French Creek SP - Valley Forge, 25-27 April 2025, Meet at the shed
at 6:00 PM
Sign up Online and Pay at Troop Meetings
Updated 23 April 2025
Please register to participate using the Online Event Registration
Form and pay the Treasurer at a Troop
meeting.
Our next camping trip is to French Creek State Park near Valley Forge,
in Douglassville, PA. We last camped here in March 2007! The weekend
activities include a Historical Hike adventure and a Dutch Oven
Competition.
Actions required by participants before the trip:
- Complete
the Event Registration Form and pay the
Troop Treasurer at a Troop Meeting.
- The registration form should be completed by all Scouts and
Adults participating during any part of the weekend including just
driving.
- Only Adults, who are registered with the BSA and Troop 497, are
permitted to camp overnight with Troop 497 Scouts.
- Re-register if you need to make updates or cancel your participation
after you submit your initial registration.
- The
cost for the trip is $20 for Scouts and $10 Adults. Pay the
troop treasurer at a Troop meeting.
General Information
- The main activities for the
weekend are Historical
Hike/Bike adventure and a Dutch Oven Competition.
- Check this
link for a Weekend Personal Clothing and Gear List.
- Carry a flashlight in your pocket for when you arrive.
- We will return to the shed on Sunday at 2 PM and take care of
the gear used on the trip. Parents should arrive at 1:45 to pick up
their sons who had carpooled with another adult.
Shelter
- We will be tenting this weekend. There is a pavilion, which we may
have access to use, but no enclosed buildings. Scouts must sleep in
troop tents and adhere to normal BSA guidelines for tenting with other
scouts as we do on any other camping trip. Adults may tent in their
personal tents or a troop tent.
Food
- This is a Patrol cooking trip.Turn your menus into Mr. Michels by 10
April.
- Bring day packs for lunch sandwiches & drinks to be made
Saturday morning before departure to Valley Forge.
- Special dietary restrictions: Special dietary restrictions:
If your son has special dietary restrictions you would like the patrol
to attempt to accommodate contact the Patrol Leader. PLEASE BRING
SPECIAL FOOD AS NEEDED.
Adult Menu Updated
20 April 2025
- Friday Cracker-barrel: Assorted snacks, drinks.
- Saturday Breakfast: Sausage gravy over English Muffins, Assorted
Pastries, Fruit, Juices, hot choc.
- Saturday Lunch: Make your own To-Go Sandwich for Valley
Forge: Turkey, ham, cheese sandwiches, fruit, chips, cookies,
bottle water.
- Saturday Supper: Beef Stew with assorted vegetables, rolls, fruit,
dessert cakes.
- Saturday cracker-barrel: assorted snacks, drinks.
- Sunday breakfast: Assorted pastries, hard boiled eggs, fruit, hot
and cold cereal.
- Lunch on the road
Transportation
Updated 23 April 2025
- Please register to drive using the Online Event Registration
Form.
- These are the suggested driving
directions. The route is about 100 miles and should
take about 2 hour depending on traffic. The route has tolls.
- This is a Park Map.
We are camping south of the intersection of Firetower Road and Scott's
Run Road. See driving directions for more details. Google Street View
shows some of the camping areas (use the GPS coordinates in the
driving directions). You can also see pictures of the sites at this link.
- There is no fee to enter Valley Forge.
- Here is a link to Valley Forge National
Park. There will be road work near the park that may
affect us, click the link for detailed information.
- You should still complete the online registration process
if you are a Virtus approved driver and you are volunteering to drive
but don't plan to camp.
- The Troop's transportation coordinator may actively recruit parents
to drive to/from the camping location if we don't have sufficient
adult volunteers to drive. You may be asked to drive one or both ways.
First Thursday Path to First Class, 1 May, 6-7 PM, Joe's Cafe
The First Thursday meeting will be held from 6-7 PM in Joe's Cafe
which is located in the basement of the Parish Center. Enter through the
side door to the parking lot. The First Thursday meeting will be
followed by a pizza dinner at 7 PM for active meeting participants.
These classes are available to scouts that are working on the ranks of
Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, and 1st Class and will be offered on the
first Thursdays of the month. Scouts do not need to sign up in
advance. For more information about the First Thursday Path to
First Class program, call Mr. Raj Mahanti (443-528-1437).
We will need lots of help from the seniors, patrol leaders, older
scouts and adults
Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) & Senior Meeting, Sunday, 4 May, 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 from the PLC.
The Senior Meeting will follow the PLC.