Information about Summer CampAt Camp Davy Crockett
Dates: Check the Troop Calendar for June or July to see which week has been reserved.
Summer Camp: Our Sequoyah Council proudly claims a beautiful lakefront camp near Rogersville, Camp Davy Crockett. Located about one hour west of Kingsport on Cherokee Lake, it can be reached from either Hwy 11W or I-81 (Bulls Gap exit). The Camp is open for six one-week sessions each summer, and each troop is assigned to one of the many campsites. Each campsite has a large grouping of 2-man platform tents with cots and mattresses, picnic tables, a latrine, and a fire circle. A paid staff provides 3 meals/day in the dining hall, as well as a paid and volunteer staff that provide manpower for the merit badge classes. The camp has a lake front with canoes, a swimming pool with lifeguards, and several pavilions where merit badge classes are held, a dining hall, a headquarters building, and a first-aid building, and an outdoor amphitheater on the lake for campfire ceremonies. Activities during camp week include morning and evening flag ceremonies, merit badge classes, evening campfires with songs & skits, inter-troop competitions in beach volleyball and ultimate frisbee, and the popular Crockett Challenge on Friday where both scouts and adults compete against other troops.
Summer Camp Week Is Very Important!! Summer camp week is the most important activity of the year for scouts. Scouts who attend summer camp tend to stay in scouting. Additionally, a scout can easily complete at least one additional rank per year over scouts who do not attend. More importantly, however, are the friendships and bonds formed with other scouts in the troop; these friendships are essential if a scout is to stay in scouting. Lastly, scouts gain maturity, self-confidence, and independence when they are away from home for a week.
Sign Up & Payment Time is April/May: Sign up is during troop meetings. A scout will meet with one of the leaders who will help him select his merit badge class schedule. Scouts should bring their summer camp payment to the troop meeting in the form of a check made payable to Troop 387.An information packet on the merit badge class schedule will be made available on the troop website in March or April, as soon as it is provided by the Sequoyah Council.
Medical Form: A signature by a health-care provider and a physical exam within the last year is required for the scout medical form. These forms are due several weeks prior to departure. A scout is not allowed to check into camp without a medical form. If your scout needs a physical exam to comply with camp rules, please schedule it as soon as possible, and take the medical form with you.Camp physicals may be offered during one or two troop meetings, depending on whether we can schedule qualified health professionals to be available. Adults who stay at camp longer than 72 hours are also required to provide a signed medical form.
Parents Needed at Camp:
We must provide our own adult leadership in our campsite, and we prefer a minimum of 3-4 adults at all times, and a minimum ratio of 1 adult per 10 scouts. Please consider volunteering your time, even if you can only manage 1 day or 1 night.Adults who attend camp always seem to have as much fun as the scouts. Adult duties can include providing supervision within the campsite, accompanying the scouts to the flag ceremonies and the dining hall, accompanying scouts to the first aid building as needed, helping scouts with merit badge homework and advancement requirements in camp, and comforting a homesick scout.
Medications: Scouts who must bring medications to camp should provide the meds and directions to one of the leaders prior to departure. They prefer to take care of medications, and would like for scouts to put the medication in a ziplock bag, clearly labeled with the scout’s name and the instructions for giving the medication.
Equipment Needed:
Waterproof footlocker, preferably no more than 13-14 inches in height, so that it will fit under the scout’s cot. This container will hold all of the gear. Footlockers can usually be purchased at Lowe’s or Home Depot.
Class A uniform (shirt & shorts)
Class B Troop 387 t-shirt
Scout handbook
Notebook & pencil
Rain suit or poncho
Short, t-shirts & underwear for 5 days
Extra socks
Lightweight jacket or pants
Sandals
Swimsuit and towel
Bedding: a set of twin sheets and a light blanket or a sleeping bag
Pillow
Personal hygiene items
Insect repellant
Sunscreen
Swimming goggles and ear plugs (optional)
Optional:
Watch, camera, deck of cards, book for reading
Camp chair
Hammock
Small cooler or bag of non-perishable snacks WITH THE SCOUT”S NAME ON IT. These snacks are kept in the troop trailer, and not in the scout’s tent, so that animals are not attracted to the campsite.
Extra-large rain tarp with small section of roping to lash onto the top of the tent