At Camp Lewallen and S bar F Scout Ranch, Boy Scouts will find many activities including the stand-up paddle boards that were so popular last summer. The floating iceberg returns to Nims Lake at The Ranch, giving Scouts a different meaning to the word "climbing."
This summer, Scouts have three camps to choose from: Camp Famous Eagle and Camp Gamble at S bar F Scout Ranch, and Camp Lewallen. Listed below are the 2013 summer camp weeks:
LOTTERY SIGN-UP INFORMATION
The summer camp lottery was developed so that unit leaders would not have to drive long distances, camp overnight in front of the council office or wait in lines. The lottery takes several weeks to work through -- but it is fair. All requests received by will be placed in a container and will be pulled on a random basis. Those pulled first are processed first. Then, at a later date, the troop receives the confirmation in the mail. Troops that miss the lottery can still send in registration forms, and we will continue to fill slots as the forms are received.
After the lottery is complete we will post the results by week/by camp on this website so that you have quicker access to your date/camp/campsite.
How can your troop participate?
Completely fill out the reservation form and return it with reservation fees to the MacArthur Service Center, 4568 West Pine, St. Louis, MO 63108, or any of the other Scout service centers.
Camp Capacity: To assure that the facility is not overcrowded, a week is closed to additional troops when capacity of the camp is met. Those troops not participating in the lottery will very severely limit their choices. Sign-up capacity at Camp Lewallen is 170 Scouts per week; at S bar F camps, 300 Scouts. You should project as closely as possible your actual attendance. Don't make reservations for 20 Scouts when you believe you'll have just 10 Scouts attending camp, and likewise don't make reservations for 25 Scouts when you believe you'll have 40 Scouts at camp.
Camp Lewallen: Troops of the Shawnee, Sioux and Cherokee Districts are given priority for a spot at Camp Lewallen, provided that the troops participate in this lottery. Once these troops participating in the lottery who desire Camp Lewallen are placed, the remaining spots will be available to other troops. The camp will then be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
RESERVATION FEE
Make reservations for the number of Scouts you anticipate attending at $10 per Scout. There is no minimum number of Scouts necessary to make a troop reservation.
REFUND POLICY
A troop can cancel their entire reservation and get a full refund if cancelled by Feb. 1, 2013.
After Feb. 1, 2013, a $100 cancellation fee is applied to any troop cancelling their entire reservation.
Individuals can cancel their reservation if requests are made by May 1, 2013, in writing (email or mail) to Cindi Cunningham at
cindy.cunningham@scouting.org.
NO refunds are given after May 1, 2013.
No individual refund requests are processed before Aug. 15, 2013.
Refunds are made payable to the troop and mailed to the committee chair or Scoutmaster unless otherwise requested.
CAMP FEE
The fee for summer camp will be announced in October. We encourage every troop to use the camper savings plan, which allows the Scout to save $10 on the total fee if the full fee is paid by May 1, 2013.
LOTTERY PROCEDURE
On Oct. 15, 2012, the summer camp sign-up lottery was be held. The number of every troop that completed a reservation form and submitted a $10 per Scout reservation fee will be in the lottery.
When a troop's number is drawn, the reservation form is checked and the first available date on the form is assigned. If all choices on the troop's reservation are taken, we will contact whomever is listed on the application as the person who can make another choice. He or she will then select another date or camp, before we contact the next troop. If no one can be reached or a decision is not made, then we must continue with the lottery.
FILLING OUT THE RESERVATION FORM
Help us help you. We want to place you in your most desired spot possible. To do so, we have to know what you want. We make the assumption that the most important variables in order are No. 1 date, No. 2 camp, No. 3 site. If you have other priorities, please tell us. You may attach any additional information that will help us place your troop.
Important -- Please Read!
You must fill all spaces with alternate choices on the reservation form. If you do not, we will not call you for the additional information or for alternate choices on lottery day.
OTHER HINTS:
- Make reservations for the number of Scouts you anticipate. Remember, you can get any unused reservation fees returned if requested by May 1. Camps become overcrowded when underestimating by troops occurs.
- Our most requested weeks have traditionally been the first two weeks and the week following the 4th of July, so adjust your choices accordingly. Everyone cannot attend during these three weeks, so give us alternative choices on the lottery request form. We intend to do everything we can to keep from overcrowding.
At your November Roundtable, a camp promoter will contact you with more information and your 2013 Camp Promotion packet.
CAMPSITE ASSIGNMENTS
Your campsite assignment is determined by your lottery draw but here is some additional information.
You may be entitled to an exclusive campsite for your troop if:
Your troop had 20 or more Scouts attend our camp the previous two summers.
or
Your troop had 25 or more Scouts attend our camp last summer
and
You expect 20 or more Scouts this summer and make reservations for them.
but...
A few times, there are small troops that, because of the lottery, are pulled earlier and may be assigned to that site your troop desired. In that case, your larger troop will be assigned as the second troop on the site and -- should you prefer -- you will have the option to choose an alternate site after the lottery.
If your troop does not meet the above criteria, plan on sharing a site with another troop. Scout troops who would like to share a campsite with a particular troop are welcome to indicate the troop number on the reservation form. That request will be honored, provided both troops have registered for the lottery and made identical choices for dates, camps and campsites. This system does two things for your troop:
You share with a troop that you know and will enjoy camping with and it gives you a slight edge in the lottery. Should the troop you arrange to share with gets pulled No. 1, then that becomes your lottery number.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
A letter and copy of the summer camp reservation form confirming your troops week of camp, campsite and date will be mailed to the individual listed on the Summer Camp Reservation Form by Nov. 16. Please do not telephone.
