Boy Scout Troop 829

Venture Program

	Program Leader: Asst. Scoutmaster Al Schwartz (Email: aschwart@erols.com) ___________________________ Qualifications: First Class rank or higher No age restrictions (Note: Some Council Venture programs have age restrictions)

Upcoming Events:
July 9 - July 16, 2000	Lenhok'sin Trek at Goshen Scout Camp
Troop 829 has a reservation for one crew to go to Lenhok'sin for the week beginning July 9, 2000 (through July 16). Scouts who are First Class or above and who will be 13 yrs. old by 1 Jan. 2000 are eligible to go to Lenhok'sin. This is a High Adventure program conducted by the National Capital Area Council at Goshen Scout Camps. Crews backpack around the Goshen area and participate in programs at various outposts. Crews can have a maximum of 8 Scouts and 2 adult advisors. A crew of 7 Scouts and 3 adults from Troop 829 attended last summer. The outpost activities last year included Wagon Train (horseback riding), mountain biking, caving, and Foxfire (early 20th century trades and crafts). Our hiking was somewhat limited last year. We will be trying to arrange a more challenging trek this summer, hopefully hiking 25-30 miles and visiting some of the other outposts. Fees for Lenhok'sin are as follows: ___By 3/1/00 ___ $175/youth ____ $90/adult ___By 5/1/00 ___ $180/youth ____ $95/adult ___By 6/1/00 ___ $190/youth ___ $100/adult ..After 6/1/00 ___ $195/youth ___ $110/adult Please let me know ASAP (email or phone) if you would like to sign up for one of the crew spots. Space is limited and it's first come, first served. Once I have heard from you, you will have 5 days to get a check to me (payable to Troop 829) in the amount of $25 to lock-in your slot. Alan W. Schwartz 12913 Climbing Ivy Drive Germantown, MD 20874 301-972-6515 aschwart@erols.com

July 23 - Aug 1, 2001	Nat'l Scout Jamboree at A.P. Hill, VA
Once every four years, Scouts from around the world gather in Virginia for the most spectacular Scouting event you could ever imagine. This event is so large, 5,000 staff members are required just to plan, organize and run it. There will be so many scouts participating that the Jambo will become one of the largest cities in Virginia, including their own daily newspaper, FM radio station and post office. Nine full days worth of exciting activities with over 30,000 Scouts from 30 countries joining you. The events at the last Jambo included: archery, bikathalon, motocross, buckskin games, trap shooting, fishing, conservation activities, swimming, SCUBA, shooting, pioneering, boating, repelling, confidence courses, military displays and lots more. If you enjoy trading patches, this is the place for you and will have an opportunity to work on over 60 different merit badges, all taught by experts selected from all over the world. This all sounds great but if you are interested the cut off to sign-up within our council is January 14, 2000. That's right, next month. The full payment is $725.00 and down payment is $100 due before this date. The National Capital Area Council has 432 slots for scouts. The sign-up is a first come first serve basis. After the 432 slots are full you get put on a waiting list. There are 48 spaces available for Troop Leaders. 12 troops will be formed from these participants. To qualify for the Jambo, Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts must be at least First Class Scouts. They must have completed the sixth grade or be at least 12 years of age by July 1, 2001, but not have reached their 18th birthday by August 2, 2001. All boy scouts must participate in a prejamboree training experience, file a complete Personal Health and Medical Record, prior to the prejamboree training and have to be active in a troop for at least six months prior to July 1, 2001 and be approved by the unit leader and local council. A full refund from the council can be received provided that there is an alternate to take his place. If there is not an alternate, a partial refund will be made. For some scouts this will be your last chance to attend the National Jamboree. This is a large amount of money but there is time to save. Troop 829 will probably not attend as a troop. Those wanting to attend will have to sign up individually. I have some applications and more details to distribute for those interested. You can make arrangements to pick this information up at my house if desired. Regretfully, the council has not posted this information online yet. Hope this helps. Remember, if you think you are interested you need to act quickly. Please let me know if you have any questions. Mr. Wood Scoutmaster Troop 829

July 31 - Aug 12, 2001	Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico
Scouts who are First Class or above and who will be 14 yrs. old by 1 Jan. 2001 or who will have completed 8th grade prior to the trek are eligible (Philmont also has specific height/weight limits). This is a very strenuous high-altitude High Adventure program conducted by the BSA National office. The program cost is $395/participant and DOES NOT include transportation to/from Philmont (New Mexico). For planning purposes, estimate about $1000/participant for this program. Non-refundable, non-transferable reservation fees of $50/participant will be due in late Jan. 2000. Philmont is the premier Boy Scout high-adventure program and is universally regarded as an outstanding Scouting experience. Philmont crew members will be expected to participate in many preparatory activities. The Philmont trek will require that Scouts (and Leaders) are in top physical condition. Philmont crews can have 7-12 participants with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 adults. We have a reservation for 1 crew, so space is limited. Scouts who have participated most in our Troop's Venture patrol activities (using a formula based on miles, nights out, etc.) will be given first right of refusal for the Philmont crew. Other Scouts will be offered slots, as available, based on a waiting list.