Click on orange for links to more information
(will be updated as the year progresses)
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When: 13 - 19 Jul 2025 inclusive. The troop will be leaving St. Patrick's Church at 7 am, Sunday, July 13th and returning to Dublin on the afternoon of Saturday, July 19th. We will leave camp on Saturday July 19th around 10 a.m. or earlier. Transportation for any pickups should arrive at 9 a.m.
Where: CAMP CONESTOGA (255 Conestoga Camp Road, Somerset, PA 15501) in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, about a 4-hour drive from Dublin. We will be at the Seneca lakeside campsite - best site at the campsite - beautiful and central. We have been going to this site for many years. See camp map below at 10e in Part II below. We are sharing the camp with scouts from 14 other troops.
Driving Instructions - CLICK HERE
Photos: 2024
Photos: 2025 UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Comfort Features: Toilets, sinks, private showers, hot water, swimming pool, lake, dinning hall, scout store, and more.
Why go to Summer Camp: Hang with friends, fun, slushies, merit badges . . . most productive time of the year to bond with others in the troop and advance in rank. Top 10 list why to go to summer camp and Top 10 myths.
New Crossover Scouts: Congratulations! Going to summer camp is the best thing you can do to get integrated into the troop, get to know the other scouts, and jump start learning skills in making ranks. You will be with the troop and spend mornings learning scout skills to advance in rank. In the afternoons, you will work on merit badges. You will earn your Tot'n and Firem'n Chip provided you attend one hour in one of the afternoons at the Pathfinder Program station.
Liability Protection: The camp provides high wall canvas tents with wood platform floors. Scouts sleep two to a tent with a scout that is within two years of age. Scouts and parents do not use the same tent. Adults sleep two to a tent, with exception for our chartered organization's representative, Scoutmaster, and any woman if there's only one. Adults may bring their own tent. Scouts and adults are liable for damages to the tents during our visit; damage to tents will be billed by the inch. We recommend you take photos on Sunday of your assigned tent on all sides, inside and outside, with flaps unfolded to protect your interests. If change tents at anytime during your visit, recommend do the same AND upon pack out on Saturday.
Gear Checklist: Click HERE. Special mentions below . . .
* Blue cards to include ones for Citizenship in Society (at Troop campsite) and Fingerprinting (Monday night) if doing those
* Green card for First Class Scouts under training for sign offs
* Pennsylvania fishing license if 16 years or older and want to fish
* Firemn chit, totin chip
* Footlocker - to transport individual Scout gear, we recommend the use of a footlocker / trunk that can fit under the bed frame scouts will sleep upon. Here's an EXAMPLE.
* Mess Kit - a change from the previous year, lunch will be served at our Seneca camp site instead of the dining hall.
Rank Advancement: Scoutmaster conferences with Mr. Scott Moncrief are available at summer camp; see the Scoutmaster to schedule. Boards of Review will be held at summer camp for scouts earning the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, and/or Second Class. Scouts can get only one board of review while at summer camp. Mr. Scott Staron is the scouts' point of contact for scheduling Boards of Review at summer camp.
Weather: Expect average high of 80F and average low during night of 58F. Day time high temperature rarely is outside the range of 70F - 87F. The hottest day of the year is 20 Jul and hottest part of the days are 2 pm - 7 pm. Record high is 98F and record low is 36F. Nightly low is rarely outside the range of 51F - 68F. Expect rain about once in every three days; average daily chance of precipitation is about 37%. Chance of cloud coverage that is overcast to mostly cloudy is 40% and clear to partly cloudy 60% of the time. Sunrise will be approximately 6 a.m. and sunset will be approximately 8:45 p.m. Moonlight at night will be darkest upon arrival and brightest upon departure. You'll likely be able to see Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars in the Pennsylvania sky, with the possibility of glimpsing Uranus and Neptune with binoculars or a telescope.
What to Wear: Wear Class A to and from the camp. Daily uniform varies requiring Class A, Class B T-shirt (which will be provided at not additional cost), and civilian outdoor appropriate attire. Avoid shirts with graphics or language that can be offensive.
Merit Badge Blue Card Management: A departure from the previous year, Scouts will be responsible for bringing their own blue cards to summer camp. By mid-May, scouts are to get blue cards from the Scoutmaster, fill them out correctly and legibly - CLICK HERE, gain the Scoutmaster signature or his designee/s, bring them to summer camp, and provide them to their merit badge instructors/counselors on Monday. If participating in the Citizenship in the Society MB troop clinic, bring blue card for it. If you plan to do the Fingerprinting Merit Badge on Monday night, bring blue card for it.
Fishing and licensing: Fishing from the stream and lake at Camp Conestoga is only by catch and release. Even under catch and release, a fishing license is required for anyone 16 years or older. If you have one, bring it. Licenses and permits can be attained on-line from Hunt & Fish. CLICK HERE. They are a contractor with the state of Pennsylvania that issues licenses. They have 24/7 phone support at 800-838-4431. The lake at Camp Conestoga has trout. A trout permit/stamp is not required under catch and release. Camp Conestoga stream and lake have trout, catfish, sunfish, blue gill, and chappies but hasn't had much stocking of fish recently. The nearby Laurel Hill Lake contains bass, trout, catfish, sucker, bluegill, perch, sunfish, and chappies. Some licensing and permitting options include:
* 7 day non-resident tourist license = $39.47 (allows 16+ years of age to fish at Camp Conestoga via catch and release)
* 1 day non-resident tourist license and trout permit = $31.97 (allows catch and keep trout at nearby Laurel Hills Lake but must release at Camp Conestoga)
* 1 year non-resident tourist license = $60.97
* 1 year non-resident trout permit = $14.97 (allows catching and keeping at most locations but not at Camp Conestoga)
** There are also multi-year options
Fishing and fly fishing merit badges require catching a fish. If taking any of these merit badges and will be under 16 years of age, bring your pole and tackle supplies; you will be able to fish. The camp can provide poles if you don't have one. If 16 years or older and do not have a fishing license, you won't be able to catch a fish at summer camp but still bring your pole and tackle supplies for other elements of the merit badges.
Camp Rules Special Mention:
* After dinner and colors on the first night, all scouts remain on the parade field for camp tour
* Staff areas are off limits
* Don't cut through other troop camp sites
* Anyone can use the area 5 feet off the shoreline of the lake
* Firewood must be from local area
* Ammunition, rifles, and archery gear may not be brought into camp by Scouts or leaders.
* Camp-wide quiet time starts 11 pm. Scoutmasters are responsible to maintain troop area quiet times from 10 pm - 6 am.
* Senior Patrol Leader Meeting/Training every day after lunch in the center room of Rohrbacher’s. If the SPL cannot make it, another member of the Troop Leadership Corp must attend. Sunday’s SPL meeting (about 7:10 pm) will take place immediately following Camp Wide Colors in the center room of Rohrbacher’s alongside the Leader’s Meeting.
* Adults and scouts must check out at main office in Rohrbacher Lodge before leaving camp.
* Seatbelts required; no riding in open bays of trucks.
* Only areas for sandals, open toed shoes, or boat shoes is in the fenced pool area and inside shower houses.
* No alcohol or controlled substances, e-cigs, or vaping on camp properties.
* Class A is encouraged as much as possible but especially for evening wide retreat, camp-wide vespers, Wed parents night, and Friday campfire. Upon arrival to summer camp, Class A is not required on Sunday.
Some of the Available Opportunities:
* Camp Adventure Award - for elite units who have gone the extra mile to participate in the overall program.
* Family Night - see Leader's Guide, item 10e in Part II below, page 31. We assume no families in our troop will participate due to the distance; however, if wrong, please notify Dave Berchtold, bsa.berchtold@gmail.com
* Polar Bear Arch patch - swimming pool 6:30 - 7:00 am. Must attend 4 of 5 days.
* Mile Swim Participation card - mandatory swimming pool every morning 7:00 a.m. Mile Swim is Friday morning.
* Paddle Craft Safety, Swimming, & Water Rescue training at times to be announced. Must be 16 years or older.
* Swampathon - Tuesday evening. Sign up at Acquatics.
* Triatholon competition (single or 3 man teams) - Monday evening. Must be Swimmer qualified. 100 yards of swimming, nearly 1 mile of running, and 100 yards of rowing.
* Open shoots daily: Rifle 3rd summit, Shotgun 6th summit, Archery 3rd and 6th summits.
* Angler Award - When complete Fishing, Fly Fishing, and Fish and Wildlife management Merit Badges.
* Leader's Woodworking - Summits 1 - 3.
* Chaplain Aid Training - time TBD.
* Eat Like Kings - Thursday night adults cook for the scouts at our campsite.
* Adult leader training, Introduction to Outdoor Skills - M thru W after lunch for 3 hrs/day
* Adult leader training, Position Specific Training - Th following breakfast for 1-4 hours depending upon position
* Adult leader training, CPR and AED Training - Th after lunch. $35 fee.
* Leader's zip line - M. Requires liability waiver release. See Leader's Guide
* T-shirt tie dye - Tues evening. $10.
* Dutch Oven cookoff - Thur evening.
Summary of Costs:
NOTE: No families contacted the Summer Camp Outing Coordinator to communicate a need for fundraising. Hence, we currently are planning no fund raising events. If any families situation changes, notify the Summer Camp Outing Coordinator.
* Registration Fee: To attend, adults must be BSA registered and have youth protection training current through at least 19 Jul 2025 or later. Adult registration fees will be promulgated at a later date. Scout registration fee is $455 via Early Registration (2 payments: a $50 deposit due no later than 25 Feb and balance 18 Apr) or $475 via Regular Registration (1 payment due no later than18 Apr). Early registration of a scout saves them $20 but requires a $50 non-refundable deposit. Siblings get a discount of $35 after the first scout. For scouts registering early, the discount is applied on the second payment due by 18 Apr. New Arrow of Light scouts in the troop pay no deposit fee AND get the discounted rate of $455, which they also pay by 18 Apr. SEE BELOW PART II, PARA 6.
* Merit Badge Incidentals:
CLICK HERE Some merit badges requires supplies scouts buy at the scout store.
* Spending Money for the Scout Store: Families decide what is appropriate for the scout. Having some spending money for refreshments or emergency supplies goes a long way to keeping a scout happy.
* Gas Money for Your Driver: A recommended amount will be provided in Jul.
* Food To and From Camp: Expect drivers to stop enroute so scouts may eat to and from camp.
a. Permission Slip for Ride Pick Up
b. Permission Slip for Firing range competition (mandatory safety briefing Monday night; competition is Thursday night)
5. Make Final Payment no later than 18 Apr - See email sent to troop on 4 and 5 April for the amount due from each family.
6. How to Make Payment is by scout account debit, check, or Venmo.
a. If paying by scout account debit, indicate that on the sign up form (#1 above) when it asks how you intend to make payment. Please do not indicate you will use your scout account unless you have sufficient funds in your account (Jen Gohring, Troop Treasurer, can assist with your scout balance . . . jennifer.s.gohring@gmail.com) - OR
b. Pay using a check made out to "Troop 299". Please drop checks off at 7826 Westbury Court - OR
c. Pay by Venmo to @treasurer_troop299skc. If prompted to verify the account phone # associated with this Venmo account, use 7807. When making a Venmo payment, you should include SCOUT NAME and "Summer Camp Final Payment" with your payment in the ‘What’s it for?’ section.
7. SUBMIT MED FORMS . The BSA medical forms can be downloaded here and the Conestoga medical form is here
a. BSA medical form part A - signature or re-initial dated after 01 Jul 2024
b. BSA medical form part B
c. BSA medical form part C - provider signature dated after 01 Jul 2024
d. Conestoga medical form
e. Copy of health insurance card
f. Provide completed paper medical forms to Dave Berchtold or April Lehman (6585 Weston Circle East Dublin, plastic folder in doorway) or provide email digital copy to April Lehman.
8. Volunteer to drive - CLICK HERE [DO NOT FILL THIS IN UNTIL PROMPTED]
9. Required Reading BEFORE Summer Camp
b. Health and Safety Guidelines
10. References
a. Leaders Guide - everything you might want to know
b. Tshirt sizes ordered previous year
d. Adult Training Opportunities - adults sign up for these once at camp
f. Pre-camp Swim Check - form troop will use. Swim check date and time to be promulgated
g. Schedule First and Last Day
h. Leader Check List
i. Merit Badge Troop Schedule
j. Review submitted medical forms, merit badge schedule, and adult leader schedule HERE. Please note that your email must be a member of the troop email group to view the tracker
k. Evening Program Schedule
- Monday night: Finger printing Merit Badge (bring blue cards)
- Tuesday night: Pathfinder Program Olympics
Summer Camp Outing Team - Dave Berchtold. Assistants include April Lehman and Nicholas Wongchaowart.