2020 Winterfest

  • Check your email or the website right before you leave home on Friday for last-minute messages.
  • EAT lunch or an early dinner, or bring something non-messy to eat in the car (and ask your driver if it's okay).
  • Don't forget your signed Permission Slip.
  • Review the list below.

WHAT TO BRING TO WINTERFEST (this information is also on the website in case you misplace this message).
  1. Clothing: regular gear for a cabin/outdoor campout (just like the Klondike!). You will be outside throughout he day so bring layers that will keep you warm. Bring lots of clothing layers and a complete second set of clothes, especially socks, gloves and hat. Bring comfy clothes to sleep in at night (it's warm inside, but sweatpants + slippers are great to have).
  2. You need outdoor shoes that will keep your feet warm and dry (like hiking boots, snow boots, etc.).
  3. If you are staying until Monday please bring good hiking boots or shoes for a Sunday hike at World's End State Park (Philmont Scouts: bring your boots).
  4. Bring your Class A Uniform (shirt and pants) to wear when you're "on duty" (include your name tag but not your neckerchief).
  5. You don't need eating gear but a sturdy water bottle is important (with your name on it).
  6. Label everything with your name and bring a duffel bag big enough to put everything in.
  7. A warm sleeping bag. We will be staying upstairs in the dining hall (on the floor) and in an adjacent cabin (on a bunk).  It's heated but you should bring a sleeping pad or air mattress (kind of like the Klondike Derby, except a lot warmer!) or even a camp cot, if you want.
  8. A pillow (just not a massive one, please)
  9. Spending money to enter the contests, sponsor one of our Scouts for a jump into the frozen lake, buy knick-knacks, or stuff from the Camp Brulé Trading Post if it's open.  We suggest $20 to $40.
  10. Board games, or anything else to keep us entertained while inside (but no electronic games please).
  11. Does anyone have a Karaoke machine or a portable DVD player? Please email or message Mr. Trejo.
  12. A camera, if you want.
  13. Bring a hat for the GOOFY WINTER HAT CONTEST - Bring your goofiest hat!  
  14. Your Scout Handbook, if you want to work on advancement.
  15. If you want to enter the Polar Bear Plunge, a completed entry form and signed by your parent(s) plus at least a $100 donation (remember, this entire Winterfest event is a fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club of Sullivan County).
  16. Equipment if you want for:
  • X-Country skiing: We may bring cross-country skiing gear. If you have your own cross-country ski gear, or can borrow some, please do so and bring it.
  • Snow-shoeing: bring your own, if you have them or if you can borrow them.
    The lake will most likely *NOT* be frozen enough for us to go on it.
  • Ice skating/ice hockey: bring your own skates and hockey gear.
  • Ice fishing: bring your own gear.




 
 
 


Sign up for the 2020 Winterfest ==> HERE
(Feb 14th, 15th, regular return 16th, optional return on 17th)

Here's what we're going to do there:

Friday:
  • Hang out in the awesomely huge Dining Hall building. Eat pizza, salad and garlic bread, then play extreme board games or cards, play guitars, and/or go outside in the snow. Scout Winterfest Managers will work on the service schedule for Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday:
  • Participate in the Kiwanis WinterFest Carnival and Dog Sled Race.  The Kiwanis organize this as a fundraiser. Many people come to see the sled dogs and we are sometimes asked to have our Scouts help "keep" the dogs at bay at the starting line (under the supervision of each musher, of course).  There are many other activities like X-country skiing races, frozen fish toss, snowman making contests, ice-sculpting demos, ice fishing demo/contest, scavenger hunt, indoor arts and crafts, and a polar bear swim (for charity).  
    See last two year's pictures here: WINTERFEST2019PICS  •  WINTERFEST2018PICS

    and prior year's pictures here:
    WINTERFEST2017PICS and WINTERFEST2016PICS and WINTERFEST2015PICS and WINTERFEST2014PICS and 
    WINTERFEST2013PICS and  WINTERFEST2010  and  WINTERFEST2009PICS  and      WINTERFEST2008

  • Ice fishing, ice skating, or ice hockey on the lake, just down the hill from our cabin.  Bring your own gear for any of this!  Skates, fishing gear, hockey sticks. We may make another Troop 98 Curling rink again!

  • Provided there's enough snow, sledding, tubing and cross-country skiing on camp trails or around the lake.  With some preparation and help, Scouts can complete the Snow Sports merit badge (see equipment details below and requirements here: SNOWSPORTS [we'll do the section on CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING]).

  • Hiking or snow-shoeing around the lake or through camp (especially if Scouts still need hiking requirement 1b for 2nd Class rank).

  • Work on indoor and outdoor rank advancement, and have a Scoutmaster Conference for your next rank.

  • As a Service Project for the Kiwanis Club, each Scout attending will be required to help for at least three hours during Winterfest.  This could be directing cars to parking, assisting with events, or assisting in the kitchen/dining hall.  You can get additional service time if you need it or want it.

  • If you want to participate in the Polar Bear swim you will need to raise money for the Kiwanis club and bring a signed waiver which you can find HERE (and check out the PRIZES!!!).  If you are under 18 this waiver must be signed by your parents.
Sunday:
  • GOOFY WINTER HAT CONTEST - Bring your goofiest hat!  Here's a pic:  GOOFY
  • Leave Camp after breakfast and be back in Blue Bell around 2PM, unless there's a lot of snow, in which case we'll stay and have some more snow activities and leave after lunch, arriving in Blue Bell around 5 or 6PM (we'll call to let you know our exact ETA).  If it's cold enough and the ice toboggan is open in Eagle's Mere we may go there.
Again for 2020: Sunday to Monday option:  Stay until Monday and spend more time cross-country skiing, hike in World's End State Park, play board games in the cabin, watch movies, and hang out. If there are enough interested Scouts and adults/drivers we'll stay the extra day. Let us know on the RSVP form if you are interested in staying one extra night.  This was really fun the last few years, and kind of chill because Scouts had lots of free time to do things outside, inside, or absolutely nothing.  We may do Karaoke again, a new tradition started in 2019!

So here's the plan:
  1. Early Departure is Friday February 14th from St. John's at Noon. Please arrive no earlier than 11:45.
  2. Regular Departure is Friday February 14th from St. John's at 5:00PM.  
  3. Return Sunday February 16th to St. John's between 5 and 6PM.  We will call en route to narrow down a pick up time.
  4. OR
    Return Monday February 17th to St. John's around 3PM for the Sunday to Monday option.
  5. Accommodations:  We will be staying upstairs in the dining hall (on the floor) and in an adjacent cabin.  It's heated but you should bring a sleeping pad or air mattress (kind of like the Klondike Derby, except a lot warmer!) or even a camp cot, if you want.
  6. Meals: To make this trip easier and support the Kiwanis' fundraising, we will take all our meals from them in the Dining Hall.  They make good food!
  7. Cost of Trip:  $30 per Scout or adult (to cover food, ski rentals, tobogganing, etc.).  We will debit your troop account after you go.
  8. Bring spending money to enter the contests, sponsor one of our Scouts for a jump into the frozen lake, buy knick-knacks, or stuff from the Camp Brulé Trading Post.  We suggest $20 to $40.
  9. Equipment:
    • X-Country skiing: We will bring cross-country skiing gear. If you have your own cross-country ski gear, or can borrow some, please do so and bring it.
    • Snow-shoeing: bring your own, if you have them or if you can borrow them.
    • Ice skating/ice hockey: bring your own skates and hockey gear.
    • Ice fishing: bring your own gear.
    • Camping: regular gear for a cabin/outdoor campout (just like the Klondike!). You will be outside much of the day. Bring lots of clothing layers and a complete second set of clothes, especially socks, gloves and hat. Bring comfy clothes to sleep in at night.
    • Bring your Class A Uniform (shirt and pants) to wear when you're "on duty" (include your name tag but not your neckerchief).
    • Label everything with your name and bring a large duffel bag to put everything in.
  10. Adults and Drivers:
    This is really too far away to have parents just drive, so we need adults to come on the trip.  Please let us know if you can devote this weekend to Troop 98. 
    Many of our Scouts say this is our BEST TRIP of the year!  Come join us!

Sign up for the 2020 Winterfest ==> HERE

Human sled race winners 2010; who do you recognize?
   


Comments