A Green Meadow, Big Blue Sky, Majestic Pine Trees and and Great Camp staff await our Troop at Holcomb Valley this Summer.

In order of importance to prepare for camp:

1) A new BSA medical Form must be completed to attend camp. The new BSA Medical form  Part A and C are completed by the Parent, part B must be completed by your Scout's Doctor.

2)  The list of the 2009 Merit badges offered at camp are listed below, 2010 will be close to this list.  My recommendation is at least one Eagle Merit Badge be picked along with two others.  Please send me your picks for my OK before buying a Merit badge book.

3) A Pre Camp meeting to talk about the camp will be TBA.  Please turn in your Medical forms at the pre meeting. Deadline of Merit badges picks are due at the pre camp meeting.

4) Second deposit of $100.00 is due in May to Mr. Sargent.  Last payment due first of June. Checks to SGVC BSA.
 
 

When: July TBA,  2010 Sunday Afternoon at SMCC to Sat. Afternoon back to your home.

Where: Holcomb Valley located 30 miles North of Big Bear.

What:

Boy Scouts have the opportunity to enjoy a sleep - away camp with a great Staff of experts who plan activities for advancement and fun specifically for them.

Work on 3 or more Merit Badges, plus Horse Riding, Campfires, Archery, Rifle Shooting, Swimming and more. More info will be given before trip. Call or email if you have questions: Camp Troop camp leader David Sargent 626 - 533 - 7523.

Or Scouts can join the ACE Program. Advance Camper Experience for Horse Riding, Shot Gun, Rock Climbing, Mountain biking, Archery and cross country hiking. Ace Program is for Scout 14 years to 18, no Merit Badge work is done.

Cost: about Scout $315.00 Includes: meals, patch, tents, private hot showers and more. Parents may attend for the week or may come visit for a day or overnight, with meals for a fee.  First Parent is Free.

$100.00 deposit is needed to hold a spot for anyone attending. Checks to SGVC BSA.
First deposit of $100.00 are due in March to Mr. Sargent.  Second  deposit of $100.00 are due in April to Mr. Sargent.  Last payment due first of June.

MERIT BADGE CLASSES AVAILABLE AT HOLCOMB VALLEY (2009 list, 2010 list most likely will be the the same, check back as it will be updated later) Merit badges with ** have prerequisites (parts must be done before or after camp). $$ must pay for craft.  Merit badges with ~ are not offered at Free time.
For MB details see:  http://usscouts.org/usscouts/meritbadges.asp

• ARCHERY ~   (Medium, hard for some)
• ART **       (easy) [may be coupled with LEATHER WORKER as one class]
• ASTRONOMY ** (easy)  (must watch sky in other seasons, one year to get)
• CLIMBING (14 & OLDER) ~        (hard to easy, must be able to climb wall and repeal down)
• EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS       Eagle (easy)  [good to have 1st aid MB 1st or at the same time]
• ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE  ~      Eagle (Medium, must write reports) [counts towards "Panda" badge]
 FIRST AID   ~                                 Eagle (easy)
• HORSEMANSHIP ~ (2 MB PERIODS & 14 AND OLDER)  (must be able to saddle up a horse)
• INDIAN LORE    (easy)
• LEATHER WORKER $$  (easy) [may be coupled with ART as one class]
• LIFESAVING   ~       Eagle (must be good swimmer, good to have 1st aid MB 1st)
• ORIENTEERING ~    (Medium, Map and Compass work)
• PERSONAL FITNESS ** ~      Eagle   (medium,  must track 12 weeks of a physical fitness program)
• PIONEERING    (Medium, knots and lashing, medium to easy)
• RIFLE SHOOTING  ~ (22 cal.)  (hard to easy)
• SHOTGUN SHOOTING ~ (14 & OLDER) (hard for some, heavy 12 gauge used)
• SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION   (easy) [counts towards "Panda" badge]
• SPORTS ** ~ (must do two types of sports for 4 months before or after camp)
•  SWIMMING  ~       Eagle   (Medium, good to have 1st aid MB 1st or at the same time)
• WILDERNESS SURVIVAL    (Medium, good to have 1st aid MB 1st)
• WOOD CARVING   (Medium)
• TRAIL TO FIRST CLASS, not a MB class but rank class. counts as one of the three MB class time slots.

 Some of the above classes are also offered at free time (~ are not offered at free time). It is important that when signing up for merit badge classes that they reserve the time in free time for the class, if they want to complete the requirements. Ones labeled easy do not take much free time at camp and may be picked and completed at camp.

The following classes will not be offered during the normal class times, these merit badges will be offered only as free time merit badges:

• GEOLOGY (easy)
• NATURE  (easy)
• FORESTRY  (Medium)
• WEATHER (easy) (must record weather for one week, best to do before camp)
• MAMMAL STUDY   (very easy)
• BASKETRY $$$   (Medium)  (Must buy supplies)
[You can get more free time my doing MB work at home before coming to camp]

Free time is normal set as fun time doing:  ARCHERY,  RIFLE SHOOTING, HORSE RIDING  any age level , CLIMBING any age level, SHOTGUN SHOOTING, if tall enough to safely hand the gun, and crafts. All these are for fun, not for MBs.  Scouts are not required to do any of the above free time events! Scouts not interested in all or some of these events, would have time for free time MBs.

PRINT OUT YOUR MERIT BADGE WORKBOOK TO HELP YOU KEEP YOUR WORK IN ORDER. VISIT THE WEB SITE AT http://sgvcbsa.org/camping_meritbadgehelpers.php, CLICK ON THE CAMPING PAGE, THEN THE MERIT BADGE HELPERS PAGE. ALL OF THE BADGES OFFERED AT CAMP ARE LISTED THERE.
It is good to study and work on the MB work book BEFORE camp. Book and sheet will be for sale at camp for those that change or add classes at camp.