Summer Scouting Opportunities.....
SUMMER 2008:
Marin Sierra
This BSA summer camp is in the Sierras,
near Lake Tahoe, and is owned and
operated by the Marin Council. It is a good camp for new
scouts. Marin Sierra has a good "Trail to First Class" program as
well as many Merit Badge offerings and a new High Adventure
Program. T11 is going to Marin Sierra: July 6-12, 2008
Link to our Marin Sierra 2008
Florida SeaBase - is a
BSA facility in Florida that offers "high adventure" activities in and
around the water, including sailing and scuba diving adventures.
We have booked a small group spot there June 30 --July 6,
2008. We have signed up for a crew of 6 scouts and 2
adults to go on the Coral Reef Sailing adventure. Here is a link
to a description of this trip:Coral Reef Sailing Adventure
Age Requirement: you must be 14 by Sept 1, 2008.
Cost: BSA SeaBase fee is $650 per person based on crew of 8 (6 scouts and 2 adults). Payments: (a) $100/person deposits (due by 9/1/07) (b) $275 due by Sept 24 meeting, (c) $275 by Nov 26 meeting. (Checks to "Troop 11"). Other costs: airfare, ground transportation and spending money. (updated 8/16/07)
Crew Signups: As of 9/4/07 we have received sign ups for all 8 of the available spots on the boat. We have started a waiting list, in case things change for any of the scouts or adults signed up. If you want to go, you should contact Mrs. Carter or Mr. Dukas to put your name on the waiting list.
Note: This is a high adventure trip and it differs from a Boy Scout summer camp in the respect that SeaBase does not offer merit badges as part of their program. Of course it is always possible for the unit's adult leaders on the trip to work on individual merit badges with the scouts, but there is not a formal, multi-badge program offered by the staff, such as at Camp Marin Sierra or Cherry Valley. (8/20/07 update).
Link to our SeaBase 2008-T11
Philmont Scout Ranch
is a huge wilderness area in northern New Mexico owned by the
BSA.
It is forested, beautiful and at high altitude. It is near the
town of Cimarron in the Sangre de Christo Range of the Rocky
Mountains. The Piedmont
Council plans to send two "crews" to Philmont on July
27--August 8, 2008. These are coveted spots, the
Council will have openings for 20 scouts from all 5 Piedmont
troops. Each crew
plans its own Philmont trek, which involves 10 days of backpacking plus
travel
days on either end. A typical day on a trek would start with
hiking for 3-4 hours and then arriving at a back country camp,where the
crew will spend the night. There are approximately 57
trail camps and 34 staffed camps. Each staffed camp offers
different staffed activities and each crew plans its own trek itinerary
based
on that crew's interests. This is a great opportunity to
complete the requirements for Camping, Hiking and/or
Backpacking
merit badges. (Camping
is Eagle Required and Hiking
is an Eage
choice merit badge). One of the peak experiences of a scouting
career! Mr. Rich Harms
is coordinating this trip for the Council. Information on Philmont 2008:
There was an informational meeting in April, 2007. But, at last notice, there were still spots available. Review the brochure and submit an application to the Council office if you want to go. Age requirement for Philmont for summer 2008 are as follows:
(a) must be at least 14 by Jan 1, 2008 (i.e. DOB is before 1/1/94), or
(b) must have completed the 8th grade AND be at least 13 years of age prior to participation (i.e. DOB is before 7/27/95).
Philmont Brochure and Application
Un-Official Philmont
this web page is about Philmont, but is not the
"official" BSA page. 
NYLT / Brownsea Training: This is a week-long youth leadership training program. It is offered by local councils during the summer at their scout camps (such as Wente and Camp Lindblad). The program is entirely leadership training, none of the merit badge type of program at the regular scout camp. It is an excellent opportunity for scouts interested in building leadership skills, for scouts and for life. First Class scouts can take the course and trained scouts can be on staff.
Summer 2008 NYLT / Brownsea Options:
June xx-xx (three options this week):
(i) Camp Tamarancho (Marin Council)
(ii) Wente Scout Reservation (San Francisco Council)
(iii) Camp Lindblad (Mt. Diablo Council)
July xx-xx
(i) Camp Herms (Mt. Diablo Council)
See the Youth Training Page for more information, brochures and links.
50
Miler - Our troop is planning our next summer backpack trip for August 3-9, 2008.
Contact Dick Turney for more info and to sign up. Click on the 50
miler badge to go the T11 page with
information about the 50 miler. 
Iceland 2008 - Scouts from other countries are invited to participate in Iceland's national Jamboree in 2008. Dates are July 22-29, 2008. Here is a link: Iceland 2008
SUMMERS 2009 and beyond:
Camp Cherry Valley
This is a classic BSA summer camp on Santa Catalina Island
in Southern
California. We camped there in 2006 and 2007, and we are booked
again for June 14-20, 2009.
It is among the most highly rated summer camps in the country, thus it
is booked 3 years ahead. They are on the leeward side of Catalina
so the water sports activities take place in the Pacific, including
fabulous opportunities for swimming, sailing, kayaking, snorkeling and
even scuba diving training for older scouts. They have beautiful
hiking trails, many merit badge programs, Trail to First Class and lots
of water and land activities. BSA National Jamboree - the next BSA National Jamboree will be in the Summer of 2010. Note: this will be the 100th birthday of scouting in the United States, so it will be a special event. National Jamborees are held at Fort A.P. Hill in the Washington D.C. area. The Piedmont Council puts together a special troop comprised of interested scouts from all of the Piedmont scout troops. The Jamboree troop usually does some touring of the East Coast prior to the Jamboree.
International Jamboree
Scouting is an active youth program for over 25 million youth in over
148 countries around the world. This special event is held every
four years and is an opportunity for these scouts from around the world
to meet, share scouting experiences and build international
friendships. The next International Jamboree will be held in Sweden in 2011. Here is a link to the Jamboree web site:
Sweden 2011 -
International Jamboree 
The last International Jamboree was in the summer of 2007 at Hylands
Park, in Chelmsford in England. T11 sent about a dozen scouts and
several adults, and it was an amazing experience, commemerating the
100th anniversary of the founding of the Scouting movement. Ideas:
Camp Chawanakee, by Shaver Lake has been recommended.
Questions? Contact the Troop Webmaster by email (see Contacts page).
