With the new medical forms released this spring came a new set of requirement for their use. Participants in low impact events lasting less than 72 hours are now permitted to complete a medical form without receiving an annual examination by a physician.

While this partially completed form may be appropriate for many weekend outings and camporees, all participants in the a summer camp program must have a current physical exam from a doctor.

There has been some question as to whether Scouts and Scouters may attend camp for less than 72 hours and qualify for this exemption. The answer is simply no. Summer camp is not considered a low impact activity and all who attend are required to complete the full medical form.

For the complete story about medical forms, medication cards, and copies for download, visit our medical forms page.

As the camp gates welcome more and more Scouts and Scouters each week, Bear Paw Scout Camp has been invaded by a very unwelcome guest this summer – the gypsy moth.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the gypsy moth population in Marinette, Menominee, Shawano and Oconto County is very high due to a warm and dry spring.

The caterpillars have already defoliated numerous trees around camp. If you find it “raining” on a bright and sunny day, the “precipitation” you are hearing and feeling is not from an invisible cloud in the sky. The best place to find the caterpillars is along the trail between the council fire bowl and Order of the Arrow callout bowl. The invasion is also strong along the trail used for the Mom and Son walk and the OA callout.

According to the DNR, defoliation stresses trees, but healthy ones will survive the hungry caterpillars and grow a new set of leaves that are smaller and shinier. Trees that are in poor health or stressed, however, will die from one year of heavy defoliation.

The gypsy moth was introduced to North America in 1869 from Europe. The moth originated in Massachusetts and has spread to 19 states ranging from Wisconsin to North Carolina. The gypsy moth is spread by people, mostly by firewood.

In order to combat the spread of invasive and destructive forest insects like the gypsy moth and emerald ash borer, no firewood from outside of the Bear Paw Scout Camp property is allowed onto camp property.

For more on the firewood ban, you can visit the special topic in Ranger’s Corner.

For more on the gypsy moth, visit the Wisconsin DNR website.

Feeling like you are out of touch with camp?   Miss your home away from home?  Well, BPSC Online has the perfect solution.

Several temporary and more permanent residents of camp have been keeping an internet journal of things as they happen in the north woods.  Our mixed collection of authors work hard to give you little slices of everyday life at camp and try to bring a little of that magic to your computer.  We are looking forward to a summer season filled with fresh stories of Scouting in Action and nature at its finest.

To keep up, and comment, about what is happing in camp year-round, be sure to visit our  Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah weblog.  Our contributors are ready to share and happy to hear from you.  While you are there, check out BPSC Online’s collection of fun Bear Paw odds and ends in our Scrapbook.

With the summer season underway, planning has already begun for 2011.  For those who are eager to reserve their favorite campsites while the choices still abound, the Bay-Lakes Council is now taking reservations for Bear Paw 2011.  Leaders need only submit their site requests, along with the $50 deposit to secure a spot for 2011.

In a long range conservation measure, one campsite will remain unavailable for each season to allow the vegetation to regrow.  For 2011 Ottawa site will be resting.

To make a reservation for Summer Camp for 2011 or 2010 (plenty of spots still available) contact the Bay-Lakes Council Center for Scouting.

• Summer Camp Calendar  2010 2011
• Campsite Reservation Form  2010 2011
• Summer Camp Reservation Chart  2010 2011
• Bear Paw Campsites

With the summer camp season underway, everybody who is anybody is putting the final touches on preparations for an annual pilgrimage to Bear Paw.   At BPSC Online we work hard to keep you fully prepared for your visit.  Here is our list of eight top links to make your summer camp experience spectacular.

1. Medical Forms – BSA medical forms have been revised in 2010 and there are new requirements.  Summer Camp is considered a high impact activity so those involved in the programs must have a physician’s examination on an annual basis.  The details of the changes are outlined on our Medical Forms page, including links to download the required forms.
2. Road Construction – For the next couple of weeks, Bear Paw Road will be closed to traffic. Consult our Camp Road Detour article for details and a detour map.  Additionally, Wisconsin highway crews will be closing a couple of the vital routes to camp during the summer season.  To learn about closures on STH 64 and STH 47, ongoing work on USH 41, and countless other projects follow the road construction links on our Links page.
3. 2010 Leaders Guide – Our leaders guide page, breaks apart the 2010 Leaders Guide to allow you to download individual forms and revised documents to ease your preparations.  Additionally, be sure to consult the Spring Updates article for changes since the Leaders Guide was published.
4. You can Still Join the Fun – A number of campsites remain available if you would like to still get your unit to Bear Paw 2010.  Check the reservation table to learn find a site that meets your needs, then contact the Bay-Lakes Council Center for Scouting to finalize the details.   If you have individual Scouts looking for a camping opportunity or a second week, read about Provisional Troop 6350 camping at Bear Paw in August.
5. Merit Badge Programing – Scout or Scouter, if you are still working on selecting Merit Badges for the 2010 season we have just the tool for you.  Our page Merit Badges offered at Bear Paw is a sortable table of everything that is offered showing prerequisites, suggested Scout experience, and times available.  The Merit Badge Schedule uses color coding to layout all of the offerings.  We are certain that these will prove helpful tools as you prepare your requests for submittal two weeks before you expect to camp.
6. Fun Stuff to Do at Camp – Merit Badges are not the only activity for summer camp.  Just a sample…  Fun Stuff to Do at Camp
7. Parents Page – A sure collection of everything that Mom and Dad need to know before sending their son off to Summer Camp, check Just for Parents for the details.
8. Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah – And for those who just won’t make it to camp this summer, the residents will be keeping a weblog of things as they are happening.  A quick visit to the Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah weblog might just be the medicine needed for those homesick for their “home away from home”.

All day Saturday 26 June the Bay-Lakes Council will be hosting a training seminar for those interested in becoming merit badge counselors for Canoeing and Rowing Merit Badges.  The training is free for all adults who are eligible to serve in the merit badge counselor program.   (Participants will be required to complete the BSA swimmers test.)

The program will focus on learning and teaching the skills necessary to for each of these merit badges.  Participants should bring their BSA Medical forms, clothing to get wet, and a lunch.  Between 9AM to 6PM  students will learn to perform all the skills required to complete both merit badges and will go home as registered Merit Badge Counselors in the Bay-Lakes Council.

To join the fun, complete the registration form or feel free to contact Tom Burke for additional information.  Water bound adult leaders this is your chance to polish off your inside pivot and your skulling draw and help grow our counselor community.  We hope to see you there.

To review the requirements click on the links for each Merit Badge on our Merit Badges offered at Bear Paw page.

For all those planning a 2010 Summer Camp trip we are proud to announce changes from this spring’s Leader Guide.

Water Sports Merit Badge
First…. a new merit badge, Water Sports. Due to size and wake restrictions on Bear Paw Lake the waterskiing portion of this merit badge will be held near camp on High Falls Reservoir. Scouts can register to take A block or B block Water Sports Merit Badge and spend the week on the remaining requirements in camp. On Wednesday morning, Scouts will be trucked to the big lake to work with professional ski instructors. Each Scout must have a signed and completed waterskiing program waiver before participating on Wednesday and an additional fee of $15 is required.  As with all boating merit badges, Scouts should complete requirement 2, the CPR requirement, prior to attending camp.

Eagle Challenge Program Upgrade
Staff members have been working all spring to make the Eagle Challenge Program work better for the Scouts in camp.  Starting this summer sessions will be spread throughout the week by rank.  Monday sessions will work on Tenderfoot requirements.  Tuesday will focus on Second Class requirements, and Thursday and Friday will be for First Class requirements.  Thus Scouts and Leaders can focus attention on those sessions that will most benefit each individual Scout.   Additionally, leaders may prearrange sessions during afternoon and evening free time where camp staff and unit leadership can work together to provide instruction for specific requirements.  Revised Eagle Challenge details are available for download in our Leaders Guide section.

By popular demand there will be one additional Eagle Challenge section offered this summer.  In addition to the C and D block offering there will be new availability for B block Eagle Challenge.

Camping Merit Badge Time Change
To accomodate additional Eagle Challenge sessions, AB Block Camping Merit Badge will not be offered this summer.   Camping Merit Badge is still offered in the CD block sessions.

For more information

• Learn about Merit Badge offerings and requirements in Merit Badges offered at Bear Paw
• Check the camp Merit Badge Schedule
• Review the Summer Leaders Guide and download forms from the Leaders Guide page
• Download the Waterskiing Program Waiver
• Review the revised Eagle Challenge Program
• Visit our Summer Camp Planning Pages and Program Pages

In addition to all of the road construction work going on near camp, the Town of Mountain has closed Bear Paw Road west of County W to replace the bridge over Waupee Creek.  Work is expected to continue into early July.  While this bridge is under construction we have a special detour route for all those heading to camp.

For those eastbound on CTH W from Mountain

1. Go past Bear Paw Road
2. Take a Right on RIVERVIEW ROAD
3. Take a Right on BACHMAN ROAD (FOREST ROAD 2107)
4. Take a Right on BEAR PAW ROAD (FOREST ROAD 2630)
5. Take a Left on BEAR PAW CAMP LANE

For further discussions please join our Summer Road Construction conversation in the Bulletin Board.

This summer, programs of Wolf River Adventures will take advantage of the high adventure opportunities offered at Bear Paw.  Participants in the Northwoods Adventure and the Advanced Whitewater Adventure will spend part of their week exploring the adventures of camp.

Wolf River Adventures is an alternative Summer Camp experience for Venture units and Boy Scouts over 14 who have exhausted theofferings of traditional summer camp.  The program includes several different adventures, including whitewater, Lake Michigan paddling, and mountain bike trekking.  Each program begins with training at summer camp and lasts for one week so that trips may be planned to coincide with your visit to camp.

Two Wolf River Adventure programs will use Bear Paw this summer.  Participants in the Advanced Whitewater program will spend one day in Bear Paw climbing, sailing, and firing black powder rifles.   Likewise, Northwoods Adventure campers will spend two nights camping on Explorer Point before stepping off on their mountain bike journey to Boulder Lake.  While in camp Northwoods Adventurers will snorkel, sail, kayak, shoot black powder, and rock climb on a natural rock face.

To learn more about the program, be sure to check the Wolf River Adventures section on our Leader’s Guide page.

The summer season has arrived and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is hard at work keeping our travels safe and quick.  Unfortunately, this convenience often comes at the expense of road closures, detours, orange drums, flagmen, and giant clouds of dust.

Of particular notice this season:
-State Trunk Highway 47 will be closed until October between Black Creek and Bonduel. Those traveling from the Fox Valley and points south must find an alternate route.
-State Trunk Highway 64 will be closed until September west of Bear Paw from STH 32 to US Highway 141.  Those traveling to Bear Paw from the east should consider other routes.
-Work continues in the US 41 corridor in the Oshkosh, Appleton, Fox Valley, and Green Bay areas.  Mainline roads will not close but travelers should be prepared for changing conditions and delays on this route.

For the most current updates on road conditions and construction operations be sure to follow the WisDOT links on our links page.

or…join the great Bear Paw detour debate raging on our message board.