Roosevelt’s Rough Riders
(First Year Camper Program) The first year or Rough Rider program at Roosevelt is an optional camp program intended to provide the first time scout camper with an exposure to all of the camp’s program areas. It is also designed as a supplement to the troop advancement process, and many of the camping-relevant skills required to advance to First Class are also presented. In order to ensure that our program is prepared to accommodate the number of scouts wishing to participate, we implore each scoutmaster to preregister their boys who will be enrolled in the Rough Rider program. An enrollment form is provided in the appendix, and should be submitted at least one week prior to your week at camp to allow the staff to plan and prepare. The adventure begins Monday morning when the scouts are divided into eight to ten man patrols and assigned a staff guide. As a patrol, they will visit all of the program areas while working together to learn the basic scouting skill that build toward the First Class rank. Staff will introduce material in a hands-on manner and encourage friendly inter-patrol competition between the boys. On Thursday evening the Rough Riders meet at 7:00 pm to participate in an overnight experience. Upon their return from a 5-mile hike, they will set up camp in the Rough Rider field and sleep one night in a tent that they have helped pitch. Each scout will need a backpack, sleeping gear, tent, and water. As this is only an overnighter, not much else will be needed. Please see that the pack is properly packed and the sleeping bag is attached. They will be awakened Friday morning at 6 am and should be returning to campsites by 6:30 am. Merit Badges - As an extra bonus scouts enrolled in the Rough Rider program may work on up to two merit badges. Every Rough Rider will have both 2nd and 5th periods free to schedule merit badge classes of their choice. Rough Riders may choose from the following badges that are offered those periods: Basketry, Leatherwork, Woodcarving, Mammal Study, Space Exploration, Oceanography, Scouting heritage, Swimming (if swimmer) Note: ROUGH RIDERS MAY NOT TAKE First Aid MB! This badge list completion of skills required for First Class as a prerequisite. Traditionally, first year scouts at Roosevelt take either Space Exploration or one of the 3 handicraft badges offered by the Outdoor Skills area, although these badges have grown more challenging with recent requirement revisions. At the Monday morning flag raising’s announcements, the Rough Riders director will provide each senior patrol leader with a schedule for the week for their Rough Riders. This will explain when your scouts will have time in the pool and which days they will be visiting the rifle and archery ranges. Also, please take note of which day your scouts will be cooking lunch and be sure to not schedule them for waiter duty on that day at lunchtime. At week’s end, summary sheets detailing for which requirements each scout was present will be placed in troop folders at McKeever Lodge. This sheet does not mean that the skill was mastered. Only a scoutmaster can judge whether his scouts have satisfactorily acquired a new skill. Please test, test and retest the scouts before signing their handbooks. Also, please remember that not all Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, and 1st Class requirements will be covered, and more or less may be covered depending upon the learning pace of the scouts. | 