Scouts BSA Troop 457 > Events
CategoriesAnnouncements Summer Camp

Seven Ranges Scout Reservation

Troop 457

Troop 457 is headed to Seven Ranges Scout Reservation for Summer Camp June 23 – 29!  We plan on holding two parent-only meetings about our Summer Camp trip later this year (Dates TBD):

  • March: We’ll review the camp registration process, share important information / timelines and answer any questions you may have about summer camp.
  • Early June: We’ll collect and review all required documentation (e.g., Health Forms, Permission Slips) and review what to pack for the week.

WHAT TO BE DOING NOW

The most important thing to be doing now is deciding whether your Scout will be heading to camp this summer.  Once you decide to attend, you / your Scout should be considering the following:

  • What merit badges would you like to take?  (See page 13 of the Leaders Guide linked below)
  • How will you pay for camp?  (We are working on the process for using Scout Account funds to pay for camp.)
  • Will you participate in the Camp Honors program?

Seven Ranges has a unique camp honors program called “Pipestone” that all campers are encouraged to participate in.  Most requirements must be completed at camp, but there are two requirements that should be completed before arriving at camp:

  • Earn the Scout Rank (you must have the Scout rank to be eligible to earn your Pipestone)
  • Collect Pipestone Wood (see the Guide to Pipestone Wood referenced below)

REFERENCE INFORMATION

We’re working to distill down the information you need for Summer Camp but in the meantime you can refer to the following information about the camp and its traditions.

CategoriesAnnouncements Backpacking Car Camping Special Campouts Summer Camp

Camping Expectations

Troop 457

Camping has been an important part of Scouting since Lord Robert Baden-Powell’s very first Scouting experiment in 1907. Camping continues to be an important part of a Scout’s journey to Eagle because it provides them with the opportunity to put into practice the skills they learn in our meetings and, more importantly, to build character by getting outside their comfort zone. Not every campout will be sunny and warm, but that’s OK because it gives your Scout the chance to overcome the challenges they will experience in camping and in life.

The adult leaders at a campout are there to keep your Scouts healthy and safe while ensuring we deliver the best program to all the Scouts in our Troop. We need the help our our Scouts and their parent/guardians to make sure our adult leaders are able to do this:

  • Whenever possible, Scouts should attend the full campout (Friday through Sunday).
    • Planned early departures (i.e., family commitments, sporting events, classes, work) are permitted.  (We’d rather a Scout attend part of rather than none of a campout.). Make sure that these situations are communicated before departure so we can appropriately plan and make sure your Scout is ready to leave when you arrive.
    • Scouts leaving early should find ways to leave the campsite better than they found it since they will not be able to help their fellow Scouts break camp on Sunday morning.
    • Unplanned departures from a campout can have significant, unintended impacts on a campout and should only happen in rare cases.
    • To prevent the spread of illness, Scouts leaving a campout because they are sick are not permitted to return to the event.
  • Encourage your Scout to leave their cell phone at home. While banning cell phones is not realistic, there are very few reasons for your Scouts to have a phone on a campout as they can be a distraction from organized activities.
  • Adult leaders, not your Scout, are responsible for contacting you about issues during a campout.
    • Your Scout should not be reaching out to you directly if they are having an issue.
    • Our leaders are trained in first aid, hazardous weather, and how to deal with situations that may occur on a campout.
    • Scouts having issues (e.g., feeling sick, being cold/wet) need to talk to an onsite leader who can evaluate and troubleshoot the situation.
    • Allowing your Scout to bypass our adult leaders undermines their authority and contradicts the aims and methods of the Scouting program.
  • Unless explicitly authorized by the Scoutmaster, anyone leaving camp early (and not returning) is responsible for taking their gear with them. Personal gear (or gear borrowed from the Troop) is your Scout’s responsibility and they are responsible for setting up, tearing down and caring for this gear.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support.  Please contact our Scoutmaster with any questions about these expectations.

Recommended Backpacking Meals

When the Troop is on a backpacking trip, Scouts are responsible for bringing their own meals and cooking gear with them.  (Scouts who don’t want to purchase a lightweight camp stove can share with other Scouts and leaders.)

Meals on Backpacking trips can be challenging as they must balance:

  • Size Constraints (the food and cooking gear needs to take up as little space as possible to optimize what you can carry.)
  • Weight Constratings (an ounce in the morning will feel like pounds in the afternoon)
  • Calorie needs (you’ll be burning additional calories because you’re carrying a heavier load than usual and traversing rougher terrain.)

Here are two ways that you can source your meals for a backpacking trip:

Pre-made Meals

The easiest source of food for a backpacking trip is from pre-made backpacking meals available or even military MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). These freeze dried meals just require adding boiling water to cook.  The downside is that they generate more waste that must be packed out from the campsite and disposed of in the trash.

There are sever popular sources for these products:

Many of these pre-made meals are a double portion (i.e., intended for two people) making it easy to share with others.

Backpacking Recipes

Have dietary restrictions or want to reduce waste or just want be more adventurous with your meals? Consider bringing the ingredients to make your own meal.

Here are a few websites that offer recipes geared towards backpackers:

CategoriesAnnouncements Events

Scout Sunday 2023

Troop 457

The Boy Scouts of America was founded on February 8, 1910. Every year, Troop 457 celebrates the birthday of our program by supporting our charter organization (English Lutheran Church) by participating in their 9:45 AM service and hosting a pancake breakfast for the congregation to say Thank You to the church for sponsoring our Troop for over 80 years.

We encourage all our members and those in the community to participate in this service.

CategoriesAnnouncements Events Summer Camp

Sea Base 2024

Troop 457

Get ready to Pack your bags Troop 457, you’re headed to the Florida Sea Base in August 2024! We’ll be boarding a 75-foot topsail schooner for an unforgettable adventure snorkeling the beautiful Keys’ reefs, fishing, and hands-on sailing as well as a port-o-call in Key West.
 
Learn more about the Florida Sea Base at: https://www.bsaseabase.org/
More information will be coming to this post in the upcoming weeks.
CategoriesAnnouncements Events

Coffee with the Scoutmaster

Troop 457

You’re invited to join Mr. Maloney at Spring & Main Cafe (109 N Main St. Zelienople, PA 16063) for the inaugural Coffee with the Scoutmaster!  This event is open to the public and an opportunity for members of our Troop and the community to talk more about:

  • Our Scouting programs & how to get involved
  • Their Scouting Stories
  • How we give back to our community
  • Feedback on our Program

Drop-in to this casual event whenever you’re able between 9 and 11 AM and pull up a chair to chat!  I’ll even buy you a coffee, tea, or hot chocolate for showing up.  (Remember, Scouts should always be accompanied by an adult or a Scout buddy to adhere to BSA Youth Protection Rules.)

(This event is one of Mr. Maloney’s Wood Badge Ticket items)

CategoriesCar Camping Events

Ski Trip (January 28, 2023)

Troop 457

We’re in the process of finalizing a Troop ski trip at Peak’n Peak.  The Troop will depart ELC on Saturday, January 28 for a day of skiing and snow tubing. Based on the results of our survey, we’re also exploring options for participants to spend the night near by for a camping night.  Be sure to RSVP using the survey below even if you do not plan on attending the event.

[contact-form-7 id=”11044″ title=”January 2023 Ski Trip RSVP”]

CategoriesCar Camping Events

Thanksgiving Feast (November 4-6, 2022)

Troop 457

The Troop’s annual Thanksgiving Feast campout is coming!

Join us for the weekend of November 4 – 6, 2022 or just for the meal on Saturday evening.  Additional details will be posted in TroopTrack the week of October 24.

You must RSVP in TroopTrack by this Tuesday, October 25, to reserve your spot for this event. 

There are two options to RSVP:

  • Dinner Only: You will only be attending dinner on Saturday evening.
  • Weekend Campout:  You will be attending all (or part) of the weekend’s activities including Dinner on Saturday.
Weekend Campout
Dinner Only
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