Welcome to Troop 61

There are two more camping trips, to Camp Carpenter and to Camp Sayre/Blue Hills, before it’s time for the Bike Trip, May 19 - 21. But this year’s Bike Trip is somewhat more complex than the last twelve annual trips to Cape Cod. So we need to focus on it earlier than normally would be the case.

We are moving the Bike Trip to Nantucket this year. The Troop Committee voted to make the move after considering the additional costs and the logistics to make a Friday evening ferry. Also, our normal camping site on Cape Cod at Nickerson State Park is closed due to storm damage the weekend of the trip and parts of the Cape Cod Bike Trail are under repair. Attached is a detailed trip announcement.

The trip requires some pre-planning. We are going to load a truck with troop equipment and bikes the night before we go. Personal gear will have to be packed by the day before the trip. As soon as school lets out on Friday afternoon each scout will have to get to the church, at the latest by 3:00 pm. We will leave promptly at 3:15 pm. The only school’s schedule that may conflict with this plan is Haynes, so for the few scouts who may be Haynes students perhaps there could be an early release. The schedule is necessary to get to and get on the ferry to Nantucket that leaves Hyannis at 7:15 pm.

An early sign up would be greatly appreciated. The attached trip announcement has an estimate of costs. The individual costs for the trip will vary depending on how many sign up. Sign-up sheets will be available beginning with this week’s troop meeting.

This should be a great trip. We are staying at the only Boy Scout camp on Nantucket, Camp Richard, and have the use of four large Adirondack shelters. Nantucket is a beautiful place to ride bikes. The long-term forecast looks exceptionally promising.

- Dick Landrigan
Assistant Scoutmaster