Information Packet. General Information: Dates: October 12, 2013 (5:00 p.m.) through October 14, 2013 (10:00 a.m.)

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2 Information Packet General Information: Dates: October 12, 2013 (5:00 p.m.) through October 14, 2013 (10:00 a.m.) Location: Campgaw Mountain Reservation, Mahwah, NJ Main Activities Geocaching Orienteering Map and Compass Geology Hikes for Boy Scout and Cub Scout Advancements (a 3-miler for Webelos and a 5-miler for Boy Scouts) Opening Campfire (Saturday night) Also Activities for Boy Scout advancement Opportunities to complete many of the merit badge requirements for Geocaching, Orienteering, Disabilities Awareness, and Geology Activities for Webelos Scout advancement 2

3 Introduction: Welcome to the 3 Rivers District, Northern New Jersey Council, BSA s Camporee 2013: Discovery. What is the 3 Rivers District Camporee 2013: Discovery? The 3 Rivers District Camporee 2013: Discovery is an camping experience for Venturers, Boy Scouts and Webelos at Campgaw Mountain Reservation, Mahwah, NJ, with camping overnight optional. The camporee will provide opportunities for Boy Scouts and Webelos Scouts to advance. To a Boy Scout, this Camporee offers opportunities to complete some of the requirements for several merit badges -- Geocaching, Orienteering and Geology -- and to participate in a number of outdoor-related activities, including hiking. To a Webelos Scout, this Camporee offers opportunities to complete Webelos activities for rank advancement and the Arrow of Light Award, and to participate in a number of outdoor-related activities, including hiking. The Camporee also affords the opportunity for Scouters of 3 Rivers District to help provide Scouts with a positive experience in Scouting. We encourage you to use this guide to your fullest advantage as you plan for the Camporee. Yours in Scouting, Dennis Ng, Editor 3

4 Camporee Committee: Daniel Chazin (Camporee Director) Leslie Sonkin (Registration) Lee Wallin (First Aid Officer) Camporee Staff (List in Progress): Sal Bellomo Greg Boyle Shawn Eagan Ron Geschwindner Barry Goldman Ken Hesse Dennis Ng Ed Quinn Jason Taormina Mark Wrightington Council Professional Staff: Steve Leonardi Oliris Ramos Camporee Rules & Regulations: Who may attend: Camporee is open to all Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Webelos Scouts of the 3 Rivers District of the Northern New Jersey Council. Registration Procedure: Advance registration is required. All registration must be done on-line, by unit only, at Please use the worksheet provided below as an aid to registration and save it as the unit s accountability roster." The registration fee is $15.00 per person. A camporee patch is included in the registration. Sign-In Procedure: Check-in: Registration will be held on Saturday, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., and on Sunday, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Upon arrival, the SPL of each troop (or the Webelos den leader of each Webelos Scout den) will check in at the registration table The Opening Ceremony will be held on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. All equipment must be carried to the campsites. All vehicles must be parked in the designated areas only. 4

5 Early Departure: If you must depart early, plan ahead and inform the camporee staff at the registration table, complete and submit your unit campsite self-inspection form (see below), and pack all your equipment, including your garbage, out to your vehicle(s). Flags: American flags and unit flags should be displayed at your campsite, and during opening and closing ceremonies. Adult Leadership: Per BSA Youth Protection guidelines, a minimum of two registered adult leaders and at least 1 leader per 8 youth must accompany each troop or crew, starting from check-in until check-out. Boy Scout Troops: All Boy Scout troops must register online, indicating whether they are camping overnight or attending Sunday only. Every Boy Scout attending the camporee must register through his Scout troop. Webelos Dens: All Webelos dens must register online. Every Webelos Scout attending the camporee must register through his Webelos den. It is recommended that Webelos dens attending for the weekend have at least a 1:4 adult-to-webelos ratio, with a minimum of 2 adults attending at all times. Staffing: Each troop should recommend a Scout Leader, or adult from the unit, as volunteer for the Camporee Staff. Volunteers will be interviewed and briefed at the leaders meetings during the camporee. 5

6 Uniform: Boy Scouts and Webelos Scouts should wear full Class A uniforms at the opening and closing ceremonies and at Interfaith Services. Venturers should dress in accordance with the by-laws of their crew, as long as their units affiliation is indicated on their shirts. For all other camporee events, Boy Scouts and Webelos Scouts will have the option of wearing their Class B uniforms. Camporee Guidelines: All participants are expected to follow the Boy Scout Oath and Law, Venturing Oath, and Cub Scout Promise and Law of the Pack at all times. Respective Boy Scout / Cub Scout / Venturing safety rules must be adhered to. With the exception of a family member, no male is permitted in a female s tent and no female is permitted in a male s tent at any time. No electronics (i.e. ipods, Gameboys, Nintendo DS Original, Nintendo DS Lite, Nintendo DSi, Sony, PSPs, etc.) are permitted at the camporee. Leave No Trace: This is a Leave No Trace event, and we ask that everyone follow the 7 LNT principles to the fullest. They consist of the following: o Plan Ahead & Prepare, Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces, o Dispose of Waste Properly, Leave what you Find o Minimize Campfire Impacts, Respect Wildlife, and Respect Other Visitors. o All campsites and county park facilities must be left cleaner than they were found. o Before leaving, all units must complete and submit their unit campsite self-inspection form. o More on Leave No Trace can be found at It is the responsibility of the unit leaders to collect and keep all appropriate forms for participating Scouts, including permission slips, emergency contacts, roster sheet, and health forms Conduct: All BSA National Safety and Youth Protection policies will be enforced and must be followed by all participating units. There will be NO ALCOHOL at this event, per BSA policy. The use of tobacco products in any form by Scouts and Venturers is strictly prohibited. Use of TOBACCO PRODUCTS by Scout Leaders will be permitted only in areas designated for smoking. The use of profane language, malicious or damaging pranks, or improper use of knives, axes or flammables may result (at minimum) in the disqualification of the Scout(s) involved from any or all of the events. Severe offenses may result in a request to leave the Camporee. 6

7 Fireworks and firearms of any type are not permitted. For more information on BSA policies, please refer to the Guide to Safe Scouting No Opening & Closing Ceremonies, and Evening Opening Campfire: Opening Ceremony: Two members of each Venture Crew, Boy Scout Troop or Webelos Den are to bring their unit flags and participate in Sunday morning s flag ceremony. Saturday Evening s Opening Campfire: Each unit is expected to prepare one skit/song/story/etc., and perform it at Saturday evening s Opening Campfire ceremony. Awards, Geocaching, Orienteering and Geology Blue Cards, Unit Ribbons, and Webelos Activities Cards: All awards, patches, Geocaching, Orienteering and Geology blue cards, ribbons and Webelos activities cards will be distributed at the November s 3 Rivers District s roundtables. Facilities: Parking: Parking is free, but all vehicles must be parked in the lots provided only. Upon entering Campgaw Mountain Reservation, please follow the signs for the parking lot and registration area. Campsites: Campsites for all troops and crews participating in the overnight portion of the camporee will be assigned by the Camporee Staff at the time of arrival. Campsites will not be accessible by car; so all campers must carry their equipment a short distance from the parking lot to their campsites. Units are responsible for keeping and maintaining their campsites (i.e. fire hazard, proper food storage, neatness, proper tent arrangement, etc.) in accordance with the Camporee s campsite self-inspection guidelines. Campsite self-inspection forms must be completed and submitted at the registration table before signing out. Food & Shelter: Each unit is responsible for providing for its own food and shelter. Food: Each unit is responsible for making sure it provides enough food for all of its participants for the entire event; Patrol cooking is encouraged for all troops and crews for this event. 7

8 We also STRONGLY encourage a bag lunch, or something to be made quickly for lunch on Sunday. Tents/Shelters: Each unit must provide its own tents/shelters. NO GENERATORS OR RADIOS will be allowed at the campsites. Fires Fires will be allowed in the DESIGNATED FIRE RINGS only (no other open ground fires). We encourage that all cooking to be done on propane stoves. No unattended fires are permitted. Fires must be monitored at all times Water: Potable water is available at the Camporee. Sanitation: Restrooms and/or portable sanitary units will be available immediately outside the camping areas. DO NOT construct any latrines or catholes. It is recommended that each participant bring a roll of toilet paper for backup or personal use. BE PREPARED. What to bring: Please refer to the Boy Scout Handbook, or to Boys Life at Pocketknives, Axes, Saws For boy scouts, see guidelines/rules for Totin Chip at adges/totin.aspxhttp:// dawards/meritbadges/totin.aspx For Webelos Scouts, see guidelines/rules for whittlin Chip at Garbage: Each unit is responsible for carrying out and disposing its own garbage. First Aid & Emergency Procedures: First Aid: Every unit must have its own first aid equipment at each campsite, in plain view and easily accessible. Emergencies and serious first aid incidents must immediately be reported to the Camporee First Aid Officer and the Camporee Program Director. If calling 911 is necessary, they will be the ones to 8

9 make the call. The First Aid Officer will have a clearly visible area to treat minor ailments. Other Safety Concerns: Poison ivy may be found in the area. Please employ caution. If anyone in your unit has any allergies, please inform the Camporee First Aid Officer at the time of your arrival. Emergency Procedures: The buddy system will be in effect for all Scouts, at all times, to prevent any lost/missing persons. Lost Camper Alert: In the event that a camper cannot be found, please alert the Camporee Staff and Director immediately. Everyone in Camp will report outside the main entrance to the campsites and assemble by Troop. All Scoutmasters will take a head count and report to the Camporee Director. The Staff will then be split up in pairs to search the Camporee Area for the missing Scout(s). Once the Scout(s) has been found, the Lost Camper Search will be called off and all classes and activities will resume as normal. Severe Weather: In the event that severe weather occurs at the Camporee site, all persons will follows instructions given by the Camporee Director. Security: The Camporee Staff will provide security throughout the weekend, and local law enforcement agencies will provide support as needed. Liability Forms: Tour Plan: All Troops, Crews, and Webelos Dens coming must submit a Tour Plan which is available online at (go to National Forms link). Tour plans can take up to two weeks to be approved. Please plan accordingly. Permission Slips: Permission slips are available online at (go to NNJC forms link). Questions: All questions concerning the 3 Rivers District Camporee in general should be directed to Daniel Chazin, DChazin@aol.com. Events: Geocaching Orienteering Map and Compass Geology Hikes for Boy Scout and Cub Scout Advancement Opening Campfire (Saturday night) 9

10 Schedule of Events (Tentative) OCTOBER 12, 2013 (Saturday) 5:00 PM 9:15 PM Troops arrival and Friday check-in. Please try not to arrive later than 9:15 PM Hike registration (3-miler for Webelos and 5-miler for Boy Scouts) 8:30 PM 9:15 PM Leaders / SPL Meeting & Cracker Barrel 9:30 PM 10:30 PM Opening Campfire, unit skits and songs 11:00 PM Taps. All fires out and Scouts bedded down. OCTOBER 13, 2013 (Sunday) 6:30 AM Reveille 6:30 AM - 8:30 AM Breakfast & Clean Up (at campsites) 9:00 AM - 9:10 AM Opening (at headquarters) 9:15 AM 12:15 PM Activities open 12:15 PM - 12:55 PM Lunch 1:00 PM - 5:40 PM Activities open 5:40 PM 8:00 PM Dinner and Free Time 7:30 PM 8:00 PM Interfaith Services 9:00 PM Leaders / SPL Meeting 11:00 PM Taps. All fires out and Scouts bedded down. Marshals will be making rounds. OCTOBER 14, 2013 (Monday) 7:00 AM Reveille 7:00 AM 9:00 AM Breakfast & clean up (at campsites) 9:00 AM 9:30 AM Closing 9:30 AM Troops and Crew departure, Submission of Completed Site self-inspection form, and Check out 10:00 AM Staff cleanup and debriefing 10

11 Fall Camporee Skit\Song Form (All skits/songs must be in the spirit of the scout law and oath) Unit Number: ; Patrol Name: Name of skit\song: Scoutmaster s approval: Note: Form must be completed in full and turned into staff by Saturday at registration. Skits and Campfire Performances One of the highlights of Scouting is skits, songs and/or similar performances. Any performance may include the entire Patrol or be by an individual. All skits and performances will take place during Opening Campfire Saturday night. Performances will be evaluated on the basis of overall quality, uniqueness, and entertainment value. All skits and songs must conform to the highest Scouting standards and they must be pre-approved by the unit s Scout leader and Camporee Staff at the Saturday SPL meeting. 11

12 Unit Campsite Self-Inspection Form Unit #: Campsite Location: Senior Patrol Leader / Crew President: Troop / Crew Campsites: Unit maintains own area. A Fire Bucket at each site. No safety hazards. Unit flag Commissary: Unit Menu Posted. Clean Cooking Area. Pots/Pans Clean. Overall Troop / Crew Campsite: Wood yard are (if any) marked. First Aid available and visible. All tents correctly pitched. No trash on ground. American Flag Displayed. Duty Roster Posted. Food properly stored. Wood tools stored properly. Safe Cooking Areas. Final Check-Out: Fires, if any, out dead. Site Cleaned. Holes filled. 12

13 Camporee 2013: Discovery Registration Worksheet / Accountability Roster (All registration must be done on-line) (This document is to maintained by Senior Patrol Leader, Crew President, or Den Leader) Boy Scout Troop / Venturing Crew / Webelos Den (circle one) #: (if Webelos Den, name of sponsoring troop: T- ); Unit Leader: Address: Cell Phone #: Overnight Day only Adult Participants*: (Total #: ) Youth Participants*: (Total #: ) Senior Patrol Leader/Crew President/Den Leader: Boy Scout Troops only (fill out below). Our unit volunteer is Program: A: # of Scouts attending AM; PM O: # of Scouts attending AM; PM 13

14 Map & Directions: Map of Campgaw Mountain Reservation 14

15 Directions: How to Get to Campgaw Mountain Reservation From Route 17: Take the Route 202 South exit and turn left at the end of the ramp. Proceed on Route 202 South for 1.6 miles. Make your first left after Ramapo College onto Darlington Avenue. Continue straight and bear right at the fork onto Campgaw Road. The entrance is about 1.2 miles on the right. Enter the park but do not turn right through the yellow gate. Continue to the parking lot. From the George Washington Bridge: Take Route 4 West to Route 208 North. From Route 208 take the Ewing Ave exit. Follow the signs for the 'Police and Fire Academy' and turn left onto Franklin Ave. Turn right onto Pulis Ave. Continue straight approx. 3 miles and turn left onto Campgaw Road. The entrance is about 1.2 miles on the right. Enter the park but do not turn right through the yellow gate. Continue to the parking lot. From South and Central New Jersey: Take Route 287 North to Route 17 South to the Route 202 South exit. Turn left at the end of the ramp and proceed straight for 1.6 miles. Make your first left after Ramapo College onto Darlington Avenue. Continue straight and bear right onto Campgaw Road. The entrance is about 1.2 miles on the right. Enter the park but do not turn right through the yellow gate. Continue to the parking lot. From Route 208: From Route 208 take the Ewing Ave exit. Follow the signs for the 'Police and Fire Academy' and turn left onto Franklin Ave. Turn right onto Pulis Ave. Continue straight approx. 3 miles and turn left onto Campgaw Road. The entrance is about 1.2 miles on the right. Enter the park but do not turn right through the yellow gate. Continue to the parking lot. From the Tappan Zee Bridge: Take 287 West approximately 13 miles. Take Exit #15 (Route 17 South) to the Route 202 South exit turn left at the end of the ramp and proceed straight for 1.6 miles. Make your first left after Ramapo College onto Darlington Avenue. Continue straight and bear right onto Campgaw Road. The entrance is about 1.2 miles on the right. Enter the park but do not turn right through the yellow gate. Continue to the parking lot. 15