2013 Yawgoog Guide
1. Location and Schedule
Troop 28 will be at Camp Yawgoog week 5, Sunday, July 28th through August 4th.
We will be staying in campsite Scott in Camp Three Point.
On Sunday, we will meet at CCC at 3:30 to load troop gear and scout lockers in the truck to take to the campsite and head down as a group. Those not coming from Providence may choose to meet us at Yawgoog at about 5:00 PM. (Directions are attached.) Once at Yawgoog, the scout master and treasurer go to the Bucklin Lodge to register the troop, make any final payment adjustments, and submit the health forms. When this is done, ~ 5:30, we can occupy our site.
We will arrange a truck to move troop equipment and footlockers to the campsite. Since only one vehicle is allowed to the site, individual cars are not allowed to go the site. It is recommended that all personal gear be placed on the troop truck, otherwise, you and your scout will end up carrying it to our campsite, which could be a significant distance depending where you end up parking.
Scouts and adult leaders should arrive at Yawgoog in a class "A" uniform.
Since there is no food service Sunday night, each scout and overnight adult must bring some type of “bag dinner” for the evening meal.
**For the second year in a row, Yawgoog is offering “Chief Yawgoog Sunday Night Pizza Sales”. See the attached flyer for details.**
2. Cost and Payment
The cost for attending camp is $375 and covers all meals and a troop photograph. If your son is attending the National Jamboree, their cost is $200. There is also a $40 discount for each brother attending camp during the same week. This includes any brothers attending Yawgoog Webelos Camp.
Total fee must be paid no later than the July 1st. Make checks payable to: Troop 28. Bert Choiniere will be collecting the payments and the health forms. His mailing address is 225 Wilson Ave, Rumford, RI 02916. Email Bert at .
You can also reach him at 401-434-0142 (h) or 617-590-9507 (c).
3. Health Forms
Scouts: Every scout and adult staying overnight at Yawgoog must have had a physical exam within the past 12 months and must submit an Annual BSA Health and Medical Form signed by a physician or physician’s assistant (PA) attesting to that fact. A parent or guardian must also sign the scout’s form.
Health Insurance: your Health Insurance Carrier and Policy Number must be included on the Medical Form and a copy of the card, front and back, needs to be stapled to the medical form. If you do not have any, so indicate.
Physician’s Medical Forms may be stapled to the Annual Health and Medical Record.
Two (2) copies of Scout and Adult Health Forms should be turned in to Mr. Choiniere by the July 1st. This allows time for reviewing and organizing forms prior to arrival at camp. (Parents are strongly urged to make copies of their own forms and that of their scout before submitting it to the troop. One copy of the form must be submitted to Yawgoog upon arrival and will not be returned to the troop. We will keep the second copy our campsite and will retain this for the troop’s records.
There are no exceptions to this policy – no form, no camp.
4. Medications
Medications brought to camp must be in original prescription containers with the scouts name thereon. Each scout’s original medication containers should be placed in a zip-lock bag and be labeled as follows:
(name of the scout)
(name of the medications)
Troop 28 Providence, Scoutmaster: Brian Duff
5. Other Health Information
The Yawgoog Health Lodge provides daily access to routine medical care and 24-hour assistance for emergencies. However, help us follow the Boy Scout motto and be prepared.
Are there any special medical conditions or requirements for your scout that we need to know? (Or any other health-related issues?) If so, contact Bert Choiniere with this information.
Are there any special menus or diets that we need to make arrangements for?
Let Bert Choiniere know as soon as possible as there is a special form that needs to be completed and turned in on July 10th so the kitchen staff can have time to respond.
All information will be held in strict confidence, but the more we know in advance about your scout’s state of body and mind, the better our chances are of helping him have the great week he deserves.
6. Scout Behavior
Parents, please ensure that your scout understands the need to behave responsibly while at camp. Sometimes living in close proximity for a week with other boys can cause some nerves to become frayed. Camp living provides an opportunity for a boy's behavior pattern to mature while adapting to various circumstances. We carefully describe acceptable behavior patterns the first night in camp and inform all the boys that continuous misbehavior will result in a phone call to his parents. We just want parents to be aware of the possibility and to discuss behavior with their scouts prior to departure for camp.
7. Gear
There is a list of what each boy must bring, may want to bring, and should not bring as an attachment at the end of this guide. Please note the following highlights from the list:
Footlocker - Gear should be packed in a footlocker. If locked, the footlocker should be locked with a combination. Write you son’s lock combination on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope with his name on the outside; give the envelope to Mr. Duff immediately when you arrive on Sunday at Yawgoog.
Class “A” Uniform - Each scout and adult scouter must have a complete Class “A” uniform. This uniform is worn to evening meals, to the dress parade on Sunday and for the troop photo on Monday morning.
Class “B” Uniform - A Hawaiian print shirt is worn during the daytime and outside of evening meals. During those times, scouts can wear more informal attire. Tee-shirts (and sweatshirts) on those cool evenings, should there be any, are acceptable and should be available. The Troop 28 Official Hawaiian shirts are expensive so the troop provides one for each scout. If you need one, refer to the email sent by Brian Tsang entitled “Class B shirts for Yawgoog”. Remember that you must contact him by June 11th (End of the Year Picnic).
Spending Money - About $20-$30 should be plenty of spending money for the Trading Post. Troop Leaders will not operate a “troop bank” at Yawgoog. The boys will be responsible for keeping their own money with them or locked up in their footlockers. On the subject of Trading Posts, please encourage your son to go easy on the “junk” food. Remember the words of the Boy Scout oath: we need to support healthy eating habits. Chipmunks and other local critters (some smellier than others) may also be a problem for us in the campsite, so too much food in non-air tight containers will invite trouble. Over and above general spending money, some activities at Camp have extra expenses (ex: craft merit badges and shooting activities). These run on the order of $10 to $15 depending on the badge or activity.
Bug Control - Each scout may bring mosquito netting to camp. Be sure to send bug repellent.
8. Parents in Camp
Parents who bring their sons to Yawgoog on Sunday are encouraged to come to the campsite to help them settle in – and to settle any concerns you may have, as well.
All parents are invited to stay overnight for a part of the week or to visit camp during the day. Parents staying overnight at camp must be must be registered members of the Boy Scouts of America. Contact Andrew Jencks if you are interested in camping/visiting/spending the week. Remember, everyone staying overnight must have Class 3 health form signed by an MD/PA.
If you come to stay or visit, remember to sign in at the Bucklin Lodge before going to the campsite.
Beyond the Sunday drop off, there are two other times during the week when parents and siblings are invited (and do not have to sign in). These are the Saturday Night Show and the Sunday Dress Parade just before we leave. The Saturday Night Show is a vaudeville-style show in the J. Harold Williams Amphitheater, located behind the Bucklin Lodge. The show is at 8 PM, so if you are coming, plan on arriving not later than 7:15. Be sure to wear plenty of bug spray. Please note that the troop, and all other troops in camp, will be marching to the show and marching back to their campsites as soon as the show is over. This means that you may not get much more than a wave from your son as he goes by.
On Sunday, the dress parade will be held on the Tim O’Neil Field located just inside the Yawgoog gate. It starts at 12:30 PM. You should plan to be there early to park on the field and find a shady spot. (There are not many so sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats are highly suggested.) All are welcome to attend. **Please see item #12 for more information about the Sunday schedule.**
Unfortunately, Sunday is the closing of the mess hall as well and there will be no be room at lunch for any guests that day. Please pack yourself a bag lunch.
9. Adult Leader Training in Camp
The following training is available at Camp Yawgoog during our week at camp (please refer to http://www.yawgoog.org for additional information)
Youth Protection Training - Thursday 7:00 PM
Outdoor Leader Skills – Wednesday 2:00 PM to Thursday 4:00 PM (overnight)
Scoutmaster / Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training (three sessions required) Tuesday 9:10-12:00 and 2:05-5:00 and Wednesday 9:10-12:00
Scoutmaster/SPL Leadership Friday 9:00-12:00
Also offered are Basic New Leader Essentials
10. Communications
The phone number for Yawgoog is (401) 539-2311. Scouts are not allowed to use the camp phone except in emergency, so don’t expect a call. Please do not send your scout to camp with a cell phone.
For emergencies or important communications, we will supply cell numbers as the adult leadership fills in.
Please be aware that mobile service is historically poor at Yawgoog and calls may not go through.
As we learned several years ago when the camp was closed because of the Nora Virus, it may be necessary that we contact you during the week. Please fill out the attached contact number sheet. If you will be somewhere other than home or office, it is imperative that we know. Please give us all pertinent phone numbers.
Each scout is required to write home Tuesday night, so please make sure your scout has an envelope with your address and a stamp on it before he leaves home. (Postcards and postage are available in camp, sometimes, but not always. Better to be prepared.)
If you want him to receive a letter while he is in camp, here is the address:
(your scout’s name)
Troop 28 Providence
Campsite Scott /Three Point /Week 5
61 Camp Yawgoog Road
Rockville, RI 02873
It is recommended that letters or packages be mailed not later than Tuesday, July 30th to ensure they arrive before we leave – better still, mail them on Thursday or Friday of the week before we go to camp.
11. Required Attendance
Unless otherwise approved in advance by the scoutmaster, it is expected that all scouts at Yawgoog attend the Sunday Dress Parade on the last day of camp and be at CCC on both Sundays to help load and unload the Troop gear. These activities are an integral and important part of the scout program and the Camp Yawgoog program.
12. Departing Camp
We are assuming your son will remain at camp the entire week unless you inform us otherwise. We need to know in advance if your son needs to leave camp temporarily (for example: to attend a sporting event, family function, etc.). Once we are settled in camp, any boy leaving camp must check out/in at the Three Point Dining Hall and the adult providing transportation must have authorization (if not the parent) and a picture ID.
On Sunday, the Dress Parade, held on the field just inside the Yawgoog gate, is the closing ceremony of the camp week. Similar to arrival, cars are not permitted into the campsite on Sunday. After cleaning up our campsite, the scouts and leaders will have the closing lunch in the dining hall. The troops march directly from the dining hall to the Dress Parade. Please take an opportunity during lunch to locate your scout’s gear and transfer them to your vehicle. Collect your scout by Bucklin as the troops disband. Parents are responsible for transporting their scout back to Providence. If you are unable to be at Yawgoog to get your scout, please contact one of the leaders in advance to make arrangements for his return to Providence.
13. Questions
If you have any questions about anything in this memo or any other aspect of Yawgoog, please call Bert Choiniere at 617-590-9507 (c) or 401-434-0142 (h). My address is 225 Wilson Ave, Rumford, RI 02916.
14. THE LIST
Attached please find a list of things your son should, AND SHOULD NOT, bring to camp. Please ensure that he packs appropriately.
Thank You,
Troop 28
YAWGOOG CAMP LIST - WHAT TO BRING:
Clothing and bedding:
Complete Class A uniform (leave merit badge and Order of the Arrow sashes at home)
Class B Hawaiian shirt
Recommend three (3) pairs of official Boy Scout socks
Clothes hangers (2) for the uniform and other clothes
Shorts (and at least one pair of long pants) and shirts (including Class B Hawaiian uniform) for 10 days (which allows for the unexpected)
Daily change of underwear and socks, again with spares