» Calendar at a Glance

8/3	Camp Bell 2008
8/10	Hidden Valley 2008
10/11	MASS JAM 2008

more upcoming events

» Troop 119 Earns Centennial Quality Unit Award

Troop 119 has earned the Centennial Quality Unit award. In order to earn the award, the unit must have trained leaders, a record of growth, a solid record of advancement for the boys, and an active camping program. Give yourselves all a pat on the back for a job well done!

» BSA Scout Shop

The closest Scout Shop to Lexington is at 400 Washington Street, Woburn. This is in Cummings Park, near the Staples / CompUSA area. Take 128 North to Washington St. exit, turn right onto Washington St, and right again into Cummings Park at the sign for "Weight Watchers" (look for signs for #400).
The hours for the store are 9:30 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Thursday the hours are 9:30 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. and Saturday 9:30 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. Sunday the store is closed.

What's New?

Check out the information that we have added regarding summer camp on this page. We've added a lot, but it should answer most of the frequently asked questions.

IF YOU HAVEN'T SUBMITTED YOUR MED FORMS, YOU ARE VERY LATE!!! Please mail your son's med forms along with a copy of your insurance card to Jan Gunther, 26 Brent Road, Lexington, MA 02420.

Packing for Summer Camp

Now that you know that you're going to summer camp it's time to think about packing. A few things:

Pack your stuff into ONE hard trunk or rubbermaid box. Make sure it's secured with latches or duct tape or bungee cords so it doesn't open. Inexpensive plastic trunks are available at Linen's and Things, Bed and Bath, or the Container store, usually during July. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANYTHING IN GARBAGE BAGS!!!! The trek to the site is lined with trashbag grabbing trees - they will be shredded by the time the boys reach the site. You can find inexpensive nylon 'stuff' bags at Walmart or Target. Please label the trunk Troop 119 Lexington.
See the Bell List and the Valley List for what to pack and what NOT to pack. Cell phones, electronic games, ipods, etc will all be confiscated and returned after camp.
If you are looking for a good mosquito net, you can order one from Campmor.com, look for the "rectangular" mosquito net.
If your patrol signed up for Challenge Valley (Camp Bell), make sure you bring a complete change of clothing that you can throw away!! Save those worn out sneakers and destroy them in the mud pit!!
Check the Hidden Valley Guide for any work you need to do ahead of camp on the merit badges you chose. Check also for anything you might need to bring. HINT: you need to bring stuff for Swimming MB (whether you're doing it at Bell or Valley, check the Valley Guide).
Check back here often during July for updates and reminders
If we haven't got your med forms or insurance card info yet (you KNOW who you are!!) remember to send them to Mrs. G. as soon as you can - you will not be able to get into camp without them! Please get them to Mrs. G immediately!!!!!!
ALL MEDICATIONS MUST BE IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS!! UNLABELED MEDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE CAMP NURSE!! DO NOT SEND OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDS, UNLESS THEY ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A PRESCRIPTION!! These are state laws / regulations, so we have no flexibility on this. Medications should be packed into your daypack, so that they can be given to the camp nurse on Sunday afternoon.

Summer Camp Odds and Ends

THE SATURDAY BETWEEN..

- Scouts who are going to go home after the first week will be ready for pickup in the parking lot of Camp Bell by 9:00 AM on Saturday. Parents must check out with an adult leader from Troop 119 before leaving with their scout. Parents need to arrive by 9:00 to avoid delaying the move to Hidden Valley for the Scouts staying both weeks. THERE IS NO BUS HOME AFTER THE FIRST WEEK.

- All Scouts that are staying for the second week can stay over Saturday night, but should arrange to be out of camp from 9:30 AM until 4:30 PM on Saturday. The troop leaders and camp staff will not be in camp, so there is no one there to supervise during the day. If a parent cannot be there, please arrange with another parent to have your Scout spend the day with that family. The camp is very close to Lake Winnipesaukee, Weirs Beach, etc. There are laundromats, miniature golf courses, and other stores close by.

- Supper Saturday night and brunch on Sunday for all those staying over will be provided by the troop at Hidden Valley. We do this in combination with Troop 160.

Summer Camp Logistics

August 3: If you are taking the bus, be at St. Brigid's by 9:30 am. See article below for details. If you are coming by car, please be at the Bell Parking lot (the upper camp), by 1 pm at the LATEST!!! If you expect to arrive later than that, please let the Scoutmaster know, so that we don't hold up the whole troop waiting for you.

August 9: Pick up your son by 9:00 am. If returning to camp, please return by 5 pm. Refer to article below and to emails for details about that Saturday night.

August 10: Arrive by car in the Hidden Valley lot (lower camp), by 1 pm at the LATEST!!! If you expect to arrive later than that, please let the Scoutmaster know BEFORE August 5, so that we don't hold up the whole troop waiting for you. Please have your swim gear and your meds in your backpack, along with your Class A shirt, neckerchief and slide.

August 16: If picking up your child, be at the Hidden Valley lot by 9 am. By this time, all the adult leaders in camp are exhausted - DO NOT BE LATE!!!! If your child is taking the bus, expect them to arrive between 11:30 am and noon at St. Brigid's.

LATE ARRIVALS ON Aug 3 and Aug 10 WILL NOT BE IN THE TROOP CAMP PHOTO, as that picture is taken in the early afternoon on Sunday.

Any questions regarding camp should be directed to Sue Wong or Bernie Gunther BEFORE August 3.

If parents need to reach the camp for an EMERGENCY communication to the leaders, please consult the GSR Guide at www.nhscouting.org for the appropriate phone numbers. Leaders' cell phones will probably NOT be working at camp, so please don't leave messages that way. Occasionally text messages make their way thru, but not in a timely manner.

More Camp Stuff

DIRECTIONS TO CAMP: For driving directions to summer camp, see DIRECTIONS

For those who are doing two weeks of camp and will be looking for a laundromat, there are directions to a couple posted here . Please be sure to pick up your sons at Camp Bell by 9 am Saturday. Come earlier if you want to take a look around.

BUS INFO

Those who are taking the bus to camp at the beginning of the Bell week should plan to be at St. Brigid's Church parking lot (off Worthen Rd), at 9:30 am. We will be loading the truck with the trunks and checking everyone in. Late rider signups, please bring payment in the form of a check made out to Troop 119, give it to the 119 adult on site, to be named later.

Bus riders, please make sure you have the following items in your backpack:

Lunch (You can not eat on the bus, but you will have an opportunity to eat lunch once we arrive at camp.)
Full Water bottle
MEDS!! (Do NOT pack your meds in your trunk!!!)
Class A shirt, neckerchief and slide
Note: Swim tests will no longer be done on Sunday at Bell, so you can pack your swim stuff in your trunk.

The bus returning from Valley will arrive at St. Brigids at APPROXIMATELY noon. We are sorry we can't be more specific, but a lot depends on the weather on the day of departure. Look on it as an opportunity to chill with the other parents waiting for the bus.

Thanks for visiting our site!
Visits so far: Click on this to map your visit:

WELCOME TO TROOP 119!

When was the last time you canoed nine miles to get to your campsite?

Have you ever slept in a snow cave?

What is your best memory while hiking?

Where is your favorite mountain ridge to watch the sunrise?

Scouting is about building character, developing personal fitness, and learning leadership and citizenship. These goals are achieved in the outdoors. Hiking, camping, swimming, canoeing, climbing, high-adventure challenges, and fun are all part of the program.

We want to get you out into the outdoors and experience life.

So, what did you do this weekend???

Scouting is....

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
BSA Troop 119 serves boys in Lexington, MA and surrounding towns. Any boy between the ages of 11 and 18 is welcome to join us. We emphasize a strong program of camping and outdoor activities. Our troop home is:

Hancock United Church of Christ
1912 Mass Avenue
Lexington, Massachusetts
7:30 - 9 pm Thursdays

Service Opportunities

Occasionally we list local service projects on the website, to make opportunities known to scouts looking for service projects to fulfill rank requirements. These listings are NOT an endorsement of the organizations running them - they are informational only. Please contact the organizations listed for more detail.

Stay posted for more upcoming service opportunities in the Lexington area...

Are You a Troop 119 Eagle?
We are trying to reconstruct some of the history of Troop 119, which goes back to the late 1930's. If you earned your Eagle while registered to Troop 119 (or Troop 19 as it was known in the early days), we'd love to hear from you. Contact Mrs. Shevrin (gshevrin at gmail dot com)

Help Wanted
The goal in Troop 119 is to have every family involved in helping out at some level. Please contact the Scoutmaster or any Committee member to find out what opportunities exist.

Never Too Late...
It's never too late to join a boy scout troop! Boys from age 11 to 18, and girls of High School age are eligible for a variety of BSA Scouting programs.

100 Degrees of Frost Award

Troop 119 presents the "100 Degrees of Frost" Award to any scout or adult who has camped in sub-freezing weather enough to accumulate 100 degrees. Recent trips will be listed here so that scouts and adults can keep track of their progress:

1/26/08 Klondike Derby: 11 degrees
2/9/08 Lonesome Lake High Adventure: 17 degrees
2/10/08 Lonesome Lake: 13 degrees
4/5/08 Mt Monadnock: 6 degrees

If you need to look up the frost degrees from any of our previous trips, you can find them here.

Policy of Non-Discrimination
Troop 119 operates under the auspices of the Boston Minuteman Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The mission of the Boston Minuteman Council, Boy Scouts of America is to provide character development, citizenship training, growth in physical and mental fitness, and leadership opportunities for the young people of the Boston metropolitan area. We pride ourselves on the diversity of our members, and we are committed to providing young people with an educational and stimulating environment in which to learn and grow. Through the Scout Oath and Law, we pledge to respect all people and to defend the rights of others. Bias, intolerance and unlawful discrimination are unacceptable within the ranks of the Boston Minuteman Council.
The Boston Minuteman Council serves over 18,000 youth through 3,300 volunteers in over 330 Packs, Troops and other units without regard to color, race, religion, ethnic background, sexual orientation, or economic status. (Adopted July 19, 2001)