Spring Break Camp

This year we will be having Spring Break Camp from April 1 - 5.  This is not your normal week of camp!  This is a chance to get out away from school and enjoy spending a week in the woods at Camp T. Brady Saunders.  Scouts can earn anywhere from 1 to 5 merit badges over the course of the week.

It runs a little differently than most people expect.  On the 1st you arrive anywhere from 8:00am - 11:45.  You have lunch then jump into Merit Badge Blocks 3 and 4 on day one.  Tuesday through Thursday you take all 5 merit badge blocks and then on Friday you take blocks 1 & 2, completing all 5 blocks of merit badges.  You have lunch on Friday and then depart.

Spring Break camp is a great time to be in the woods of Virginia.  The weather has turned towards summer with warm days and cool evenings.  The trees have already begun to leaf and wildlife is abundant.  The fish are near the surface of the lake and are very hungry after a long winter!  And for those who are not afraid of a little chilly water, we offer the canoeing merit badge.  What better time to get some sun then at Spring Break Camp.

Spring Break camp is a largely provisional week of camp.  Most of those who attend are Scouts without their Troops and maybe one adult.  To meet BSA leadership guidelines, all adults attending Spring Break Camp act as leadership to all youth who are in attendance.  This does require that the Scouts who attend Spring Break Camp have a certain amount of maturity. 

If you are looking for a fun Spring Break and want to spend it camping, join use for Spring Break Camp at Camp T. Brady Saunders.  The Program Guide is available at www.bradysaunders.net and be sure to check back regularly for any new merit badges that might be added to Spring Break Camp.  The merit badges taught at Spring Break Camp are taught by volunteers, if you are interested in teaching a merit badge please contact mic.mullins@scouting.org.

I look forward to seeing you at camp!
Sincerely,
-Mic Mullins
Camp Director
Camp T. Brady Saunders

Summer Camp 2013 - Many Weeks Are Filling Up

Today I published the 2013 Program Guide for Camp T. Brady Saunders.  It is full of good information for Troops that have signed up to attend summer camp and those that have not will be able to look at the actual merit badge schedule now instead of what is being offered.

It is a lot of stuff!  I had forgot how many new offerings we had created.  It is one thing to talk about them at a presentation but once you start outlining all the prerequisites and outlining the schedule, you see it all coming together.

We are also ahead of our normal registrations for this time of year.  I believe this is partly due to the "I'M GOING TO SUMMER CAMP" patch, which will be shipping out as soon as they arrive from the manufacturer.  However one week of camp has not had anyone sign up for it yet, which is odd.

It is our sixth week of summer camp.  This week had been offset a day last year to accommodate groups that wanted to show up to camp on Monday and leave Saturday night.  It was a very nice week last year, however it appears that there is no interest in it this year.  As of today week six is now on the normal schedule for camp.  It will run from July 21 - July 27.  This will be a great week to ensure program opportunities for your Scouts!

Our new week one has done quite well with registrations.  We have over 200 people registered for it already.  We 2 is basically sold out and week 4 is right behind it.  If you haven't registered for camp and need a specific week, I recommend you register soon.

Summer is right around the corner!
-Mic Mullins
Camp Director TBS

Camp T. Brady Saunders Sailing Program

For 2013 we are going to be offering a sailing program at Camp T. Brady Saunders.  The camp used to have a sailing program, but over the years it faded away.  This was largely due to the fact that sailing is an expensive sport and requires a lot of equipment.

Camp T. Brady Saunders is proud to be working towards improving the offerings we have for our Scouts and increasing program opportunities not only for young scouts, but also our older scouts who are seasoned summer camp participants.  Sailing is a great program for the scouts!

We are working on acquiring the equipment that will be needed to make this program a reality.  We have already received a commitment for the donation of a complete sail boat!  This is a generous offer and we at the Heart of Virginia Scout Reservation are grateful for this act of generosity.  Unfortunatly, you can not build a sailing program with one sail boat.  We are looking for Sun Fish sailboats or boats of the same size and use to help build our sailing program.

We need your help to make the Camp T. Brady Saunders sailing program a reality.  If you have equipment you would like to donate to Camp T. Brady Saunders, it would be greatly appreciated.  All donations are tax deductible.  Any assistance you can give would improve program for our Scouts.