Hello Troop 437!

I hope veeryone is having a great summer!  We have some big events coming up and I want to make sure everyone is aware of them,

First - Summer camp at Wah-Tut-Ca!  Just 2 weeks away!  Check out the exciting announcement below about a new option to bring your bike with you to Wah-Tut-Ca

Second - Two upcoming Eagle Courts.  Please mark your calendars and RSVP

Third - Sign-ups for our September White Water Rafting trip are now open.  We need to collect sign-ups by the end of camp so please take a moment to print out and prepare the sign-up form and the liability waiver.  More details are below.

I look forward to seeing yo uall at Summer Camp and at the upcoming Eagle Courts!

Yours in Scouting,

  Scoutmaster McKeen

Camp Wah-Tut-Ca has added a new opportunity for scouts and leader this summer.  You are invited to bring your bike to camp with you to help you get around camp.  If you bring your bike to camp you will need to read and agree to the rules below in order to make mountain biking around camp fun, feasible, safe, and ecologically sound as possible. These rules must be strictly followed with the understanding that abuse of these rules by any individual in camp will require the camp management or Unit Leader to revoke their bike riding privileges until the end of their week at camp.

1. All bikes must be of the mountain bike variety - no street bikes will be allowed.
2. Bikes are subject to inspection at any time by the designated staff and Unit Leaders who may remove the bike if it fails inspection. See Appendix H. Many mountain bikes look alike. In order to secure your bike, the use of bike locks is encouraged.
3. It is at the discretion of the camp management or unit leaders whether or not a bike should be confiscated upon a subsequent violation.
4. Scouts assume all liability for the care, maintenance and condition of their bike.The camp will not be responsible for injury due to unsatisfactory maintenance of personal bikes. If the Camp determines a bike to be unsafe and un-repairable with the means at our disposal, the bike will be impounded for the duration of the Scout’s stay.
5. Scouts bringing a personal mountain bike to camp must also bring an ANSI approved helmet, and must wear the helmet at all times.
6. Personal mountain bikes may be used for transportation to and from program areas. Bikes may only be ridden on camp roads at an acceptable speed able to maintain control at all times.
7. Scouts must store their bikes in their unit’s campsite. 
8. At program areas bikes may only be parked at designated areas. Each program is responsible for designating appropriate parking areas.
9. When approaching pedestrians from behind, the biker must warn the pedestrians of their approach and announce which side they will be passing them on.
10. Bikes may not be ridden between dusk and dawn. If a bike is not back to its owner’s site before sunset it needs to be walked (not ridden) back.
11. Only single riders will be permitted on a mountain bike.
12. Regardless of whether a Scout is on foot or on a bike, he/she must travel with a buddy.
13. Mountain bikes may not be ridden across parade fields.
14. Bikes may be confiscated by camp management or Unit Leaders, for violation of bike rules
15. Bikes may only be ridden on roads, not trails or path

Wednesday, June 14th, is Flag Day.  Our charter organization, American Legion Post 437, is holding its annual Flag Day observance and Flag retirement ceremony.  The Scout Troop will be participating.  All Scouts should attend and should come in full Class A uniform.  The Ceremony starts at 6:00pm - please arrive at 5:30pm so that we can review your role in the ceremony.

This year we are going to combine our Sprign Court of Honor with a Troop BBQ.  The combined event will be held on Friday June 16th at the American Legion post.  Please mark your calendars and come help us celebrate the end of another great year of scouting for Troop 437!  More news will be published soon about the start time of the event and other details.

There will not be any Troop meeting on Thursday June 15th.

The June trip for Troop 437 is a Bicycling Trip on Cape Cod. The ride will be on the Cape Cod Rail Trail and some sections of road. We will be tent camping at Greenough Boy Scout camp in Yarmouth, MA (https://www.scoutscapecod.org/). On Saturday, we will be biking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Distance and route will depend on several factors including weather, attendees, and timing. Anticipate a ride of 25 – 30 miles.

In addition to the normal camping gear a bicycle is required as well as a helmet. The Troop is arranging for a vehicle to transport the bikes from Westford to the camp grounds – look for an announcement on where to meet in Westford on Saturday morning. Once at the campsite we will depart for our bike ride at 10:30 AM, and have lunch on the trail.

A few items to remember to pack for this trip: helmet, suntan lotion, helmet, bug spray, helmet, rain gear, helmet, layers that can be easily removed during biking, water bottle. And…don’t forget your helmet!