Directions to Erwin Park, McKinney

Here is a document with a map and directions to get to Erwin Park from Carrollton.,  The second page has a close-up mapof the route from US 380.  For those coming from a different direction, see the Google map below to find your way.  The entrance is on the west side, then turn north to find our camping area.  We will be in Campsite 9, northwest of "The Hilltop".  Check out the Campsite Map.



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Items Due at Shakedown Campout

I apologize for all of the different due dates, but your troop leadership is doing the same juggling of dates.  We do not set the final dates, but we must follow them.

Here is a list of things to bring to the Shakedown Campout besides your personal gear:

• Jamboree Medical Form -- The web system has finally been fixed.  Please complete the medical form online, print a copy for your records, a copy for the Jamboree troop to carry to New York and Washington, D.C., and a copy for your doctor to review.  When the doctor has signed part C (the last 2 pages, no Part D is required), copy Part C for your records, the Jamboree troop, and mail the original by April 15 to National according to the instructions on page 1.
• Troop Patch Order Form and Payment -- This is for extra shoulder strips, full sets of all the Circle 10 contingents with center patches, and the Texas button hangers.  Originally the patch orders were due March 27, but the council did not get the order form out in time.  It is now due back to the council on April 19.  It would be easiest for your troop leadership to collect this at the shakedown campout.  You may make checks payable to Ken Altnether or bring the exact amount in cash.
• OA Patch Order Form and Payment -- For current OA members only, please make your checks payable to Mikanakawa Lodge.  They are offering both the Jamboree patches and the fund raising 2013 lodge flaps.
• Tour Payment for Gettysburg -- Troop D211 will be visiting Gettysburg, PA on our way home.  This is an add-on to the "normal" tour.  The cost is $19 per person.  We need to collect this money at the shakedown campout because it is due to Circle 10 by April 10.  Please once again make checks payable to Ken Altnether.  You may combine this with the Troop Patch check, but we will need a note on the memo line stating "Patches and Tour."
• Troop Numeral Patches -- If anyone is taking more than two uniform shirts, you will need additional troop numeral patches.  Please let us know how many you need.  The troop must order them in sets of 40 through the council by April 15.  The price in the Jamboree catalog is $4.99 each, but we have been told that the sets of 40 will bring the price down.

Other expenses still to come, probably at our June shakedown campout, are the small duffel bag, day pack, troop hat, and troop t-shirts.  We are trying to keep the total cost for this logo/troop wear below $100.

Trailer and Equipment Preparation

Many hands make light work.

If any scout is available on Saturday, March 30, at 1 PM, your help will be greatly appreciated.  We will be preparing the troop equipment and packing the trailer for our shakedown campout on the next weekend.  We will be at Bill's Botel located on the northwest corner of Fish Hatchery Road and Midway Road (south of Business 121) in Lewisville.  Use the map below to find your directions.


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Jamboree Medical Form Status

Most, if not all, of us Jamboree participants, should now have a Medical Form status of "Part A/B Complete, Pending Part C."  To find your status, login to bsajamboree.org with the participant's login credentials (not the parent/guardian login).  At the top of the dashboard, click the Medical Form button to open the Medical Form webapp.  Once the app is fully loaded, the status will be listed on the right side.

If Part A/B is not complete, then there must be some blanks somewhere that have not been answered and saved.  Every item must have an answer even if that answer is "N/A" or you will not be able to save the electronic form.  Please make sure that Part A/B are complete.  Part C, which requires a doctor's signature, must be mailed with a copy of both sides of your insurance card to BSA National by April 15, 2013.  See previous blog posts for the proper address.

Patch Order Forms

The final prices and patch order forms are linked below.  Download now.  Print them out.  Fill them in.  Bring the filled out form and a check or checks to the shakedown campout to order your extra troop patches and OA patches.  The check for troop patches should be made payable to Ken Altnether.  The check for OA patches should be made payable to Mikanakawa Lodge

Troop D211 Patches
Mikanakawa Patches

Remember that you must have already paid your Mikanakawa Lodge membership dues for 2013 to buy the OA patches.  They will be checking their records to be sure that you are a member in good standing.

One Scout Slot Open

First come, first served. Don't wait! 

Is your best buddy wishing that they were going to the Jamboree with you this summer?  Have I got a deal for both of you.

Due to a cancellation, we have one slot open for another scout to join our troop for the 2013 National Jamboree.  If you know of someone in your home troop who wishes they were going and can come up with the full fee in the next couple of weeks, they can join Troop D211.

Contact one of Jamboree Scoutmasters immediately for more details.  Go big.  Get wild.
 

T-D211 First Mandatory Shakedown Campout

When: April 6-7, 2013
Arrive: Saturday at 10:30 AM
Depart: Sunday at 12:30 PM
Location: Erwin Park, 4300 County Road 1006, McKinney, TX 75071

Cost: $10.00 per person (covers park admission & food). Bring your CASH money to the campout.

Wear full field uniform (formerly known as class A) when traveling to and from campout and activity uniform (formerly known as class B) during the campout. Activity uniform is scout related t-shirt with scout pants, belt, and socks.

You MUST bring a copy of your completed Jamboree Medical Form (it has a special bar code) if you have not turned it in already to Mr. Roop.  This is the same form that is supposed to be mailed to National by April 15.

Bring a sack lunch when you arrive at camp.

Parents! Please join us for Scout Worship Service on Sunday morning starting at 10:30 AM and a Jamboree informational meeting immediately following worship.

Gear:
 
  tent (2 per tent okay)                                Personal items:
  water bottle with water                               toothbrush & paste
  rain gear or poncho                                    soap & towel
  sun screen                                                   toilet paper
  hat                                                               Scout Handbook
  jacket                                                          cup, silverware, plate
  sleeping bag/pad                                         trash bags - 3
  ground cloth                                               flashlight
  change of clothes
   extra shoes
Patrol  Gear is being borrowed with much thanks from Troop 876 in Carrollton.

Do not bring soft drinks or high energy drinks!
BE PREPARED for cold and rain!

Example Exploits of a Jamboree Troop

National has put together this description of a typical troop's experience at the 2013 National  Jamboree.  Enjoy reading and learning what to expect:

Download here.

Bring T-D211's News Home

Look here!  You can become a Hometown News Correspondent.  Take pictures, write a news story, and send it to our local papers or radio and TV stations.  Read the document at the above link and apply online.

Jamboree To Do List

Are you ready to "Go Big and Get Wild!"  In just 114 days we leave for the 2013 National Jamboree It is right around the corner!

To get your jamboree experience started off right, we want to ensure that your check-in is as fast and seamless as possible. However, in order to do that your assistance is needed. All of your required tasks must be successfully completed in advance of your arrival. Incomplete tasks will result in delayed check-ins, long lines, and a lengthy process.

Please make sure the following are completed by the deadlines stated below:

* Medical forms are due by April 15, 2013.

o   Access the medical form from the Dashboard of your Summit account.

* Participants need to register their activity preferences by May 1, 2013. 

o Access the activity scheduler from the Dashboard of your Summit account just above the medical form link.

* Current straight-on head-shot photo uploaded in your Summit account by April 15.

o Photos should be similar in nature to a passport or driver's license photo.  Please avoid using photos with anyone or anything else visible or photos taken from a distance.

o Review your photo and update it as needed.

*Register with World Strides by March 26, 2013.

o To help with our required security clearances during our tour, World Strides is requiring that every participant register here. 

o You will need our Trip ID# which is 87022 to complete this process.

o This registration must be completed by a parent or guardian.

*Exercise to build-up endurance at altitude.

o Every participant should be working towards five miles walking per day with a day pack.

To access your medical form OR the activity scheduler, log in to your Summit account (you must use the participant's account and not the parent's account) at www.bsajamboree.org and select the "Dashboard" option that appears when you hover over "2013 Jamboree." This will take you to the dashboard of your application. The link to the medical form will be found on the top left side of the dashboard page with the activity scheduler button being located just above that. It takes both links just a few seconds to populate after you have logged in.

After making three copies of the medical form (one for your records, one for your home troop, one for Troop D211), the completed and signed form should be mailed to:

Boy Scouts of America

Event Registration

P.O. Box 152010

Irving, Texas 75015

PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL

Presentation from Second Troop Meeting

As promised, the presentation slides from our second Troop Meeting are available. Click the below links to get the slides in Adobe Reader format:

Presentation

Patches, More Patches, and Patch Trading

There are several patches that are specific to the Jamboree contingent troops. They are:

 

• Troop Numerals -- required for every uniform shirt
• National Jamboree Patch -- This rectangular patch is to be worn halfway between the right pocket and the right shoulder loop of the uniform shirt. You may wear this Jamboree patch for the rest of your scouting career.
• Council Strip Patch -- Every troop will have a different patch with the council's name, "National Jamboree 2013" and various designs. Many of the councils will have a unifying back patch that the council strips may be placed around to complete a larger design or theme. These are the most commonly traded patches
• Texas Patch -- Circle 10 will issue a Texas shaped patch to hang from your right shirt pocket button. This patch might be traded for similar patches from other councils or for less popular council strips.

• Order of the Arrow (OA) Lodge Flap -- Designed and purchased from Mikanakawa Lodge to be worn on the right pocket flap and only issued to currently registered OA members, these patches may be traded for OA patches from other lodges.
• OA Lodge Full Pocket -- Designed and purchased from Mikanakawa Lodge, this larger and extended design of the pocket flap covers the entire right pocket, but is designed to still allow use of the pocket. It may be traded for other OA full pocket designs from other lodges or possible combinations of lodge flaps or a lodge flap/council strip.

Patch Trading is generally done youth with youth or adult with adult. Generally it is like patch for like patch, but it is an open market. Embroidered patches are valued more than printed patches. OA patches are to only be held, owned, and traded by OA members. There may be a special area where supervised trades between adults and youth will be allowed. I have heard of participants buying 50 council strips for trading in an effort to get a different patch from each of the 50 states. How much money and time you invest in patch trading is up to you.

Advanced Trading -- There have been unconfirmed stories of entire uniforms being traded. These stories usually involve the visiting international scouts. As always, let the buyer beware. All transactions are final, and there is no legal recourse for bad trades.

 

Included Patches -- Already included in the price of the Jamboree are two Troop Numeral patches, two Council Strip patches, two National Jamboree patches, and two "Texas" Patches. These included patches are for the at least two uniforms that you are wearing on this trip. Additional patches for additional uniforms or trading may be purchased.

 

Troop Numerals are selling for four dollars each, but the troop can get a 50 cent discount per patch if the we order in blocks of 40. You may order these individually through the Jamboree section of scoutstuff.org.

 

Council Strips are expected to be two dollars each with an entire set of the Circle 10 contingents with back patches available for $50.

 

Texas patches from Circle 10 are expected to cost one dollar each.

 

Mikanakawa will send a separate letter with and order form their prices to the currently registered members. The flap patch will be less than five dollars each while the full pocket patch will be less than $10 each.

 

IMPORTANT: We must have our troop's order for Council Strips, and Texas Patches to Circle 10 by March 27. Please send your questions and orders for these patches to jamboreescoutmaster@gmail.com.