There are no merit badge sign-ups, but a Troop leader must submit the number of Scouts from his troop taking each badge at the Sunday evening Scoutmaster's meeting. Complete descriptions of program areas and the merit badges and special activities offered are on the following pages.

Prerequisite Requirements - Some merit badges require that work be complete either before or after a Scout’s week at camp. If possible, the prerequisites should be completed before arriving at camp and presented to the instructor for evaluation. Otherwise, the scout will leave camp with a partial. He can complete his requirements with another counselor after camp.

Please Note that changes may be made upon the release of the 2007 merit badge requirement book.
Noah Austin PD 2007.

 

AQUATICS

Prerequisites  - All Aquatics merit badges and Kayaking require red-white-blue swimming ability (see below). Those unable to pass the red-white-blue test are strongly encouraged to come down for one-on-one Aquatics Skills sessions (see below). All boating activities and tubing require water shoes or sandals.

Swimming - Must bring long-sleeved, button-down shirt and long pants (not Scout uniform!)

Canoeing -  Must be able to lift a 70 lb. canoe.

Lifesaving - Must have Swimming merit badge and First Class rank.

Kayaking -  Must have canoeing experience.

The Kayaking Program (10:00 am to 12:00 noon, Monday to Friday; after breakfast to 1:00 pm, Friday)
This is the newest high adventure offering at Camp Horseshoe. Scouts age 14 and over will learn the basics of kayaking on running water. Skills include river reading and whitewater maneuvering. The goal is to make Scouts comfortable on the river in order to prepare them for future whitewater activities. Whitewater merit badge may be earned optionally as part of the program, provided the Scout already has earned Canoeing merit badge.

Due to a limited amount of equipment, Scouts planning to participate should meet directly after breakfast on Monday, on the dining hall porch. If there are more Scouts than equipment, the Aquatics staff will narrow the group size based on canoeing ability and age.

Polar Bear Swim (6:45 am to 7:15 am, Monday to Saturday) A quick swim to start the day. Those Scouts and leaders who participate five out of six days earn a segment for the Horseshoe patch.

Aquatics Skills Improvement  (9:00 am to 10:00 am, Monday to Friday; 11:00 am to 12:00 noon, Saturday) One-on-one instruction is offered for those needing help to complete the red-white-blue test, complete merit badge requirements, or improve swimming techniques.

Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat (10:00 am to 11:00 am, Monday) Meet at the pool to be certified in Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat.

General Boating (7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Monday to Friday) Meet at the boat docks for recreational canoeing, rowing, kayaking, and safety instruction.

Free Swim (4:00 pm to 4:45 pm, Monday to Friday) Designated sections of the pool are open for swimming.

BSA Lifeguard  (10:00 am to 12:00 noon, Monday to Friday; 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday and Thursday) Adults or older Scouts can take part in this certification course. Scouts must be at least 14 years of age and all participants are required to hold a current CPR certification and be able to complete a 400 yard swim on the first day.

Special Interest Program (4:00 pm to 4:45 pm, Monday to Friday) Scouts will learn advanced life guarding and swimming techniques, as well as many of the behind-the-scenes skills required to keep the most popular program area at camp running clean and algae free!

Troop Swims (7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Monday to Friday) These must be scheduled at the Sunday evening Scoutmaster’s meeting with the Program Director. Two Certified Lifeguards will be on duty, but the troop must provide qualified lookouts (over 21 and certified in Safe Swim Defense) adult supervision.

Tubing (7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday to Friday) This activity is also scheduled through the Program Director on Sunday evening. At your scheduled time, meet at the Quonset hut wearing swimwear and shoes/sandals that can get wet (mandatory). Two leaders, 21 or older, must attend and be certified in Safety Afloat. Scouts must be red-white-blue swimmers. Trips last about one hour, depending on the level of the river.

Swimming Classification - All Scouts and leaders using the pool or boat docks must take a qualifying swim test on Sunday afternoon. The colors are recorded on a “buddy tag” issued to each swimmer. The following levels apply:

Non-swimmer (white). No test.

Beginner (red-white). Jump feet-first into water over your head, level off, and swim 25 feet; make a sharp turn and return to the starting point.

Swimmer (red-white-blue).  Jump feet-first into water over your head, level off, and swim 75 yards using any strong stroke on your stomach or side; swim 25 yards using a resting backstroke; rest by floating.

CAMPCRAFT

Prerequisites and Fees - First Class rank is strongly encouraged for all Campcraft merit badges. First-year Scouts should take Trailblazers instead of Campcraft merit badges in order to master the basic skills required to complete most Campcraft merit badges.

Backpacking. -  Complete 8c, 9, 10, and 11 before arriving at camp. Scouts must bring their own backpacks. Please come Monday morning at 9 a.m. to arrange to take this badge. Only older Scouts who have completed the prerequisites ahead of time should take this badge.

Hiking -  Complete 4, 5, and 6 before arriving at camp. Please come Monday morning at 9 a.m. to arrange to take this badge. Only older Scouts who have completed the prerequisites ahead of time should take this badge.

Indian Lore -  There is a $7.00 fee for materials. Scouts are required to attend an outpost on Thursday evening.

Camping -  Complete requirements 8a and 8c before arriving at camp. Scouts will participate in an overnight outpost on Thursday night, which will leave before dinner and return before breakfast on Friday. Scouts must bring their own tents and backpacks.

Cooking -  Scouts will participate in cooking five meals during the week. Times for these meals will be announced. Vouchers will be provided during the week for Scoutmasters to sign stating that the Scout has planned, prepared, and cleaned up 3 separate meals at home (req.7).

Wilderness Survival -  Scouts will participate in an overnight outpost on Thursday night, which will leave at 7:00 pm and return before breakfast on Friday. Scouts must bring a survival kit whose contents will be specified early in the week.

Trail Hikes - Troops are encouraged to hike any or all of the three blazed trails Horseshoe has to offer:  yellow, red, and blue. Maps will be available at Camp Headquarters. Participants will receive a segment for their Horseshoe patch for each trail hiked in full.

Special Interest Program — 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday
Scouts who wish to learn about how pioneers and frontiersmen lived will enjoy the Campcraft SIP. In addition to advanced woodsman skills, Scouts will also learn decorative knots and timber making exercises.

COPE - Fee for COPE course is $8.00. COPE is an acronym for Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience that consists of a ropes course of activity and reflection designed to develop skills in leadership, problem solving, communication, trust, decision-making, and teamwork. COPE provides the opportunity for individual and team growth through challenges designed to test skills and character. Highlights of a week at COPE include rappelling from a 35-foot rappelling tower, riding on a 300-foot zip line, and climbing a vertical playground.

COPE meets Monday through Friday 2:00 to 5:00 pm. The minimum age for participation is 14. Scouts completing COPE receive a segment for the Horseshoe patch.

Open Rappelling and Climbing - The rappelling tower will be open from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm daily for Scouts ages 13 and older to learn and participate in these activities. Participants must wear long pants. At times, the tower may be closed for weather or unforeseen circumstances.

Mountain Biking - Fees are as follows:  Use of camp bike $6.00; using own bike $1.00. Several mountain biking trails have been designed to challenge Scouts and adults physically and mentally while building cross-country biking skills. Adults may ride free-of-charge provided there is room on the guided ride. A segment for the Horseshoe patch is awarded to those who ride at least 5 times in the morning, and, 3 or 4 times in the afternoon.

Scouts may bring their own bikes or use bikes provided by camp. Due to safety and environmental concerns, Scouts may not ride bicycles unless led by one of our Mountain Biking staff members. All other bike riding is prohibited, and all bicycles must be registered and stored at the COPE building on Flagpole Hill when not in use.

Rides are offered Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 11:00 am, and Monday through Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.

Adult COPE - Adults may come Thursday from 9:30 am to noon to learn more about the COPE program. They will have the option to participate in some of the low and high course elements.

Prerequisites and Fees

Archery -  Inexperienced archers may need additional practice time to qualify.

Fishing - Scouts should bring their own fishing equipment.

Sports -  Complete requirements 3 and 4 before coming to camp.

Rifle - There is a $7.50 program fee, which must be paid at the trading post early in the week. Open shoot, 1 ticket cost .35 cents, (5 shots per ticket.).

Shotgun -  There is a $21.00 program fee, which must be paid at the trading post early in the week. Open shoot, 1 ticket cost 60 cents, (1 shot per ticket.)

Special Interest Program — 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday
Advanced safety skills and shooting sports techniques will be developed as part of the Shooting Sports SIP, which includes black powder marksmanship, candle shoots, and shooting competitions.

Open Shooting — 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday to Friday
All ranges are open during these times for rifle and shotgun shooting. Tickets must be purchased at the Trading Post prior to open shoots. Open shoots are closed Tuesday on the archery range and Thursday on the rifle and shotgun ranges for camp wide inter-troop competitions.

Personal Firearms and Archery Tackle - Personal firearms are not permitted on camp ranges or camp property. Law enforcement officers who must have a firearm in camp must register with the Shooting Sports Director. Personal archery equipment is permitted. Bows must have a maximum draw of 35 lbs. and arrows must have target points. All archery equipment must be registered at check-in on Sunday at the Headquarters building, and stored at the Archery range.

HANDICRAFT

Open Shop — 9:00 am to 12:00 am, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Monday to Friday; 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, Saturday Staff will be available Monday through Friday to assist Scouts and leaders with projects, Patrol/Troop plaques, belt branding, and other handiworks.

Prerequisites and Fees

Basketry -  There is a $14.00 fee for materials.

Leatherwork - There is a $14.00 fee for materials

Woodcarving - There is a $6.99 fee for materials.

Metal Work - There is a $9.95 fee for materials

Special Interest Program — 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday
The Handicraft SIP offers Scouts a chance to hone their craftsmanship and learn about special craft skills including stained glass, metalworking, and leather tooling.

Ton-Ca-Coo Belt Branding - Belt branding is offered all week during open shop hours. Scouts and leaders can purchase a special Horseshoe belt at the Trading Post and brand it at Handicraft, designating all of the activities participated in throughout the week.

Ton-Ca-Coo belt brands are awarded throughout the week, and are stamped on a Scout’s Horseshoe Belt. Don’t miss out on this unique Horseshoe tradition!

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