Troop 103 meets every Monday night at 7:30pm at St. James Methodist Church in Fellowship Hall.

Located at: 401 Carlwood Drive, Miamisburg, OH 45342

Troop 103 Calendar

Summer Camp - Camp Hugh Taylor Birch

When: June 23 - June 29, 2024
Where: Camp Hugh Taylor Birch
                4057 Swimming Pool Rd
                Yellow Springs, OH 45387
               

Campsite: Red Hawk

Costs (Youth):

     Early fee: $325 (due by April 15)
     Regular fee: $350 (due by May 20)
     Late fee: $400 (if paid after June 17)


Second Scout from the same family

     Early fee: $305 (due by April 15)
     Regular fee: $330 (due by May 20)
     Late fee: $380 (if paid after June 17)

Activity Fee = $35

Costs (Adults):
    Regular fee: $90.00 (due by May 20)
    
Activity Fee = $35


Required:
Boy Scout Medical Form (Part A, B, and C) - completed and submitted prior to departure

                  (Follow the link on the home page or go to Troop 103 Forms page)
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Meet:  Sunday, June 23, 2024, 10:00 a.m. at the Miamisburg Swimming Pool parking lot - In Class “A” Uniform - Bring brown-bag lunch. Plan on leaving at 10:30 am.

Return:  Saturday, June 29, 2024, 12:00 p.m. at St. James. Dismissal will be after the trailer(s) are unloaded and all equipment is put away.

Tenting – The camp has canvas tents and cots available for our use. Scouts will share a tent with someone from an appropriate age group.

This means that we do not need to bring our own tents. This also means that we won't have to bring wet or dirty tents home to be cleaned at the end of the week!!

Family Night:  Friday Night is Family Night at Camp Birch and we want all of your families to experience the excitement of camp! Plan for visitors to arrive at camp starting at 5:00 pm. All visitors must park their cars in the main parking lot and coordinate with their Troop to receive their wristband and make their way back to the campsite. Units are able to cook their own food or pick up meals from the dining hall for dinner at their campsite. All visitors who will be joining their Troop for a camp-provided meal must pre-purchase those meals. We ask that each troop give a family night visitor count and a list of any dietary restrictions to the Camp Commissioner no later than the Wednesday morning Scoutmaster Meeting. The cost of the dinner is $7 per guest. Tickets may be pre-purchased at the 10-Day Out Meeting, at Sunday check-in, or through the Camp Commissioner or Program Director at morning Scoutmaster meetings. Visiting families are encouraged to stay for Friday night’s closing campfire. It will begin at 8:30 pm at the Council Ring. The Camp Birch closing campfire casts our Scouts as the stars of the show. We encourage units to participate with a Scout-appropriate skit or song to entertain your families (they came to see you all, not us)! This campfire will also be a time for area awards and special recognition.

Following dinner, camp will have open program areas. Scouts can guide families on a tour of the camp and show off their campsites. We recommend wearing good walking shoes. Open-toed shoes are not permitted in camp for safety reasons.

Please plan for your Scouts to stay in camp Friday night to help the troop pack up Saturday morning. Scouts who do leave Friday night will need to sign out at the Administration building with a signed and completed Early Release Form (which must be signed by the Scoutmaster).

Activity Fee:  $35 covers the cost of fuel for vehicles hauling trailers and scouts, drinks, and some snacks throughout the week. Please bring your activity fee to the Monday meeting and give to Mr. Mize or let him know you are using money from your Scout account.

Code of Conduct: Is located on the Troop 103 Forms web page and is required to be signed and returned prior to leaving for camp.

Medical Forms and Medications:  All scout medications and any remaining medical forms must be turned into Mr. Mize on Sunday.  Scouts should keep asthma inhalers and epi-pens on their persons but report them to Mr. Mize. Each Scout requiring medication must submit a completed Scoutmaster Medication Administration Form (located on the Troop 103 Forms page)


Location: Camp Hugh Taylor Birch

                4057 Swimming Pool Rd

                Yellow Springs, OH 45387

Troop 103 will be in the Red Hawk campsite.

Drivers:  If you are available to help drive, contact Mr. Mize at (937) 272-5113.  Your assistance is appreciated.

Camp Hugh Taylor Birch Administration Office Phone:  (937) 325-6449

 

THIS IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER GREAT YEAR AT SUMMER CAMP!!!

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Troop Adult Leadership Team
Camp Registration/Fees/Code of Conduct - Mr. Doug Mize
Advancement ?’s/Merit Badge - Mr. Larry Head
Equipment Trailer/ Camp set up and tear down  - Mr. Doug Mize
Medical Forms/Medication Procedures  - ????



Troop Youth Leadership Planning Team
Troop Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) Scout -
Troop Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders Scouts –
Troop Chaplain Aide Scout –
Troop Quartermaster Scout –
Troop CF Skit Leader Scout – 
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CAMP - EXPECTATIONS

 

Code of Conduct - Each scout and their parent/guardian is required to sign a Code of Conduct form (attached) and give to Mr. Mize before departure for camp. The conduct of each boy is expected to be that fitting the finest scout and misbehavior will not be tolerated. Conduct issues are to be reported to SPL and Scoutmaster (or trained adult if Scoutmaster is not nearby). If repeated issues or serious infractions of the Code of Conduct or Camp Rules (contained in Camp Birch Information Guide located on our website) are observed or reported, the Scoutmaster will be personally involved and scouts can/will be sent home.

Proper Packing - A complete packing list is attached for Summer Camp. Please do not let your scout over-pack or under-pack. Having too much with them at camp will only clutter the tent and create a constant requirement to clean/organize the tent. Please make sure your scout has packed the items on the Summer Camp packing list that will make a huge difference (i.e. rain gear, clean underwear, water bottle). Please keep the extra items/clutter/valuables at home.

Weather conditions at camp can change rapidly and scouts will need to have a way to keep items, organized, quickly available and DRY. Please plan to have your scout's items in one (1) large labeled tub with a secure lid. We highly encourage you to review the importance of having all items secured in the tub when rain is expected/appears as the tents can get blown over and large puddles can form in the tent areas. Reminder: keep all Scout Handbooks/merit badge blue cards in a single or double zip-lock bag.

Cleanliness - It is expected that each scout will keep their tent clean, change their clothes, brush their teeth and use deodorant DAILY and will shower, (with soap) at least once every two days. If there is a particular reoccurring cleanliness issue that cannot/will not be resolved by the scout; the Scoutmaster will be personally involved. Please plan to talk to your scout about the importance of cleanliness at camp and help prepare your scout for these daily hygiene activities as needed.

Camp Responsibilities - It is expected that each scout will "pull their weight" while at camp. This includes keeping a clean tent, helping others, keeping quiet after taps, cleaning the shelter, cleaning the kybo (outhouse), serving and cleaning up meals (waiter duty), cleaning shower house and all other activities common to running a clean and successful camp. Please plan to talk to your scout about being available, helpful, friendly courteous and kind when it comes to these types of responsibilities. The Scoutmaster will get involved in the event there are concerns of a scout not doing their share to be good campers.

Electronics - No Electronic toys, I-Phone, I-pods, Radios, etc. Scout cell phones (if brought) will be checked in with the Scoutmaster at the beginning of camp and returned at the end of camp. Preferred Plan of Action: Do not allow these electronic items to leave your house.

Non BSA Registered Adults at Camp - Non-registered adults will not be allowed into Camp Birch. All adults are of course welcome on Family Night (Friday) to enjoy the evening with the Troop and then we ask visitors to leave camp at the conclusion of the evening activities. Please see me directly if there are any issues or questions.

ALL adults serving as leadership for a troop in camp are required to provide verification of CURRENT Youth Protection Training.

Camp Birch Blended Program - Each Scout will be required to submit a completed Merit Badge schedule for the week when registering for Summer Camp.

Camp Birch Summer Camp will be running a blended program this year. Scouts will get the flexibility of open programming, while our staff is able to maintain our high standards of safety and security in our higher-risk program areas. Most of our Merit Badge offerings are available as open programs during our morning and afternoon sessions. For these Merit Badge offerings, Scouts can simply go to the open program area and complete requirements for Merit Badges they want to take - no need to pre-register or sign up for spots. With our structured Merit Badge offerings, Scouts should pre-register to secure their spot. Pre-registration for a structured Merit Badge offering is part of the individual Scout’s registration process and should be completed when initially registering the Scout for Summer Camp. There may also be an additional fee associated with the structured Merit Badges that should be paid at the time of registration. While at camp, Scouts must plan their schedule to ensure they will be able to attend these structured Merit Badge classes for the entire time allotted.

Tecumseh Island - The newest/first year campers from Troop 103 will be participating in the Camp Birch Tecumseh Island program. 

At Camp Birch, they recognize that the First Year Camper Program is fundamentally the most important area of any Scouts BSA Summer Camp. Tecumseh Island will be a full-day program focused on our younger Scouts BSA campers. They will work, not only on rank requirements from Tenderfoot to First Class, but on building a solid foundation of scout skills through the patrol method. Scouts will start their mornings with a Troop Meeting and patrol time, sharing leadership responsibilities and reinforcing the skills they learned the previous day. Afternoons will be spent working on Swimming Merit Badge and First Aid Merit Badge, helping them accomplish requirements for rank advancement. Throughout the week, Scouts will also be learning about local history and lore while working on requirements for Exploration Merit Badge. An optional 5-mile hike through John Bryan State Park on Friday will fulfill the Second-Class hiking requirement. This program gives first-year campers a jump-start towards their first rank advancements of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. The knowledgeable staff and many outdoor resources available at Camp Friedlander not only teach Scouts the skills they need to meet requirements but give them hands-on experience.

Camp Birch Meal Program – The Dining Hall is not simply the building where you eat. It is a program area full of fellowship, camaraderie, and songs. Our meals are served cafeteria style. We expect our Scouts to be clean by clearing their own trays, plates, bowls, and silverware after meals.

Money - Bringing a few dollars to Summer Camp may make some sense for a trip or two to the trading post. If a scout is to bring money (it is not required) he needs to be 100% responsible for it. 

Camp Daily Activities/Schedule - It is expected that each scout is aware of their activities and schedule throughout the week and there will be many trained adult leaders in place to help the younger scouts with this aspect of camp. Please share with your son how it is expected that they have a plan and understand how they are at camp to 1) have fun, 2) help the troop and 3) move forward in their scouting journey. To have each scout experience progress toward their rank advancement is particularly important to a positive camping experience.

There will be a general schedule of Camp Birch and Troop activities being developed in the next weeks by the PLC to help communicate and organize our camp.

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Summer Camp Packing List


Sleeping Bag

Sleeping Pad (optional)

Pillow (optional)

Water Bottle (mandatory)

Day pack or draw-string bag
Rain Gear

Hat

Sunscreen

Insect Repellent

Flashlight

Scout Handbook in a zip-lock plastic bag

Pen and Paper

Swimsuit

Towel

Soap, Toiletries, Deodorant

Shower Shoes

Sweatshirt or Light Jacket

Folding Camp Chair

Pocket Knife with Toten’ Chip
Compass

Class “B” Tee Shirts

Class “A” Uniform (Wear It!)

Shorts (Class A, Khaki or Jean shorts, no basketball shorts)

Underwear

Socks
Gym Shoes
Boots

1 Pair Long Pants or Zip-Offs

Playing Cards or Board Game (Optional)
Spending money for CLT T-Shirt or Ski

No Electronic Toys, I-Pods, Radios, etc.
Scout cell phones (if brought) will be checked in with the Scoutmaster at the beginning of camp and returned at the end of camp.

 

Mark all items with the scout’s name and troop number. Pack all items in a large, stack-able, plastic tub with a lid (also marked with scout’s name).

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Camp Hugh Taylor Birch

In 1936, Camp Hugh Taylor Birch began with 25-acres of land and a vision. Today, Camp Birch has grown to encompass 440 acres of woodland that serve our Scouting and non-Scouting communities on a year-round basis.

Camp Birch - complete with a dining hall that serves 300, an Olympic size outdoor swimming
pool, a 10-acre lake with rowboats and canoes, a 30-foot climbing tower, BB and archery ranges, and many other facilities - is our outdoor facility that we use to teach character, citizenship, personal fitness, and environmental awareness.

Several renovations have been completed recently, including new shower and restroom facilities.

Adjacent to Clifton Gorge, John Bryan State Park, and Glen Helen Nature Preserve, Camp Hugh Taylor Birch is an integral part of 2,000 continuous acres of natural woodlands.





















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