The SSRLV Scoutmasters Lounge

Welcome, this page has been developed to assist Scoutmasters and adult leaders with various information about Schoepe Scout Reservation at Lost Valley.

FORMS AND LINKS

On-Line Merit Badge Sign-Ups (Available in 2010) 2009 Summer Camp Leaders Guide (pdf) Lost Valley Weather Report

2009 Merit Badge Schedule (xls) 2009 Summer Camp Schedule (xls) SSRLV Map (pdf)

Camp Roster (.xls) Activities Schedule (.doc) Merit Badge Prerequisites

2010 Claimstake Form (PDF)

SCOUTMASTER MEDICAL FORMS
The BSA has changed medical forms for 2009. There is now one medical form for all groups. Froms completed last year are still valid. The new medical forms can be downloaded here. You will still need to print out copies of page 1 and 2 of the Lost Valley form. That form can be found here.

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 $20.00 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 when 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.

4. RIDE SAFE - Please drive safely, No jumping your bike! 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 ride 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. Many do not provide service east of Temecula.

PHONE AND INTERNET ACCESS
Telephone and Internet access is available to all adults visiting Lost Valley. There are three locations available for phone, internet, and computer access: The Business Office, Grace Scoutmasters Lounge in the Tom Tabb Center, and Casey Lodge Scoutmaster's Office. These areas have telephone access and a dedicated computer for email 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. There is no password for internet access. We ask that internet access is kept to minimum and that no large file transfers or streaming media are accessed. Our bandwidth is very limited and all data and phone service relies on the same data pipeline.

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, you may want to have a Troop 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 is a Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Staples, Best Buy, supermarkets, convenience stores, 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 matuirty 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 developement 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'.

RANK ADVANCEMENTS

Staff members are not allowed to sign off requirements in Scouts' books. Scouts that need Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, or 1st Class requirements will recieve a Passport in the Scout Skills Area that staff members will sign off as requirements are completed. Scouts will need take that Passport back to their campsite and demonstrate the skills they learned to adult leaders within their Unit to be signed off.

Is there a question or question that we missed? Please e-mail additional questions to ssrlv@ssrlv.org.

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