Camporees               Summer Camp                 Scotmasters Letter
                                     Summer Camp Policies List

It comes in many forms.  There are Troop 55 campouts, District Spring and Fall Camporees, Order of the Arrow Conclaves and Council Summer Camp.   Presented here is the information on the Camporees and Summer Camp. The Troop campouts are covered in detail by the Scoutmaster as they occur.

Camporeesare conducted in the spring and the fall.  They are theme oriented to a particular merit badge or basic Scouting skill.  They may be held at city park locations, at the Gus Blass Scout Reservation, or at another suitable location chosen by the District.   Information is published by the District in time for Troop and Scout preparation. If you have any questions, contact your Scoutmaster.

The “Summer Camp” has more guidelines to deal with.  These are designed to get the Scout off to a good start on how to prepare, and to know what are the “Reservation” rules.

Financing, Physicals, Merit Badge Choices, and Registrations: 

The following letter is published yearly by the Scoutmaster in early June of each year.

Dear Parents and Scouts of Troop 55,

Before we leaving for summer camp, the following reminders are given for Scouts and parents.

• All summer camp fees are due at the Council Office no later than Friday, June 15, 200X. If you paid a $30 early bird deposit in March, the additional fee that you will need to pay is $100.00.  If not, the cost is $145.00.  If paid by June 15, 200X, new Scouts attending camp for the first time pay only $130.00,  If you send a check with your son to the Scoutmaster by June 15th, he will see that it is delivered to the Council Office.  Make  checks payable to the “Quapaw Area Council.”
   
• It is a State law that a Scout must have a current physical on each boy and adult in camp attendance.

During the first two Troop meeting in June the merit badge schedules for summer camp will be established. To do this we need your Scout’s list of eight merit badges of choice in the order of his liking. This is necessary to preregistered and enroll his choices with the Council by June 15th.  If you have any questions, contact the Scoutmaster.

THE GUS BLASS SCOUT RESERVATION IS OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE QUAPAW AREA COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. THE CAMP IS FOCUSED ON THE BELIEF THAT CHARACTER COUNTS, THAT STRONG VALUES ARE IMPORTANT FOR EVERY BOY, AND THAT STRONG LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IS IMPORTANT TO THE BOY AND THE COMMUNITY.

 There are specific camp policies crucial to the efficient running of the camp, and they include: 

 Camping Guidelines     Behavior Guidelines     Early & Late Arrivals
 Visitors & Guests             Visitor’s Meals               Laundry Facilities
 The Trading Post                       Mail                         Telephone Service
 Animals & Critters     Camp Equipment List         Special Events
 Conservation                   Camp Projects                   Family Day Friday
                           Handcraft                           Pioneer Trail

Camp Policies:

Gus Blass Scout Reservation is guided by the Scout Oath and the twelve points of the Scout Law.  All camp participants are expected to live by these principles.  Behavior which does not meet the high standards of the Scout Oath and Law is unacceptable. All campers aare asked for their cooperation in helping to maintain these high standards of moral and personal conduct. The following rules have been established for the health and safety of all Scouts, adult leaders, camp staff, and visitors.  National camping guidelines state:

• No flames in tents!  All flammable fuels must be stored in the fuel box provided by the camp quartermaster. All tents--both Troop and Reservation--must be marked “No Flames in Tents,”
• You may not bring weapons, firearms, or ammunition of any sort to camp. The Reservation provides all necessary shooting equipment and ammunition.
• Tobacco use is not permitted by youth campers or by adults in the presence of youth campers nor any structure, tent, or building.  Smoking is restricted to designated areas behind the dinning hall.  Smokers are reminded of the ever present forest and installation fire danger!
• Vehicles must be parked in the main parking lot at the bottom of the hill.  If more information is needed, consult the camp director. All ATV’s and ORV’s are prohibited from use by Scouts and adult leaders. The posted speed limit of 15 MPH MUST be obeyed.  No one may ride in the back of a truck or trailer.
• Pets are not allowed on the Reservation.
• Only those persons authorized by the Camp Director or the Camp Ranger may operate power tools on the Scout Reservation.
• Leaders and Scouts who will be arriving or leaving the Reservation during the week MUST check in and out of the Camp Office. Scouts are permitted to leave prior to the normal departure day only with a parent and a signed permission slip.
• All youth and adults MUST shower separately. Separate hot shower facilities are provided for youth, male adults, and female adults.  Youth are defined as under 18 years of age. Adults are defined as over 18 years of age.
• No adults are allowed to sleep in a youth’s tent.
• Alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs are not allowed on camp property.  Possession, or use of same on Reservation property will lead to dismissal from the Summer Camp Program without benefit of refund. State and Federal law mandates incidents of this nature be turned over to proper authorities.
• Fireworks of all types are prohibited on the Reservation.
• 2 Deep Leadership is requred at all times.
• no open-toed shoes are allowed.

Behavior Guidelines for Summer Camp:

Scouts in camp are the responsibility of the accompanying Troop leadership.  The discipline of the Scouts will be placed in the hands of that Troop’s leadership. The guidelines at camp will be those stated in the “Guide to Safe Scouting” and the youth protection guidelines of the BSA. Also see Conduct.

Summer Camp Policies List!

Early and Late Arrivals: Check-in time at Gus Blass Scout Reservation is from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm Sunday.  There are no provisions for early arrivals. It is recommended that Troops consider Saturday camping at Wooly Hollow State Park just off highway 65 north of Greenbrier, AR, if overnight accomodations are necessary. Late arrivals must contact the Camp Director at least two weeks prior to arrival at camp.

Visitors and Special Guests: Families and guests of Scouts are encouraged to visit Gus Blass Scout Reservation on Friday afternoons beginning at 1:30 pm to visit troops and attend the closing campfire.  Closing flag ceremony begins at 6:00 pm sharp.  If space is available, visitors are welcome to stay overnight at the family campground.  All vehicles MUST be parked in the main parking lot at the bottom of the hill.    All visitors MUST check in and out at the Reservation Camp Office.

Visitors Meals: Visitors may eat in the main dinning hall. The cost of meal tickets are $5. per person and may be purchased at the Trading Post.  Please note that a visitor count is needed Friday evening meal  by Thursday morning.

Laundry Facilities: Ther are no public laundry facilities availaable in the camp.  Plan ahead to bring clean clothes for traveling before and after your week of camp. Public laundry facilities do exist in the city of Damascus.

The Trading Post:The main camp store, trading post, is where Scouts, leaders, and visitors will find a wide selection of goods for sale that includes:

• Souvenirs: T-shirts, caps, postcards, mugs, patches, film, etc.
• Food and Snacks: ice cream, fruit drinks, soft drinks, candy, etc.
• Personal items: tooth paste sun-block, combs, soap, etc.
• Camp items: canteens, pocket knives, flashlights, belt pack, etc.
• Handcraft materials: for basketry, wood carving, and leather, etc.
• Other items: Merit badge books, nature books, handbooks, etc.

Weekend Trading Post hours are:     

• After breakfast to 11:15 am.
• After lunch to 5:00 pm
• After Dinner to 8:00 pm
• One half hour after Friday nigh closing campfire.
• Closed after 5:00 pm wednesday evening.
• After breakfast on Saturday morning to 9:00 am.

Mail: All Scouts and leaders enjoy receving mail at camp. Please advise parents that all mail must be addressed properly. Mail sent from home later than Wednesday will probably not arrive until after the Troop has departed from camp on Saturday,  Mail should be addressed as follows:

       Scout Name
       Troop Name
       Gus Blass Scout Reservation
       408 Scout Drive
       Damascus, AR 72039                     

Telephone Service: The Reservation telephone is reserved for business and emergency calls only, and it is (501) 335-7208. Home sickness is not helped by a call home. It only makes things worse.  Camp fax number is (501) 335-8079.                                        

Animals and Critters Encountered at Camp: For a period longer than one could accurately say, the mountains known today as the Ozarks have been inhabited by creatures of God’s making.  There are, however, some creatures with whom we must be cautious of during our visit. They include copperheads, bkack bear, racoons, skunks, opossums, squirrels, deer, chiggers, and ticks.  Contact with any wild animal could result in bodily harm or the possibility of disease.  Report any personal encounter to the camp Health Officer.

Camper Equipment List: Information concerning the summer camp equipment list can be found on the adjacent web page titled Equipment.

Special Events: Include campfires, campsite cooking--Wednesday lunch, burgers on the lawn in a campwide cookout--Wednesday dinner, and chapel services--Wednesday evening at 7:30 pm.

Conservation and Camp Projects: A list of projects is maintained by the Ecology/Conservation Area Director at the camp office. Unit leaders can make arrangements to have their Troop work on selected projects.  The Director will provide tools and assistance. The “Outdoor Code” must be followed at all times.                             

Family Day Friday: Parents and guests of Scouts may begin arriving on Friday afternoon to tour camp, visit the Troop, and attend the evening meal.  Friday evening meal tickets are on sale at the trading post.  Everyone, guests and Scouts, will gather at the flag plaza at 8:15 pm to be led to the Friday night campfire.        

Handicraft: All handcraft classes are scheduled: however, Scouts and leaders can always take advantage of tools and materials to be found in the handcraft pavilion. Some handcraft items must be purchased at the trading post.  Handcraft merit badges offered include basketry, leather work, woodcarving, indian lore, and pottery.

Pioneer Trail:  The first year camper program at summer camp offers thorough instruction in the basic Scout skills.  A Scout can choose all, or a part depending on his individual progress.  A Scout must sign up for the class(es) of his choice. One hour a day will be provided in: knots and lashing, woods tools, fire building, patrol cooking, map and compass. Also, first year Scouts are encouraged to take the first aid and swimming merit badges.

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