The SSRLV Scoutmasters Lounge
Welcome, this page has been developed to assist Scoutmasters, adult leaders, and parents with information and questions about the Summer Camp program at Schoepe Scout Reservation at Lost Valley.
FORMS AND LINKS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
BICYCLES
Lost Valley is a big place, it takes around 30 minutes to walk across camp. Because of its size we recommend the use of bicycles for both the Scouts and Adult Leaders. The riding surfaces vary from hard-pack dirt to very soft sand, so we recommend wide tires for traction. If you, or a Scout, doesn't have a bicycle, there are a limited amount available for rent at the Bike Lair for $25.00 per week.
Here are some of the rules of the road:
1. HELMETS - Everyone, both youths and adults, is required to wear a bicycle helmet while riding their bicycle. Also, a Scout hat or baseball cap may not be worn under the helmet.
2. RIDE ON THE ROADS - Stay on the main roads inside the Lost Valley. Main roads are the roads that the general public can drive on, one exception is the road that leads to the Bike Lair/Grace Trading Post area. Never ride on horse or foot trails; riders must dismount and walk their bike on these trails
3. OBEY SPEED LIMITS - One of the leading causes of bicycle accidents at Lost Valley is speed. It is especially easy to go fast on the many downhill sections around Lost Valley, but every downhill section is followed by a patch of loose soil/sand caused by erosion that can cause a rider to lose control. Many medivac helicopters can be attributed to the combination of speed & soft sand. The speed limit for bikes is 10 MPH.
4. RIDE SAFE - Please drive safely, No trick riding! Lost Valley is a wilderness camp; going to a hospital is usually an expensive helicopter flight out of camp.
5. RIDING ETIQUETTE - If you come upon a horse please stop your bicycle, dismount, and stand next to your bicycle. This helps to not frighten a horse. If you are passing someone on the road let them know which side you'll be passing on by announcing "Passing on your (Right or Left)." Please be aware there will be camp vehicles using the roads during the week.
CELL PHONE COVERAGE
There is NO cellular coverage in Lost Valley from any cellular provider. Some do not provide service east of Temecula.
PHONE AND INTERNET ACCESS
Telephone and Internet access are available to all adults visiting Lost Valley. There are three locations available for phone, internet, and computer access: The Business Office, Grace Scoutmaster's Lounge in the Tom Tabb Center, and Casey Lodge Scoutmaster's Office. These areas have telephone access and a dedicated computer for e-mail access. Adult leaders will be given access codes for the phones during check-in, please share these with only the adult leaders in your Unit, the codes should not be given to a Scout under any circumstances. If a youth needs to make a phone call an adult leader will accompany the youth to a phone, place the call, and hand the phone to the Scout. These phone calls should be kept to a minimum. To make sure the computers are available to all adult leaders, no Scouts are allowed on the computers for any reason.
There is also Wi-Fi access at the Business Office, Casey Lodge, Beckman Hall, and Grace Scoutmasters Lounge. You will need to provide a MAC address to our Business Manager so we can enable your device for wifi access on our network. We ask that internet access is kept to minimum. Our bandwidth is very limited and all data and phone service relies on the same data pipeline. There is a filtering software to restrict access to websites and speed is limited to dial-up or near dial-up speed.
GAS AVAILABILITY
There is NO gas available in camp. Please fill up in Temecula before heading into camp. The closest gas station is located at Sunshine Summit, but the gas is more expensive there. Make sure you have plenty of gas to make the trip in and out of camp. Many Troops have a gas can, just in case.
SHOPPING
When you exit Highway 79 South/Temecula Parkway there will be many places to shop at on your way to and from camp. Along the 79 there are stores including Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Best Buy, supermarkets, gas stations, and several fast food restaurants.
TRAVEL TIME
Lost Valley is an estimated 90 minute trip from Temecula. 45 minutes on pavement, 45 minutes on the 'dirt road'. Here at Lost Valley the pace of life is slower, we see the dirt road as a great opportunity to acclimate to the slower pace of camp. If you are driving on the dirt road please be mindful of traffic behind you, there are a number of places to pull off and let others pass you. The road speed limit is 15 miles per hour. Take it slow any you'll be OK, the vast majority of car breakdowns are related to driving too fast on the dirt road.
HOMESICK SCOUTS
A situation every Scoutmaster, or Adult Leader, will have to face sooner or later. Here is a great article from the Scouter Magazine, May-June 2008.
AGE LIMITS ON MERIT BADGES
Lost Valley does have some guidelines, it is up to the discretion of the area director as to the individual Scout's ability level. Lost Valley uses these general guidelines so that:
- The Scout is more likely to complete the Merit Badge (Less frustration on behalf of the Scout).
- Older Scouts are given the opportunity to earn Merit Badges they may need for rank advancements.
The guideline is 13 years of age, but prior experience usually will over ride this age guideline. Some Merit Badges with age requirements include:
- Archery - Need to pull back a 20 to 30 lb. bow, under control.
- Climbing - Need to have the physical strength.
- Horsemanship - Must be able to lift the saddle onto the horse.
- Shotgun - Must be able to properly and safely control the firearm. Approval by the Director.
- High Adventure- all participants must demonstrate maturity and be approved by the COPE Director.
An example used during "Down the Hill" meetings is in regards to the Archery. Many people believe the natural progression in field sports should be Archery, Rifle, then Shotgun. We find Archery is harder for Scouts, because of the upper body strength required to pull a bow back. We recommend the order of Rifle, Archery, then Shotgun. But, we also recommend second year campers take rifle because of additional development of fine motor skills. There are exceptions, some first year campers with experience in archery have been able to handle a bow easily. There have been 12 year olds that were able to handle a shotgun with great proficiency. Physical and Mental maturity of a Scout is a hard thing to place a uniform age requirement on.
THE BOTTOMLESS COFFEE POT
Coffee pots will be available at both dining halls. Please ask the Dinning Hall Steward or Kitchen Staff to refill the pots when empty. We request you bring your own coffee cup to cut down on waste from disposable paper and foam 'coffee cups'.
MEALS
All meals with the exception of Wednesday night dinner are served in our two dining halls. Troops will be scheduled throughout the week to assist with serving and clean up. Any campers requiring a special diet must notify the camp in writing, or by email to russ.ocbsa@gmail.com at least 15 days prior to their arrival in camp. On receipt of a special diet notification, the Staff will contact you confirming the details.
RANK ADVANCEMENTS
Staff members are not allowed to sign off requirements for Tenderfoot,
2nd Class, or 1st Class Ranks in Scouts' books. Scouts receive a
Passport with the requirements that they will be able to complete while
at Lost Valley. Staff members will sign off the Passport as
requirements are completed. Scouts will need to demonstrate the skills
they learned to adult leaders within their Unit to be signed off.
MERIT BADGE APPLICATIONS (“BLUE CARDS”) All Scouts will need to provide their own blue cards, signed by their Scoutmaster, with all information clearly printed in the correct sections. These cards are due to their merit badge instructors at the beginning of the week. Blue cards will be available for purchase at the trading posts.
All blue cards will be returned at the end of the week, showing whether the Scout completed the merit badge, or only earned a partial.
We regret that the Lost Valley Staff are unable to sign off any merit badge work completed outside of the camp without prior arrangements.
PROVISIONAL CAMPER BLUE CARDS
If a Scout is sent as a provisional camper, the Provisional Scoutmaster for the week will be considered the Scout’s Scoutmaster. The Provisional Scoutmaster has full authority to sign the Scout’s blue card applications if the Scout does not have a blue card or decides to change merit badge courses.
THEME MORNINGS
Lost Valley has a few fun mornings where the Staff will dress up in costumes that follow a theme. The themes only continue for Morning Assembly and Breakfast, except for Fridays. Units may participate in any and all Theme Mornings if they so choose.
Monday: Crazy Hat Day
Tuesday: Superhero Morning, dress up as your favorite superhero.
Tuesday Night: Tie Night/OA Night, wear your sash if you are an Order of the Arrow Member
Wednesday: PJ's. As in pajamas.
Scouting appropriate, please.
Thursday: Hawiian
Friday
(all day): Western Wear
Is there a question or question that we missed? Please e-mail additional questions to
ssrlv@ssrlv.org.
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