Parents and scouts
Our Washington DC trip is nearly upon us. We need to act early in oder o reserve the bicycles. Please read this email carefully – here is a lot here! .
The White House
We do not know if we have been approved to enter the White House and the expectation is that we will not know until maybe as late as the week of the trip. I appreciate that this does not give you much time for planning and decision making however it is not within our control! I suggest you make the decision to go or not to go independently of whether we do or do not get into the White House or not and make your plans accordingly.
We also will not know if each and every one of us whose names were provided (see list in the email that I sent on February 4th) will be cleared however I do know that if your name is not on the list then I can guarantee that you will not be able to enter the White House. We do not have the opportunity to add names to the list.
I will let you know if we are approved for the White House as soon as I know.
Transportation
The bus is for scouts and adults who are supervising scouts. It does not have the capacity to carry everyone who may join the troop on this outing so I think it only fair to draw the line at the Scouts. So if you have siblings of scouts and family members who are joining us, you will need to make your own plans for transportation. Feel free as parents to work out some carpooling among yourselves but please do not expect leaders to jump in to coordinate ride sharing.
Accommodation
We have two group camp sites at the Prince William Forest Park in Quantico. You are welcome to join us there however you will need to make your own way there and you will need to bring your own camping gear. We do have troop tents however I can not guarantee any availability for parents/siblings use. Scouts will camp in patrols and not with parents/siblings. Alternatively (and this would be me given the option) you will find and book your own accommodations to suit your own needs and join the troop at rendezvous locations and times that will be published closer to the outing.
Parking
If you are traveling in your own vehicle, you will need to plan for and pay for parking in downtown DC for the day. There is a car entry fee to Prince William Forest Park.
Supervision
The troop will tour DC in patrols on rental bikes. Each patrol will need two deep adult supervision and so we need some parents who will reinforce the ranks of the uniformed leaders be able to commit themselves to this task and be prepared to help chaperon a patrol with one of the uniformed leaders. Having one or two siblings in tow is fine however remember that the boys will lead this and if they are stood on the steps of the Lincoln memorial and decide that their next stop is the Viet Nam memorial, via the Supreme Court building, then so be it! :-). Please note that we may assign you to chaperon a patrol other than that of your scout. Chaperon slots will be filled on first come, first served basis.
We also may need at least two chaperons who can supervise any youth who are not able to enter the White House (I am not anticipating any scouts failing the security check however there is a possibility that some youths wish to come on the trip but their names were not on the list gathered in the Fall). so if you are not on the list but want to join us, this would be an ideal job for you.
Chaperons will have the option to ride the bus and camp with the troop (all bus riders will camp).
Bike rentals
The troop will make bike rental reservations for all those who sign up below and pay on the troop store. There are two options for bike size. Rentals include helmet and lock. All adults attending as leaders/chaperons must sign up on the troop site to reserve a bicycle. Other adults/siblings may also reserve bike through the sign up page and the troop store.
We need to know all riders’ heights and genders so the bike rental shop will have a bike adjusted ready for you. Those less than 5′ will ride a youth bike; those above will ride an adult bike.
There is a waiver – every person renting a bike needs to provide Mr Tomkins with their completed waiver before we leave Chapel Hill.
Meals
We will eat all meals in restaurants. We will not be cooking in camp. The cost of the outing does not include the food. Scouts will need their own method of paying for meals independently:
- Vending stop on Friday night
- Breakfast on Saturday will be at a downtown DC location.
- Lunch on Saturday will be with patrols independently eating
- Dinner on Saturday will be at a restaurant of Sammy’s choosing.
- Breakfast on Sunday will be at a restaurant near Prince William Forest Park/Quantico National Cemetery.
- Lunch on Sunday will taken on the road trip back to Chapel Hill.
Uniforms
This is a uniformed troop and there are elements of this trip that will be in Class A due to the nature of the event and other elements in Class B:
- Class A will be worn for the White House tour, the service we will hold at the Boy Scout memorial and the service we will hold at the Quantico National Cemetery.
- Class B will be worn at all other times during the weekend except when sleeping, when you will be wearing Class PJs!
Provisional schedule:
Friday:
- 5pm Meet at Phillips MS at 5pm in Full Class B Uniform.
- 530pm departure. We will stop for vending on the way.
- 930pm Arrive at Prince William Forest Park, Quantico, VA
Saturday:
We will rise early and drive into DC in FULL CLASS A UNIFORMS with Class B underneath. All troop members will have a pre-packed day pack with them of items they will need on the day out in DC.
The troop will be dropped at a restaurant for breakfast in the downtown Washington DC area.
- Tour the White House
- Pick up rental bikes
- Scouts tour DC in their patrols – parents/siblings will do their own thing.
- Scouts Own service at the National Boy Scout Memorial on the Mall.
- Dinner at a restaurant of Sammy’s choosing
- Night time tour of DC on the bus
- Stop off at Iwo Jima Memorial for reflection and night time vista of DC.
- return to Camp at Prince William Forest Park.
Sunday:
- Break camp (not as early as Saturday!). Dress in Class A.
- breakfast locally near Prince William Forest Park. .
- Service project and service of remembrance at the Quantico National Cemetery in Full Class A uniform.
- Lunch
- Point bus in direction of Chapel Hill.
- Target to be back in Chapel Hill provisionally: 5pm. j
What to Bring:
- Class A (Shirt and Neckerchief on a hanger to leave on the bus)
- Class B for the rest of the weekend
- A day pack already packed – water bottle; snacks; clothing suitable for forecasted weather;
- Money/Debit card for vending, two breakfasts, two lunches and dinner and for any souvenir purchases.
- camping gear – usual stuff for a regular outing.
Sign up and payment
Read carefully: Sign-up is a three-step process.
Step 1:
For each and every individual on the trip, please fill in the form below. If you have 4 people from your family attending, submit 4 forms.
Step 2:
Pay for the outing. If you are not renting a bike through the troop, there is no fee. You only need to place one for the right number of bicycles.
- If you are a scout or a uniformed leader or a chaperon, you must sign up and pay so we can rent you a bike.
- If you are a parent/sibling coming along and want the convenience of the troop reserving a bike for you so you can also tour the city on one, then you must sign up and pay so we can rent you a bike.
- If you are a parent/sibling who is coming along for the White House tour but isn’t going to ride a bike, then you do need to sign up in step 1 but you do not need to pay anything for the outing. You can still camp with the troop even if you do not rent a bike (at no charge).
Step 3:
Every individual renting a bike must complete the waiver and return it to Mr Tomkins
