BSA TROOP 189 Devon 50 - Historic Hiking Valley Forge Philadelphia Event guidebook November 15-17, 2019 Camp Jarvis (Troop Devon 50 cabin) 920 N Valley Forge Rd Devon, PA 19333 POC: kerry george – scoutmaster Cell: (757) 201-0198 • email: [email protected] Weather Forecast: Saturday, November 16 Mostly Sunny, High 36°F, Low 22°F Sunrise 6:48 AM, Sunset 4:44 PM Troop 189 Scouts and Scouters will camp in the historic BSA Troop Devon 50 log cabin. First and second year Scouts will hike the Valley Forge National Park trail. Third year and later Scouts will hike and visit historic sites in downtown Philadelphia. Scout motto: Be prepared * Proper attire for the weather * hiking boots and warm socks are essential! OVERVIEW DEVON 50 HISTORY BSA Troop Devon 50, a Pennsylvania Troop from Devon, PA was chartered in 1927. They built a log cabin on a plot of land – now Camp Jarvis – in the early 1900’s that they rent out to visiting Troops throughout the year. It has been a long- standing tradition for Troop 189 to camp in the cabin every year in early winter. Much scouting history from the Valley Forge area is on the walls of their cabin. The cabin features a wood-burning stove for heat in the main cabin and a kitchenette to prep meals. There is electricity in the cabin and in the past we have brought a projector and laptop for a Saturday evening movie after dinner. There will be two hikes supported on Saturday. The first and second year Scouts attending Devon 50 will hike the historical Valley Forge National Park Trail. After completing two Valley Forge hikes, the third year and beyond Scouts will visit the historic area of downtown Philadelphia. Go to this link for more information and pictures: https://www.devon50.org/ SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday, November 15, 2019 Before arriving at Pattie Elementary, eat dinner at home. Depending on your driver, there may be a brief “pit stop” at one of the rest areas along I-95N (Maryland House, Chesapeake House or Delaware Welcome Center). 5:30 pm: Troop 189 Scouts and Scouters should plan to arrive at Pattie prior to this time. Permission slips and $20 grub fee to be collected by SPL. 6:00 pm Depart Pattie for Camp Jarvis (3+ hour drive; may be traffic to Baltimore) 9:00 pm: Arrive (920 North Valley Forge Road, Devon, PA 19333) 9:30 pm: Cracker Barrel and Program Review 9:45 pm: Personal hygiene 10:00 pm: Lights out! Saturday, November 16, 2019 6:30 am: Wake up 7:00 am: Breakfast (all group) 8:00 am Personal hygiene 8:15 am: Philly hikers (PH) depart (30 min drive – 23 mi from Camp Jarvis) – arrive at 8:45 am 8:30 am: Valley Forge (VF) Hikers depart (4.1 mi from Camp Jarvis – 15-20 minute drive) – arrive 8:45am 9:00 am: Start VF Historic Film at Visitors’ Center – MUST BE AT THE FIRST SHOWING (Location is 1400 N Outer Line Dr, King of Prussia, PA 19406) 11:00am- 1:00pm: VF 30-minute lunch stop sometime during this lunch window 4:44pm: Sunset 5:00pm: All hikers depart VF or PH for Camp Jarvis 6:00pm: Dinner at Camp Jarvis (all group) 7:30 pm: Evening movie 9:45 pm Personal hygiene 10:00 pm: Lights out! Sunday, November 17, 2019 7:30 am: Wake up 8:00 am: Breakfast (all group) 8:45 am: Personal hygiene 9:00 am: Scout’s Service (Chaplain’s Aide) 9:00am: Clean-up, pack up, clean cabin and restroom facilities 10:30 am: Circle up – Roses & Thorns 11:00 am: Depart Devon, PA — Lunch: 45 min stop en route 3:00 pm: Return to Pattie Elementary School TRANSPORTATION The drive to/from Camp Jarvis is 179 miles and will take approx. 3 hours (without traffic). (See subsequent pages for map and directions.) Troop 189 Scouts will carpool with participating parents and Scouters. SPL will make car assignments prior to departure at Pattie Elementary on Friday evening. BASE CAMP AND HIKES Devon 50 Camp Jarvis is our base camp. The Valley Forge National Park is located approx. 15 min away, while the Philadelphia city center is located approx. 40 min away. VALLEY FORGE HIKE All scouts going on this campout the first and second years will take part in a 10-mile hike through the Valley Forge National Historic Park using map and compass. The first year hikers will learn navigation skills along the way while experiencing immersion in the history of General George Washington’s Continental Army. With a question and answer booklet filled out (purchase at the Visitor Center gift shop), each scout can earn a cool medal to be worn on their Scout merit badge sash. Two deep leadership and the buddy system are required for the duration of the Valley Forge Hike event. All scouts going on the Valley Forge hike for the second year will lead this 10-mile hike through the battlefield. This gives them practice with navigation and teaching it and it exercises their leadership skills among their peers; perhaps the most valuable of lessons this weekend. PHILADELPHIA HISTORIC HIKE NO KNIVES ARE PERMITTED TO BE CARRIED AT ANY TIME ON THE PHILADELPHIA HIKE DUE TO SECURITY CHECKS AT INDEPENDENCE HALL AND THE LIBERTY BELL. KNIVES WILL BE CONFISCATED BY SECURITY PERSONEL AND WILL NOT BE RETURNED. Any Scout who has completed two Valley Forge hikes now has the opportunity to participate in an historic hike through downtown Philadelphia. The 5 - 6 mile hike will entail immersion in historic sites and learning cultural history and pop history, not to mention enjoying some great food along the way. A separate guidebook, including questions to be answered along the way will be provided to each Scout. NOTE: This trip does require the Scout to bring money (separate from the $20 grub fee) for food at Reading Terminal Market for lunch, as well for souvenirs and entry into select attractions as these are not provided by the Troop. Scouts are expected to conduct themselves responsibly at all times! NO KNIVES. TRIP COORDINATING INFORMATION PROJECTED COSTS: Philadelphia Hike Total: Approximately $65 - $75 $10 -$15 for Friday dinner (if they are going to eat on the road) $5 for Parking in Philly (1/4 of $20 per car) $20 - $25 on hand to pay for your own lunch and souvenirs at Reading Market $20 for Grub Fee. Covers the cost (2x Breakfast, 1x Dinner). Pay your grub fee to SPL prior to Friday night departure. Scoutmaster, ASMs and grubmasters will shop for food locally after arriving at the cabin Friday night. $10-$15 for Sunday lunch on the drive back. Valley Forge Hike Total: Approximately $50 - $60 $10 - $15 dollars for Friday dinner (if they are going to eat on the road) $20 for Grub Fee. Actual grub cost (2x Breakfast, 1x Trail Lunch, 1x Dinner). Pay your grub fee to SPL prior to Friday night departure. Scoutmaster, ASMs and grubmasters will shop for food locally after arriving at the cabin Friday night. $10 on-hand for Valley Forge Gift Shop (recommended) $10-$15 dollars for Sunday lunch on the drive back. All Scouts, please consider a monetary offer to your driver to/from Camp Jarvis to help cover the cost for gas and tolls. SAFETY & EMERGENCY PROCEDURES BUDDY TEAM & YOUTH PROTECTION All Scouts will utilize the buddy system at all times, reporting to their Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, and/or Scoutmaster / ASM if they are departing the Troop’s immediate area for any reason. All adults providing direct supervision of Scouts (aside from their own child(ren)) require current BSA Youth Protection Training found at https://myscouting.scouting.org. Tornado If you hear or see a tornado coming, warn others and take cover right away If you're in a building, go to the middle of the lowest level away from windows (bathroom or closet if possible) Get under something sturdy, such as a heavy table, hold on and stay there until the danger has passed Use your other arm and hand to protect your head and neck from debris If there is no building nearby, lie flat in a low spot and use your arms and hands to protect your head Lightning The safest place to be during a lightning storm is inside a relatively large, fully enclosed building Avoid bodies of water, open areas, high ground, tall objects (trees, light poles), small shelters in open areas, and metal objects If you are outdoors and lightning is in the immediate area, crouch down with feet close together, keep your head down, and cover your ears to minimize hearing damage from thunder Stay at least 100 feet away from other individuals in the area to prevent bolts from jumping from person to person Injuries Scouts treat minor injuries using their individual first aid kit For serious injuries and hurry cases, Scouts perform immediate first aid and call for assistance with three short whistle blasts The first Scouters to arrive on the scene provides additional immediate aid as required, and determines whether medical evacuation is required by Ambulance (911) or Troop vehicle. For Base Camp Jarvis, the nearest hospital emergency room is Bryn Mawr Hospital 17 minutes drive / 7.4 miles Hospital Address Phone Miles Bryn Mawr 130 S. Bryn Mawr Ave (484) 337-3000 6.19 Hospital Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 For Valley Forge National Historical Park, the nearest hospital emergency room is Phoenixville Hospital 7 minutes drive / 3.2 miles Hospital Address Phone Miles Phoenixville 140 Nutt Rd (610) 983-1000 6.19 Hospital Phoenixville, PA 19460 SAFETY & EMERGENCY PROCEDURES – Continued For downtown Philadelphia historic district, the nearest hospital emergency room is Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Emergency Department 11 minutes walk / 0.5 miles Hospital Address Phone Miles Thomas Jefferson University 132 S.