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Announcements


Last Update: 15 July 2025. Click your browser's refresh button to ensure you are looking at the most recent update to this page. It is updated several times most weeks. Click underlined text to follow the link to additional information.

2025 Summer Camp Merit Badge Fees

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.

Merit Badge and Overall Camp Schedules

Updated 15 July

Download and print these two documents and take them to camp with you. You will want this information to know when things are happening in camp.

Patrol Leaders Council (PLC), Sunday, 13 July, 7:00 PM, Joe's Cafe

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.

Personal Safety Awareness Sessions (formerly known as the Cyber Chip), 14 July

* 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.

Summer Camp Check-in and Schedule, Thursday, 17th of July, Arrive Between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Thursday evening, July 17th, will be the troop check-in evening.  You may arrive any time between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.  It will take approximately one hour to get everything done.  Medications should be turned in at this time.  At this time, we will check all paperwork, collect Passports, handle all final payments (including the Visa Card for lunch) that may be outstanding, and complete the final checklist for all boys and adults.  Please note that all unpaid fees will be due at this time including any outstanding dues amounts ($75.00 per year).  It is also at this time that you may purchase Troop T-Shirts, pick up your nametags, and do final merit badge checks.

After checking in, we ask all of our parents, with their sons, and our adult leaders to return to St. Joseph’s parking lot at 10 PM.  BRING YOUR DUFFLE AT THIS TIME.  Please do not be late for we will be organizing everything to go on the buses and will not have time to deal with late arrivals.  Please bring your packed carry-on ready to go and be in full uniform.  Upon arrival at the church, please check in at the check-in table to get your bus assignment and further instructions.  We will be loading the buses at 10:30 and leaving the church parking lot as close to 11:00 p.m. as possible. 

We will be returning to the church parking lot on Sunday, July 27th, around 5:00 P.M.  We will use our Instagram account to notify our families when we have a more accurate arrival time.  Please do not plan on having your son call you upon his arrival.  All of the adults and leaders will want to leave as soon as possible.  Therefore, we ask that our parents be waiting for us when we arrive.  

Annual Renewal of Merit Badge Counselors

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.

Troop Dues

Please pay your Troop dues for the year to the Troop Treasurer at the next meeting. Dues are $75 for all Scouts except Scouts who have joined within the last 12 months whose dues were part of their joining fees.

Summer Camp Information

Summer Camp Tips & Tricks for Beginners and Experienced Campers Alike

Summer Camp Activity Sign-up Form

Medical Forms

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.

Consent Letter to Allow a Minor Child to Cross the U.S. Canadian Border

BOTH Parents or Guardians must complete this Consent Letter to Allow a Minor Child to Cross the U.S. Canadian Border. It must be signed in the presence of a Notary Public and Notarized. We will have a Notary at the check-in the Thursday before we leave for Canada. You can also have it notarized at most banks before then.

Complete Jet Boat Ride Waiver Online - NEW 5 June

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:

Upon submission of the waiver/consent form, you will receive an email confirmation attaching a PDF copy. Please print this copy and give it to Ken Krach at a troop meeting prior to Summer Camp.

Anyone who does not submit a waiver/consent form will not be able to participate. Our group rate limits the number of adults that can participate. Any adult who doesn't want to participate, please let Ken know.

Merit Badge Requirements and FREE PDF Merit Badge Books

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/

Passports Required for Summer Camp at Haliburton Scout Reserve in Ontario, Canada

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)

The Everyone traveling into Canada and returning to the US should have a Passport Book valid at the time of entry.  Visit this US Department of State web site for information on obtaining a passport book. Don't get a Passport Card - it is not valid for international travel by air which may be necessary in the event of an emergency. Apply NOW, it takes time to obtain a passport and is much more expensive if you need it quickly.

A Birth Certificate is required to apply for your passport. Obtain a birth certificate NOW if you don't have one that meets these requirements. It must have the seal or stamp from the city, county, or state which issued it.

All Scouts and adult leaders will need to provide a copy of the identification (picture) page of your passport as backup.

Northern Tier 2025

PAYMENT INFORMATION
Northern Tier 2025 - Final planning is underway for the 2025 Northern Tier trip for registered Scouts/Leaders. Current estimated costs for Scouts/Leaders attending Northern Tier is $3,000 per participant. Payment in full is requested by the end of April 2025.

Emails from BAC concerning Registration Expiring

Please disregard any emails you may receive from the Baltimore Area Council concerning scout or adult registrations expiring.
All scout and adult leaders registration fees that were due at the end of 2024 were paid by the troop in the middle of December.

The Baltimore Area Council is in the process of updating their electronic system.

Additional Resources for Scouts, Parents, and Adults

Please visit the Resources page under the Information menu above for additional information about Troop 497 programs and activities.