Laurel Caverns and Tall Oaks Campground Outing Planning

1. Outing Agenda/Plan2. Menu Planning3. Some Outing Rules4. Map Locations5-6. Camp Site Locations7. Caverns Map

Laurel Caverns Outing Plan (Version: May 9th)Friday, May 11 4:30pm Quartermasters prepare trailer5:00pm Troop assemble: bring bag dinner for car ride. Bring $ for Sunday lunch should there be delays returning.

ASPL___ verify attendance, patrol duty roster, tent mates, patrol food, rain gear, headlamps, back up lashlight, and one nalgene bottle, long-pants, long sleeve shirt, and perquisite Merit Badge material.

Drive 3.5 hours to Tall Oaks Campground, 544 Camp Riamo Road, Farmington, PA 15437 (724) 329-4777. (stops: bio-breaks and gas). Quiet set up > go to sleep! Saturday, May 12 6am Quiet wake-up, cook hot breakfast, clean up. Prepare and pack lunch.

Laurel Caverns ,200 Cavern Park Rd, Farmington, PA 15437 (724) 438-2070. Bring headlamp and backup light, rain gear, patrol prepared lunch, and one nalgene water bottle. Long-pants and long sleve shirt required. (Daypack highly encouraged – no valuables in daypack like hidden ipods, androids, etc.).8:15 Depart for Climbing Merit Badge - (Climbing MB 9:15 until 1:15); stay for 2pm caving.9:00 Depart for all other Merit Badges – all other MBs begin at 10:00; stay for 2pm caving.

Other scouts skills and advancement for scouts not attaining Merit Badges in the morning.{There may be some shuttling between both locations. Unclear is someone will be in camp the entire

11-1:30 Eat patrol made lunches from the morning; stay for 2pm caving.12:30 Depart for caving. Assemble for caving at ~1:30pm; caving starts at 2pm.4:30 Return to campground and prepare diner, advancement, pre-scoutmaster conferences. If sufficient daylight, complete chuck box inspections (we should only be boiling water on Sunday morning and not dirtying the cooking gear)8:30 Campfire (Written Script approved by SPL/PLC to meet Communications Merit Badge requirement).

Sunday, May 13 ( MOTHER’S DAY )6am Quiet wake-up, troop hot breakfast (probably hot chocolate and hot oatmeal) at the pavilion.

Patrol and personnel gear8:15 Finish advancement; Non-denominational service led by____________; then depart.11-12 Great Falls Library so as not to impact Sunday services at St Francis12:15 Quartermasters stow trailer and equipment at St Francis > Harris Hall (after the St Francis Sunday Service is over and the parishioners’ cars are out of the way to back-in the troop trailer)

Menu Planning[opportunity for 1st Class Cooking requirement i.e. 3 meals – two cooked

(breakfast & dinner) and one prepared (lunch)]

• Saturday Breakfast (40o F in am): Hot meal but not too elaborate because the Climbing Merit Badge scouts must depart by 8:15. (Duty roosters and team work are key for efficient meals)

• Saturday Lunch: Prepare patrol lunch at breakfast time. Suggestions: Sandwiches with fruit (apple), chips, and cookies.

• Saturday Dinner: Plenty of time for a nice dinner. Dutch oven dinner would be very welcomed. Patrol dinner competition?

• Sunday Breakfast (50o F in am): Troop Breakfast hot chocolate and hot oatmeal

Some Outing Rules• Quiet time 11pm until 9am

– Whisper; campers next to you should not be able to hear you….

• No sodas, energy drinks, etc. from the camp store• No electronics• Scout Spirit especially at Laurel Caverns and the Tall Oaks

Campground– Appropriate Dress (Troop T-Shirt) (Long-pants and Long Sleeve

Shirt as required for activities e.g. caving)– Behavior especially at Merit Badge activities

• Follow all Safety and Environmental rules especially while caving.

Laurel Caverns

Tall Oaks Campground

30 minute drive between locations

Troop 55 has sitesT50 through T55 and Pavillion #3

Troop 55 has sites T50 through T55 and Pavillion #3