Please note that selected Merit badge sessions (i.e. motor boating, wilderness survival, metalwork, leather work etc) include materials that require an individual fee for merit badge participants. Due to the unique nature of our Halliburton Camp experience with merit badge sessions led by Troop 497 Leaders, details of related merit badge costs will not be available at Check-In on Thursday evening but will be collected after Camp when Troop meetings reconvene in September. Thank you.
Updated 15 July
PLCs will generally be scheduled for the second Sunday of each month. Check the announcements for any changes. All patrols should be represented by their Patrol Leader or a designated substitute. All Seniors are expected to participate. Adult Leaders are welcome to join the meetings.
Please arrive at Joe's Cafe shortly before 7 PM so the meeting can start on time. Parents should return at 8:00 PM to pick up their sons.
* Zoom Personal Safety Awareness Sessions Before Summer Camp *
For those scouts
that need the Personal Safety Awareness for either the Scout or
Star ranks now is the time to complete them.
There will be one more Personal Safety Awareness Sessions held over Zoom before summer camp on Monday, July 14th. The sessions will start at 7:30pm. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82998319725 (click). It is required that you watch the videos listed on the BSA website below before joining the session. See details here on the Resources page.
All Merit Badge Counselors must confirm their registration annually. If you do not respond to the District Merit Badge Dean (meritbadgedean@gunpowderfallsbsa.org) seeking your continued interest, your Counselor position may be dropped and need to be to re-registered.
More information about Merit Badge Counselors can be found on our Information/Resources page.
Bring two copies of your completed and signed medical and insurance forms and give them to Mr. Reidler at the next Troop Meeting. See the Information/Major Events page for detailed information.
Summer Camp Information will appear under the Information/Major Events page of this web site as it becomes available or changes. Generally this page will have an announcement about any new major information for about two weeks. The Major Events page is the repository for all the detailed information that can be shared publicly and that information will continue to grow as we get nearer to summer camp. Any private information will be sent in the troop emails. Currently the major Events page has information about passports, medicals, medications, and payments.We’re working hard towards making summer camp a great experience for everyone. On the trip to camp, we will take a jet boat ride through the rapids of the Niagara River Gorge to the Whirlpool. It’s a bouncy fun ride we have done our last two trips to Canada. Everyone will get soaked.
All participants need to complete a waiver and consent form online using the below link. For all youth participants, the form must also be signed by a parent or guardian: https://whirlpooljet.com/group-bookings/groups-niagara-falls/canadian-group-waivers/
You will need the following information to fill out the waiver/consent correctly:
You can find the current requirements for ALL Merit Badges and download FREE PDF versions of the Merit Badge Manuals at this link https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/
Update: 29 June 2025
Make sure your passport is signed by the bearer. "A U.S. passport book is not valid for official use unless it is signed by the bearer in the designated space." (US State Department)
"On a passport for a child under 16,
a parent should print the child's full
name on the signature line. The parent should also sign their name
next to the printed name of their child, and note their relation
to their child (example: mother, father, or guardian)." (US State
Department)
Please visit the Resources page under the Information menu above for additional information about Troop 497 programs and activities.