What will happen at Camp Yawgoog

Tuesday – Saturday: First and second year scouts who are new to Camp Yawgoog will spend part of each day involved in the New Frontiers program which will allow them to advance to the next rank.  They will focus on one or two subject areas each day including knots and lashing, map and compass, stoves, cooking and menu planning, first aid and hurry cases, safe hiking and buddy system, wild plants and animals, woodstools, fire building, whipping, fusing and splicing and flag etiquette.  They will also earn their Totin’ Chip, which includes instruction on how to safely use and sharpen knives, saws and axes.  The rest of their day can be spent swimming, working on merit badges or learning new skills.  Scouts new to Camp Yawgoog will have time to earn one merit badge, possibly two if they organize their time wisely.  Scouts who have attended Camp Yawgoog previously will have the entire day to work on merit badges.  Some merit badges require pre-camp preparation.  Depending on how in depth the badge requirements are and how they organize their time, returning scouts may be able to earn 3 merit badges, more if they work at it.  Merit badge work must be completed by Saturday at noon.  Scouts will receive partial credit for incomplete merit badges.  Most incomplete merit badges can be finished outside of camp.

Evening Programs: On Monday night there is a Retreat Ceremony and a Camp Sandy Beach all-camp friendship campfire at the amphitheater by the beach.  Tuesday through Friday nights are spent in Campsite Backwoods for Troop 1 Richmond activities.  Some nights there may be a campsite campfire with songs, skits, jokes and charades.  On other nights there may be a cracker-barrel (snacks before bed).  First year scouts may set up and sleep in a smaller camping tent one night as part of their advancement requirements if they have not done this previously.  On Wednesday scouts entertain the Webelo 2 cub scouts at an evening campfire and returning scouts who are First Class and above may have an opportunity to go on a campout on the far side of the lake.  Thursday night is family night.  A special time is set aside from 6:15 to 7:30 PM when families can visit with their scout.  One night includes a pizza party for the scouts.  Returning scouts earning the astronomy merit badge will go to the field to observe the sky at various times of night on a clear night to make notes on the phase of the moon and identify and draw constellations.  Saturday night is the Camp Yawgoog all-camp Saturday Night Show.

Saturday Afternoon and Evening: On Saturday afternoon, the boys can become involved in friendly competitions with other troops and attend the swim carnival at the Sandy Beach waterfront.  The boys who have advanced in rank will also need to meet with the Troop 1 Richmond adult leaders and troop committee members for a scoutmaster conference and a board of review during which they assess their experience at camp, merit badge work and advancement.  In the evening the whole camp gathers at 8:00 PM for the Saturday Night Show that is put on by the Camp Yawgoog staff, which generally includes an original play, cheers and songs.  Families are invited to attend (arrive by 7:30 PM, there is special seating for guests).  The show lasts an hour to an hour and a half and is cancelled if it rains.

Sunday:  Sunday morning includes religious services at the various camp chapels.  All scouts are required to attend a Sunday morning service.  Those who don’t attend church regularly can attend a service of their choosing (Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish).  Breakfast is before some services and after others.  The morning is spent packing up, cleaning up and preparing the campsite for the next troop to arrive.  At 10:00 AM at Campsite Backwoods there is a Troop Court of Honor, a closing ceremony where scouts will receive any merit badges and ranks that they have earned during the week.  Families are invited and encouraged to attend.  Families must carry their scout’s gear from the campsite to their car.  Sunday lunch is at 11:30 AM (scouts eat separately from families, who may want to register for the Sunday Barbecue or bring a bag lunch) and is followed at 12:30 PM with the all-camp Dress Parade in the parade grounds at Tim O’Neil Field (inside the main gate on the right).  Checkout follows at approximately 1:30 PM.

Mealtimes: Camp Sandy Beach’s Metcalf Lodge is an open-air dining hall with wooden tables and benches on a hill above Yawgoog Pond.  Each table sits a total of eight including one adult leader.  One scout at each table acts as server.  This involves reporting to the dining hall 15 minutes early to set up the table, get up and get the food, get seconds if needed, get dessert and stay and clean up after the meal is over.  Each scout will have at least one opportunity to be a server.  Breakfast meals include pancakes, scrambled eggs, French toast and cereal.  Examples of lunches include chicken patty sandwiches, tacos, hot dogs, sloppy joes, and pizza.  Suppers can include baked chicken, ham, beef in a creamy sauce over noodles, turkey dinner and pasta with tomato sauce.  Meals are also times for songs, cheers and announcements.  Flag raising occurs 5 minutes before breakfast and flag lowering is 5 minutes before dinner.  Breakfast is at 8:00 AM, lunch is at 12:30 PM (12:00 noon on Monday) and supper is at 5:45 PM (5:30 PM on Monday) through Saturday.  On the first Sunday, there is no supper provided in the dining hall.  On the last Sunday, lunch is at 11:30 AM.