Dear Troop 697 Scouts and Families: A $100 deposit for each participant (scout or adult) for Camp Cherry Valley (CCV) 2011 is due to Mr. Frantz at our troop meeting on Tuesday, January 11, 2011. Our 2011 dates for Camp Cherry Valley are July 10 ~ 16th, 2011. Checks should be made payable to: BSA Troop 697. Be sure to give the check to Mr. Frantz so that you are included on the Troop 697 CCV roster. Deposits are NOT refundable but may be transferred to another scout. We will forfeit any spaces in our reservation if payment is not received the San Gabriel Council by January 31st. Camp CCV is located on Catalina island off the coast of Los Angeles. Due to the large distance and difficult access via ferry, CCV is open to all scouts that have already attended one other Boy Scout summer camp away from home i.e. Camp Geronimo. --Michael Frantz |
| Thanks to the generous donation by Tim and Robin
McCormick, many scouts have had an opportunity to earn some money
for summer camp. The Flag Posting service run by Marci Beaudoin
provides additional opportunities for scouts to earn money for camp.
(Remember, scouts can also start a Flag Route in their own
neighborhood.) In addition to the opportunities in the troop, you could encourage your scouts to mow neighbors' lawns, start a dog walking service, tutor younger children in school subjects, etc., to earn money for camp. For younger scouts, Camp Cherry Valley provides a great opportunity to earn Merit Badges, such as Oceanography, that cannot be earned in Phoenix. For older scouts (age 14 and up), there is a High Adventure program. (Adult Volunteer Leaders may also participate in High-Adventure activities.) Island Adventure For very adventurous older scouts, there is also an Island Adventure program. There are additional requirements, so check early if you are interested. The Island Adventure program is an exciting, weeklong, out of camp trek that involves hiking, war canoeing, and kayaking. Staff guides will be an integral part of the group as they lead a knowledgeable trek to the west end and interior of the island. Participants should be prepared for the intensity of this adventure, which is demanding in a unique and wonderful way. A few major concerns that participants will want to anticipate are: blisters, dehydration, exhaustion, and seasickness.Below is additional information about Camp Cherry Valley. The first $100 payment per person (scout or adult) is due in January (We will need to collect it so that we can mail our group payment and it is received by Jan 31st) If you would like to volunteer to be an adult leader, please let me know as soon as possible. Camp Cherry Valley: A Wonderful Opportunity One of the excellent opportunities available to members of Troop 697 is the chance to attend Camp Cherry Valley (CCV) at Catalina Island. The camp is located in a picturesque cove and offers opportunities for many water sports including world-class snorkeling, canoeing, rowing, sailing and swimming. Because it is located on the leeward side of the island, the cove is calm making it a perfect place for lots of fun in the water. The ocean at Cherry Valley is clear, clean and averages between 68 and 70 degrees. Scouts have an opportunity to work on Merit Badges such as Oceanography that cannot be earned in Arizona. Reservations for this camp are made 3 years in advance. Our 2011 dates are July 10th ~ July 16th (Sun-Sat). Space is LIMITED! This camp is more expensive than opportunities within Arizona, but we believe it is well worth the money! You may want to start planning NOW for this adventure!SCOUT OR ADULT CAMP FEES The Out-of-Council fee for scouts and adults in 2009 was $495 and may increase slightly for 2011. The cost of transportation and parking has not been determined yet. An optional T-shirt, personalized for Troop 697, (approximately $20) and spending money at camp or materials required for some Merit Badges are additional. A duffel bag (navy style sea bag) works great for packing personal items.CCV PAYMENT DUE DATES:
The fees for Camp Cherry Valley are higher than other camps, but we believe they are well worth it! You and your family may want to start saving now for this trip. (You may also want to consider if you want your scout to earn part of the money either within or outside of troop activities.) TRANSPORTATION
MEDICAL FORMS ** ALL CAMPERS MUST HAVE A CURRENT CLASS 2 OR CLASS 3 MEDICAL FORM IN ADDITION TO A CURRENT CLASS 1 AND APPROPRIATE PERMISSION SLIPS. ANYONE ARRIVING IN CAMP WITHOUT THESE COMPLETED FORMS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE. If you or your son has an annual physical scheduled, please be sure to bring the scout medical forms to the appointment!PRIORITY FOR CCV PARTICIPATION Because it is VERY difficult to arrange transportation home for a scout who may become homesick, our Troop strongly recommends that scouts have participated in a week-long camp experience before attending Camp Cherry Valley. If there are more interested scouts than spaces available, priority will be given to the scouts who meet this criterion. (If your scout attended Camp Geronimo, he is eligible.)TO GET STARTED:
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