towel is after they get out of the lake and not good to use after cleaning up in the shower.
• Hat to keep the sun off their face. 
• When packing for camp please have your Scout pack their own bag, this will ensure they know what they have and where it is.
• ELECTRONICS – these should stay home this week.  Summer Camp is a great time to disconnect and enjoy the outdoors and fellow scouts.  If you are concerned that they may need to reach you (or vice versa), the adults will have phones available if calls are needed.  
• Merit Badge Prerequisites – beginning on page 20 of the leader guide (https://scoutingevent.com/Download/312149143/OR/2025_Camp_Gamble_Leader_Guide.pdf) is a list of the merit badges and associated information.  Scouts need to make sure and go through their merit badges and complete any prerequisites so they leave camp with a completed merit badge and not a partial. 
• Dietary Needs – I’m assuming none as I received no responses indicating so. 
• Health Forms – please refer to Julie’s email sent, these can be dropped off with Julie on Tuesday if not already.
• Release Form – new for 2025, all youth need to have parents/guardians complete the attached.  Please send/give these to Julie to file with the health forms. 
• Medications – these need to be in their original bottle and placed in a Ziploc bag with name and directions.  Mr. Ludwig has kindly volunteered to play camp nurse and distribute medicine, so if there are specific instructions not listed on the bottle, please include these on the written paper directions in the bag. 
• Departure – we’ll meet at the Knights on June 22 at 10 am.  Each car will stop for lunch in/near Farmington. 
• FAMILY NIGHT – Thursday night at camp is Family Night. Families are invited to attend and see the camp, but please do not arrive prior to 5:00 pm.  This is a good night for families to bring their sons an outside meal (pizza, burgers, sub sandwiches, etc.) to eat with them at camp. 
• There will also be a special family night campfire at the Aquatics Area at 8:15 pm and families can also watch the Order of the Arrow Call-Out Ceremony.  
• We will be forgoing having the camp supply food so we do not waste it as they will give us all 32 servings regardless of how many parents are bringing food down.  Should a family member not be able to make it down to bring dinner, we have parents that have volunteered to pick up the dinner with theirs.  We can discuss more at Tuesday’s prep session at the Knights.
• Return – we are typically back at Knights on the following Saturday late morning.  We’ll send a GroupMe note when we depart S-F with an anticipated arrival time. 
• Fishing Merit Badge – if your son is signed up, Mr. Ludwig has offered to help with providing poles and tackle should you not have any.  The camp has some, but it’s not the best.  Please reach out to Mr. Ludwig (ludwigboys2@gmail.com) if you need help. 

Again, I would encourage parents to read through the leader guide, it’ll answer a lot of questions you may have (https://scoutingevent.com/Download/312149143/OR/2025_Camp_Gamble_Leader_Guide.pdf). 

Summer Camp is less than three weeks away and preparation is almost complete.  A few items to note and some do have deadlines:

• Summer Camp Prep Meeting – the Troop will hold their weekly meeting on June 17 at the Knights.  This time will be used to prep and pack all troop gear (patrol boxes, water jugs, etc.) for summer camp so all we pack on June 22 is personal gear.
• Summer Camp Parent Meeting – nothing formal, but Troop adult leaders will be available to answer any questions on June 17. 
• Packing List – page 11 of the leader guide (https://scoutingevent.com/Download/312149143/OR/2025_Camp_Gamble_Leader_Guide.pdf) has a recommended packing list for Summer Camp.  It’s pretty straightforward, but we can answer questions on June 17.
• Note: since we use Troop patrol boxes and not the camps, everybody will need their own mess kit, utensils, and mug/cup.  Nothing extravagant, here’s a good example: https://www.rei.com/product/252676/uco-eco-4-piece-mess-kit
• MARK EVERYTHING WITH YOUR SON’S NAME.
• Merit Badge Prerequisites – beginning on page 20 of the leader guide (https://scoutingevent.com/Download/312149143/OR/2025_Camp_Gamble_Leader_Guide.pdf) is a list of the merit badges and associated information.  Scouts need to make sure and go through their merit badges and complete any prerequisites so they leave camp with a completed merit badge and not a partial. 
• Dietary Needs – should anyone with special dietary needs require accommodation, this needs to be filled out no later than June 8, 2025: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeowqBz66t58zbEhHB7F3A87l6k0oPuDZAFi2bwPh3TaSjC3Q/viewform
• Health Forms – please refer to Julie’s email sent.
• Release Form – new for 2025, all youth need to have parents/guardians complete the attached.  Please send/give these to Julie to file with the health forms. 
• Medications – these need to be in their original bottle and placed in a Ziploc bag with name and directions.  Mr. Ludwig has kindly volunteered to play camp nurse and distribute medicine, so if there are specific instructions not listed on the bottle, please include these on the written paper directions in the bag. 
• Departure – we’ll meet at the Knights on June 22 at 10 am.  Each car will stop for lunch in/near Farmington. 
• FAMILY NIGHT – Thursday night at camp is Family Night. Families are invited to attend and see the camp, but please do not arrive prior to 5:00 pm.  This is a good night for families to bring their sons an outside meal (pizza, burgers, sub sandwiches, etc.) to eat with them at camp. 
• There will also be a special family night campfire at the Aquatics Area at 8:15 pm and families can also watch the Order of the Arrow Call-Out Ceremony.  
• Return – we are typically back at Knights on the following Saturday late morning.  We’ll send a GroupMe note when we depart S-F with an anticipated arrival time. 

I would also encourage parents to read through the leader guide, it’ll answer a lot of questions you may have (https://scoutingevent.com/Download/312149143/OR/2025_Camp_Gamble_Leader_Guide.pdf).