Tour Permits: A tour permit giving travel plans must be filed at your local Scout Service Center two weeks before your troop leaves for Chawanakee. You will be asked for a photocopy of the approved permit at check in.
Troop Rosters: A copy of your troop roster including addresses and phone numbers must be turned in at the camp office when you check in. It is also recommended that your unit have extra copies while at camp.
Merit Badge Sign Ups: Camp Chawanakee uses an Online System for merit badges class signups. The website is www.chawanakee.com. User names and passwords will be mailed to you along with the camp leader's guide. These resources will only be mailed to troops that are up to date on their payments for camp. Be sure to check back regularly for updates and news regarding camp.
Medical Forms: All participants attending Camp Chawanakee (adults too) must have the appropriate BSA. medical form (Class 3 for adults 40 and over and Class 1 and 2 for anyone 39 years old or younger.) A doctor MUST sign these forms. These forms may be obtained at your local council office, by clicking the forms above, or online at www.chawanakee.com . Class 3 forms are good for one year only and must be updated within 12 months to be valid. Class 1 and 2 forms are good for three years provided that the front portion, which includes a parent signature, is updated annually and attached to the doctor signed Class 1 and 2 form. Medical forms from prior years ARE NOT kept on file. Each participant must bring the appropriate, valid form, with them to camp. A check of this form is a mandatory part of check in, no one may participate in any camp activity until his or her medical form is completed and turned in.
Dining Services: Camp will serve meals “family style” for Breakfast and Dinner in two shifts each. You will be assigned to a shift and table(s) when you go through dining hall orientation at check in. To properly use the dining hall, troops need to send one “Table Steward” per assigned table to the dining hall at least 15 minutes before their shift begins. The steward will be responsible for preparing the troops eating accommodations. The steward will stay after everyone is dismissed to do clean up. The dining hall steward will give directions and assist for each step. Scouts will be required to listen and follow all instructions.
Lunch Meals: Lunch is eaten in your campsite. Each troop should send at least 2 stewards per patrol to the back of the dining hall to pick up lunch. Should there be a shortage of food or too much, please send a runner to the dining hall with that information. Two of the lunches will need to be cooked in the campsite. Charcoal will be provided for these meals as will barbecue pits. As per BSA Guide to Safe Scouting policy charcoal lighter is not permitted, please plan on lighting your charcoal with a “stack” or other method. Make sure to bring your Patrol Cooking Gear. To clean up, simply put any trash and excess non-storable food in the provided trashcans and wash out the bus tub and pitcher. The bus tub must be returned to the dining hall loading dock immediately after lunch. Pitchers should be returned after lunch on Friday. Scouts need to bring their own eating equipment for lunch. Any storable food (PB&J, bread, condiments, cookies, etc.) may be kept in your campsite for later use. FYI wildlife will enjoy your snacks if not properly stored!
Friday Barbecue: Camp Chawanakee ends each session with an out-of-this world barbecue on Friday night. For this meal only, there will be one shift of eating (right after flags.) Guests may pay at the door or buy a meal ticket from the Trading Post.
Fires: A Scout is careful with fire in the woods. Please follow all fire safety guidelines closely:
-
Use only the designated campfire circle in the traditional campsites to build fires
-
Fire control tools may be checked out from the head commissioner at check in
-
Smoking is prohibited in any area of camp where Scouts are present
-
Smoking is also prohibited in any building or tent
-
NO OPEN FLAMES IN ANY TENT NO EXCEPTIONS
-
Both state and county agencies prohibit the use of fireworks in camp. Fireworks are not to be brought to camp for any reason. Violators of this policy will be sent home and the appropriate law enforcement agencies contacted.
-
Personal firearms of any caliber and ammunition are not to be brought to camp.
-
Fire pits may not be constructed in the patrol sites unless direct written permission is granted by the Camp Facilities Director and Camp Director. U.S. Forest Service guidelines will be followed for any fire built in camp.
-
Campsite fires must be kept small. Flames should be no higher than two feet.
Your Patrol Site: Patrol site equipment consists of approximately four tents, eight cots, eight mattresses, one stand alone BBQ, and one picnic table. It is recommended that troops bring their own dining flies. Garbage cans will be strategically placed for easy access by patrol sites. Full garbage cans should be placed next to the road by 5:00 p.m. each evening for pick up. DO NOT PUT FIRE ASHES IN THE TRASH CANS.
Commissioner Service: Commissioners are one of the key ingredients for the unit to have an outstanding week. Any needs concerns and /or suggestions should be directed to your commissioner. Campsites will be inspected by the commissioner daily in accordance with a schedule set up between them and your Senior Patrol Leader. Campsite inspection scores are a key component to determining who wins the coveted “thumb-stick” award.
Participants: All leaders and scouts must be registered members of the BSA. A copy of your council roster or individual registration card is acceptable proof of this. Acceptance in this program is the same for everyone without regard for race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicap.
Senior Patrol Leaders: SPL’s are the leader of the troop. It is essential for each troop to have one elected. SPL’s will attend daily meetings with the Head Commissioner to discuss special events, program needs, etc. Meetings are held daily, at the water front at 1:15 p.m.
Scoutmaster Meetings: A joint Scoutmaster and SPL meeting is scheduled for Sunday evening at 8:15 p.m., at the Archery Range. Scoutmaster meetings are scheduled for Tuesday and Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel. A scoutmaster social is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday evening at the dining hall.
Adult Leadership: Every troop is required to have a minimum of two adults supervising their unit through the entire week. One adult must be 21 or older, the second adult must be at least 18 year so age. Troops who rotate adult leadership must make sure that this requirement is met the entire time they are at camp. Units not meeting this standard will not be allowed to participate in any Camp Chawanakee activity. All visitors and late arrivals must check in at the camp office upon arrival at camp.
Adult Features: Designated shower and rest room facilities on the point are reserved for adult leaders only. Adults will stay in strategically placed tenting near their patrols, which will house from two to four adults four the same gender. At camp we offer a variety of activities and training for your adult leaders such as:
-
Safe Swim Defense
-
Safety Afloat
-
Risk Zone Training
-
Youth Protection
-
Climb on Safely
-
Golf Tournament
-
Horse Shoes
- Internet Access (during designated times)
Trading Post: the Trading Post provides goods, camp souvenirs, food, drinks, and candy for the needs of Scouts during their week at camp. Remember that certain Merit Badges do require the purchase of supplies (See Merit Badge Listings at www.chawanakee.com) Merit Bade advancement items are available including pamphlets, handbooks, kits, and targets. It is suggested that $50.00 to $60.00 should meet the needs of most scouts, but be prepared to bring more for a thrilling horse ride and a beautiful camp T-shirt. Special Chawanakee merchandise will be available for sale at the Trading Post. It is also suggested that the Scoutmaster or an adult leader is the banker for the week. Scouts should turn in their money to him/her and he/she should distribute that money on an as needed basis back to the scout. The Trading Post does accept major credit cards as well as ATM cards.
Mail: Mail is delivered into camp once a day. Letters or postcards can take anywhere from one to three extra days to get to camp. Scouts are encouraged to write home at least once during their stay. Address your mail in the following manner (be sure to include troop number, session, and campsite also be sure parents are aware of this information so they can write their Scouts at camp:) It is suggested that you print a copy this page and distribute it to all parents prior to leaving for camp. Units are encouraged to check the camp office for new messages and mail daily.
Telephones: the adult leaders may make outgoing calls from the Trading Post using the pay phone. Scouts are not allowed to use the pay phone unless their unit leader is present.
The Camp phone number is 559-841-2117 and the Fax Number is 559-841-8181. Messages and faxes may be left for individual until leaders and scouts, but must include the person’s name, campsite, and unit number. Messages are placed in the unit’s box, unless described as an emergency, in which case every effort will be made to contact the unit leader or scout as soon as possible. In any case, messages may take up to a day to get to the person they are intended for. Units are encouraged to check the camp office for new messages and mail daily.
Mobile phones may be used from camp, but leaders must provide their own mobile phones and phone service agreements. Not all carriers service the Shaver Lake area.
Medical Support: A first aid person is present at camp at all times to treat medical emergencies and handle minor problems. Arrangements have been made with a local doctor and hospital for treatment of emergency cases.
In accordance with BSA. National Policy all prescription medicines brought to camp, with the exception of emergency use medicines such as an inhaler or bee sting kit, must be locked up by the camp medical officer. Adult leaders will be responsible for making sure Scouts receive the proper medication at the proper times.
Uniforms: Have your Scouts in full uniform for morning and evening flag ceremonies each day, as well as the closing campfire. Through the day, encourage them to wear Scout shorts and either a unit T-Shirt, camp T-shirt, or other Scout related shirt. The Boy Scout uniform is an important part of the BSA. A scout should wear it proudly and properly. Scouts should arrive and leave camp in full class A uniform.