This section contains information
that should be shared with the
parents of Scouts attending camp.
All of the following information
has been adapted from the
complete edition of the Leader’s
Guide
WHAT TO SEND TO CAMP
Your Scout will receive a list of items to pack from his Scoutmaster. Be sure to send enough
clothes and shoes to get him through the week comfortably, but do not over-pack. Our Trading Post is
available to provide sanitary items, refreshments, Merit Badge books, T-shirts, and some Scouting
equipment. Your Scout should bring enough spending money to make it through the week. The
amount that you send is up to you and the Scout. It is the responsibility of the Scout to be Thrifty with
his money. This can be a learning experience for your son- try to treat it as such. Some Merit Badges,
especially those offered in Handicraft, may incur a small fee. Ask your Scoutmaster for details.
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THE FOLLOWING ITEMS SHOULD NOT BE SENT TO CAMP
Electronic Games, iPods, Radios, Computers, etc. -These items are generally expensive and
sensitive to weather conditions. It is recommended that these items be left at home to avoid the
potential damage or theft of the items. Some Troops have specific policies that prohibit these
items on camping trips. The camp is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Sheath Knives, Fireworks of any kind, Snuff or Tobacco, Cigarettes, Alcohol and Drugs-
Possession of any of these items while in camp could result in your Scout being sent home
from camp. Most are against the law for any minor to possess; the remainders are against Boy
Scout and Camp Conestoga policy.
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MEDICATION POLICY
Medication sent to camp will be kept locked in the Health Lodge. Exception to this policy is
medication such as asthma inhalers, or bee sting allergy kits that need to be with the Scout. Boys are
responsible for visiting the Health Lodge to take medication at the prescribed times. Please send
only the amount of medication needed for the stay in camp. Include explicit instructions on dosage,
times, etc. so that the medication is dispensed properly. It is the responsibility of the Scout to pick up
any remaining medication at the end of the week. We are required to dispose of any medication left at
camp at the end of each week.
A wide variety of over-the-counter pain relievers, antacids, cough drops, etc. are kept in the
Health Lodge. It is not necessary or recommended that Scouts bring these items to camp.
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PHYSICAL FORMS
Medical forms are available at the service center and in the Leader’s Guide. Ask your Scoutmaster if
the Troop has arranged for physicals. If not, it is your responsibility to make sure that your Scout has
an up to date and complete medical form. Please send only a copy of your medical form. We will
return the copy at the end of the week. BSA requires that each camper and adult age 39 and under
bring a copy of a completed Class Two medical form. Leaders 40 and over must bring a copy of a
Class 3 medical form. Scouts coming to camp without a physical form will not be able to participate in
any activities until one is produced. If one is not produced after 24 hours the Scout will be sent home.
Parent’s Night will be held on Wednesday Night.
The schedule for the evening is as follows:
Dinner (Cafeteria Style)* 5:00-6:00 pm
Triathalon 6:15 pm
Brownsea Patrol Demonstrations 7:15 pm
Parade of Flags 7:45 pm
OA Tapouts 8:05 pm
*Any family members who plans on eating dinner in the Dining Hall will be charged $5.00 per person.
These fees are payable Wednesday night at the door. No reservation is necessary.
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Parent’s Night Parking Procedures
On Parents Night, all area gates will be attended by a Staff member to help direct you. Weather
permitting, vehicles will be allowed to proceed to the campsite. Once vehicles are unloaded, the
vehicle must return to one of the two parking areas.
Visitors with physical handicaps or disabilities must report to the camp office for a parking
pass. This will allow them to leave their vehicle in the campsite area. Please use caution when driving
in camp. Our roads are dirt and contain potholes.
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Late Arrivals and Early Departures
Anyone -- Scout or Leader-- leaving camp must first check out at the camp office and check in
upon return. Scouts are not permitted to leave without direct adult or staff supervision and the camp
sign in/out book has been signed. This includes trips to the local store.
Leaders leaving for home during the week are also required to sign out before departing and
sign back in upon return. A Scout is not to leave for home without his leader first clearing it with the
Camp Director and the Scout’s parents. Anyone arriving after the opening day of the week should
immediately check in at the camp office. Early departure forms should be turned into the camp office
when checking in on Sunday. Early Departure forms can be found in the Camping Forms section of
this manual.
Valuables
The camp is not responsible for personal items. All valuables such as money, cameras,
watches, etc. should be carefully stored in a locked receptacle furnished by the Scout or Scouter. If a
Scout reports stolen items, in most cases they have just been misplaced. Even so, the Scout can check
with lost and found in the camp office to see if the items have been found.
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Lost and Found
This service is located at the camp office. All lost and found items should be reported there.
Leaders are urged to have all Scouts label their belongings with their name and unit number.
Remember, a Scout is Thrifty!
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Mail
Mail arrives in camp once a day. Outgoing mail is picked up once a day. Outgoing mail
should be brought to the camp office by 12 noon. Stamps, envelopes, and postcards are available at
the Trading Post. Some thoughtful parents have made a practice of sending advance postcards to their
children at camp so there will be a personalized “touch of home” when they arrive.
Parents are urged not to mention in their letters how much they miss their children, or that the
dog and cat miss them. Instead parents should assure them that they know they’re going to have a
great time and express enthusiasm for the camps’ activities. As an experienced Camp Director noted,
“We don’t have any homesick kids, but we have homesick parents by the dozens....” Having that
Scout in camp all week will be a major accomplishment for him.
Please address all mail to
Scouts in the following NAME
fashion: TROOP #
CAMP CONESTOGA
255 CONESTOGA CAMP RD.
SOMERSET, PA 15501
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Visitors
Visitors are welcome in camp, however, to ensure the safety of our charges, ALL VISITORS
MUST FIRST CHECK IN WITH THE CAMP OFFICE. We need to rely on you, the Camp
Leader to help enforce this policy. On Family Night, a roster of Parents attending will be sufficient
notification. Please provide this roster by dinner.
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Emergency Phone Number
A camp phone is available for business and emergency use only. If you must call camp, it will
take some time to reach your son or spouse. We will take a message and have the call returned. The
camp phone number is 814-445-2018
Camp Conestoga Health & Safety Guidelines
All Campers must abide by these standards as set forth by the Boy Scouts of America and State
of Pennsylvania. These rules and regulations are set forth to provide all Scouts with the safest
environment possible.
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For Safety
1. Always hike with a buddy or buddies. Be sure to get permission from your leader. Inform him of
your route and your estimated returning time.
2. Aquatic activities (swimming, canoeing, and boating) are conducted under adult supervision and
following the minimum standards of the BSA.
3. No Scout leader or Scout leaves camp without checking out at the main office in Rohrbacher
Lodge.
4. Shoes and socks are worn at all times to prevent cuts and bruises. No open toe shoes, sandals.
Even if you are going to the pool, you must wear shoes and socks while walking there.
5. Fireworks are not permitted. (PROHIBITED BY PENNSYLVANIA STATE LAW )
6. Each troop makes a visual check for attendance at meals and at taps.
7. Determine the location of natural hazards.
8. Do not use liquid fuel to start fires. (“Boy Scout Water” is not an acceptable fire starter!)
9. Drink from an approved water supply; do not drink from springs as they may be contaminated.
10. No alcoholic beverages are permitted on camp property.
11. Keep the shower houses clean! Instances of graffiti or intentional destruction will NOT be
tolerated. A shower house cleaning schedule will be established at the Senior Patrol Leader’s
Meeting on Sunday evening.
12. Place garbage in proper area for pickup. (Do not bury garbage).
13. No pets allowed in camp.
14. No passengers transported in the cargo section of pickups or trucks. NO EXCEPTIONS,
YOUTH OR ADULTS. Every passenger must have a seatbelt.
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Camp Conestoga Health Lodge Procedures
All Troops must report to the Health Lodge with
medications and health forms in hand.
All health forms must be:
3 CURRENT
3 SIGNED BY A PHYSICIAN
3 UP TO DATE AND COMPLETE WITH CURRENT EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
HMO POLICY NUMBERS, ETC.
Medications
All medications must be turned into the Health Officer at check-in. Medication that must
remain with the Scout i.e. inhalers, bee sting kits, etc must be shown to the Health Officer. These
medications will remain in the Scouts possession. It is the responsibility of the Scout and the Scout
Master to see that the Scout reports to the Health Lodge to receive his medication. IT IS NOT THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RESERVATION HEALTH OFFICER. All MEDICATIONS LEFT
AT CAMP WILL BE DISPOSED OF AFTER ALL TROOPS HAVE CHECKED OUT.
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Medical Requirements
Each Scout and Adult Leader attending camp must submit a
medical form upon arrival during the medical check-in.
Be sure your troop number and campsite are on each Physical
Form in the upper corner block!
ANY PERSON COMING TO CAMP WITHOUT
A COMPLETED MEDICAL FORM WILL BE
SENT TO THE NEAREST DOCTOR AT HIS
EXPENSE OR SENT HOME!
Once you have all physical forms completed, copy the original and BRING ONLY THE
PHOTOCOPY TO CAMP. THESE FORMS ARE REQUIRED TO BE KEPT ON FILE FOR
THE WEEK AND WILL BE RETURNED AT THE END OF THE WEEK!
All Scouts must use Form #34414, which requires a medical examination by a licensed medical doctor
once every three years. The form must include a doctor’s signature and have sections one and two
completed.
If your three-year limit has not expired on form #34414, and it has a physician’s signature, you may
use it until the time limit has expired. This is why it is important to photocopy your original (so it can
be used again).
All adults in camp are also required to have a physical. Those Scouters age of 39 and under need only
to have a physical once every three years; those ages of 40 and over are required to have a yearly
physical signed by a medical doctor and recorded on form #4412A.
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Rest
SLEEP can mean the difference between a great or poor week. Each person needs a certain
number of hours each night to function properly the next day. The Scoutmaster should see that from
10:00 PM until 6:00 AM the camp is quiet to permit those who wish to sleep may do so.
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Footwear
NO SANDALS, OPEN-TOED SHOES, OR BOAT SHOES ARE TO BE WORN IN CAMP. You
may wear these types of shoes at the pool or in the shower house, but only in those areas. This does not
include travel to and from those places. Any camper found wearing illegal footwear, will be sent back
to his campsite to change.
Camp Conestoga is staffed 24 hours a day 7 days a week, by a fully certified medical
officer, to render emergency care to anyone one in camp.
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Camp Conestoga 2008 Merit Badge Schedule
Area Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Period 5 Period 6 Period 7
9:00-9:50 am 10:00-10:50 11:00-11:50 1:30-2:20 2:30-3:20 pm 3:30-4:20 pm 4:30-5:20 pm
am am pm
Swimming Cub Lifesaving Pathfinder Free Swim Swimming Free Swim
Pool Instruction Program
Aquatics
BSA Lifeguard Lifesaving
Lake Canoeing Cub Boating Canoeing Sailing
Rowing Rowing Open Boating
Fitness Personal Sports Athletics Sports Athletics
Fitness
COPE Project COPE
COPE
Course
Climbing Climbing
Tower
Archery Archery Open Archery Archery Archery Open Archery
Field Sports
Range
Shotgun Shotgun Shotgun Open Shotgun
Range
Rifle Rifle Rifle Open Rifle
Range
Pottery Leatherwork Basketry Woodcarving Pottery Handicraft Director Art
Handicraft Leatherwork Art Fingerprinting Leatherwork Leatherwork Presents Fingerprinting
Woodcarving Basketry
Environmental Science Nature Environmental Science Forestry Nature Director
Nature Fish & Wildlife Mammal Study Space Mammal Study Reptile & Presents
Management Oceanography Exploration Amphibian
Soil & Water Astronomy Geology Weather
Pathfinder Program First Aid First Aid Indian Lore
Pathfinder
Pioneering Camping Scoutcraft Camping Orienteering Pioneering Fishing
Scoutcraft Backpacking Orienteering Director Wilderness Wilderness Fly Fishing
Presents Survival Survival
Additional Computers Photography Emergency Communications Communications
Opportunities Preparedness
Area Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Free Swim Free Swim
Pool
Lake Open Boating
Scoutcraft Leader Wilderness
Appreciation Survival
Night Outpost
Handicraft Patrol Flag
Making
Nature To Be
Announced
Shooting Shot Gun Turkey Shoot
Sports Shoot
Archery Bow William Tell
Construction Shoot
COPE Leader
Rappel
Pathfinder First Aid Pathfinder
Meet Outpost
Fitness Sports Tri-Athalon Sports
Competition Competition
Central Vespers Flag Ceremony
Camp Parade of Flags
OA Tap-Outs
Monday Evening Programs
begin approximately 15 minutes after Vespers.
Evening Programs on Tuesday & Thursday
begin at approximately 7:30 pm
Central Camp Campfires
Sunday 9:00 pm
Friday 9:00 pm
Camp Conestoga Merit Badge Program
The following is a list of all merit badges offered at Camp Conestoga. This list has been
created to help the Scoutmaster and his Scout properly choose the merit badges that are right for them.
All Scouts should be made aware of all pre-requisites and comments before choosing his merit badges.
The Scoutmaster should also use his discretion when allowing his Scouts to choose their merit badges.
Not all merit badges are suitable for all Scouts. The Scoutmasters should also be aware of that there
changes that are new for 2008.
Difficulty Key
1 = “Easy”- These Merit Badges are better suited for the First Year Scout with some or little
experience.
2 = “Moderate”- These Merit Badges are geared more for the First Class Scout that has attended camp
before.
3 = “Difficult”- These Merit Badges require Scouts to complete more tasks and are often challenging.
The difficult Merit Badges are appropriate for older Scouts with a few years of camping
experience.
Age Key
Recommended but not required (except where noted)
1 = Ages 11 & 12 2 = Ages 13-15 3 = Ages 16+
Camp Conestoga Merit Badge Outline
Badge Name Difficulty Prerequisites Age
Level Level Comments
Archery 3 2 Requires much time. Scouts
Required must shoot for score. A cost
Minimum of $2.00 for arrow supplies.
Art 2 4
Astronomy 3 5, 6 2 Weather dependent – if nights
are cloudy, Scouts may only
receive a partial.
Athletics 2 3, 5 3
Backpacking 3 9, 10, 3 By Appointment Only
Basketry 1 1 Cost about $17.00 for
supplies
Bird Study 2 7 3 By Appointment Only
Binoculars are needed
Camping 2 8c, 8d, 9 2
Canoeing 2 2
Climbing 3 3 Class time is 3 hours per day.
Communication 2 5 3
Computers 2 2
Emergency 2 1, 2b 3
Preparedness
Environmental 3 1 2 Requires much time. Class
time is 2 hours per day.
Science
Fingerprinting 1 1
First-Aid 2 1
Fish & Wildlife 2 5 2
Management
Fishing 1 2 Must have own fishing tackle.
Must have PA fishing license
if of age.
Fly Fishing 3 2 Must have own fishing tackle.
Must have PA fishing license
if of age.
Forestry 3 7 3
Geology 3 4 2
Hiking 3 5, 6, 7 3 By Appointment Only
Insect Study 3 3, 7, 9 3
Leather Work 1 1 A cost of about $7.00 for
supplies
Lifesaving 3 1 3 Long pants and button down
Must be shirt is required (NO
14 & up SWEATPANTS). Scout must
be Red, White, & Blue
swimmer
Mammal Study 2 1 6-15 hrs of field study required
Nature 2 4a, 4d 2
Oceanography 2 8 3
Orienteering 2 2 Must have own compass
Personal Fitness 3 1,6,7,8 3
Photography 2 5 2 Scouts must bring either a
digital or film camera –or- 12
photos that he previously took.
Pioneering 2 3
Pottery 1 7 1 A cost of about $10.00 for
supplies
Reptile/Amphibian 2 8 2
Study
Rifle Shooting 2 1f 3 Shooting is time consuming.
Scouts must shoot for score to
complete badge. There is NO
COST.
Rowing 2 2 Scout MUST be a Red, White,
and Blue swimmer. Class time
is 2 hours per day
Shotgun Shooting 3 1f, 3 Shooting is time consuming.
Scouts must shoot for score to
complete badge. Cost is
between $20-30.00 per scout.
Small Boat Sailing 3 All Aquatics 3 Class size is limited. Scout
Merit Badges must be a Red, White and Blue
Swimmer.
Soil & Water 2 2
Conservation
Space Exploration 2 2 DO NOT bring model rockets
to camp. Cost is about $20.00
per scout.
Sports 3 4, 5 3
Swimming 2 2 All scouts must have
completed swimming
requirements through First
Class before beginning badge.
Weather 2 8a 2
2 5 2 Requires an overnight trip
Wilderness Survival while at camp.
Woodcarving 2 1 A cost of about $7.00 per
scout
Merit Badge Recommendations
It is recommended that all Scouts coming to camp obtain a copy of the most current merit
badge pamphlet for the merit badges in which he will be participating. All requirements are listed in
these pamphlets. If no current editions of these pamphlets are available he should then check the BOY
SCOUT 2008 REQUIREMENT BOOK. This book will list the requirements, but it does not contain
the specific information relating to each badge. Any person with questions concerning the
prerequisites for specific merit badge should contact the Council Service Center, or a local merit
badge counselor.
