When: Memorial Day Weekend – May 28-30, 2016
Where: Scout Camp Belzer, Lawrence, IN
Leave: St. Francis Parking Lot at 6:00 am, Saturday, May 28th
Return: St. Francis late on Monday, May 30, 2016
Event: Troop 55 has an opportunity to march with the Cross Roads Council’s Marching Band and Flag Corp during the pre-race program of the Indianapolis 500. The pre-race program starts at 9:00am and has several dozen Marching Bands parade the full length of the track as the stands fill. Class A minus uniforms are a requirement for scouts and adults marching in the parade. The pre-race program ends 90 minutes before race time. This will enable everyone attending time to get to their seats for the race.
Any scout in their school’s marching band is invited to bring their instrument to play. If you’re a band person this is a very special event.
This is a sun or rain event. It will only be cancelled for safety reasons; thunderstorms or a tornado watch. Everyone will be expected to march in their Class A minus regardless of the conditions. No hats or neckerchiefs are permitted least these be left on the track and cause a car accident during the race.
Ear protection for the scouts is required. The track is a very loud place; likely the loudest place you have ever been. Ear plugs are a minimum requirement. Headsets with sound protection and radio capability are recommended so you have ear protection and can listen on the radio to the track announcer. These will be left on the bus while we march and retrieved when we return to our bus to drop off our flags, pick-up our lunches and tickets for the race; a bag with your name is recommended.
Details:
This is a major trip. We will need to leave at 6:00a on Saturday May 28 and drive 600 miles to Scout camp Belzer (http://www.crossroadsbsa.org/Related/Facilities/Camp%20Belzer.aspx) in Indianapolis and pitch our tents for the night. Everyone will need to awake at 4:30a and be on the bus to go to the track by 5:30a Sunday with a police escort. It’s a full day at the track including staying for the full race! It’s then off to dinner and back to Camp Belzer for the night. Monday we’ll break camp by 8:00a as it is a 600 mile drive home. All three days are very very long days. Please consider this before committing to this outing. The effort involved is very much greater commitment than one of our monthly outings.
To make this happen we’ll need all the adults and Scouts going registered no later than our Troop meeting on May 1th. We need to file our travel plans and make reservations for track day. We’ll need two drivers per car given the distance for safety. If we need to ration attendance due to a lack of drivers, preference will be given to scouts whose parents are driving.
The adults are requested to bring day packs with them onto the bus Monday for race day. If it’s a very hot day, you will be expected to carry water for the Scouts to drink. It’s over 2 miles around a track with no shade and we’ll need to keep the scouts (and the adults!) hydrated.
Cost:
The fee for camping, attending the Indianapolis 500, the box lunch at the track will be $100: $60 for fuel, $25 local transport and $15 camping fee donation All scouts will need to bring money to buy food during the two long days of driving and for dinner Saturday night. It is also suggested that each scout have pocket money for race day to buy a snack, a memento, or visit the famed track museum during the race ($8 or $5 if under 15). Each car will set its food budget depending on its choice of eating styles; fast food or more formal dining. The adult owning the car will be donating its use and the extra driver is required to help with the driving per BSA standards. Given the need to move quickly each scout will be expected to pack their breakfast for Monday; a couple of breakfast bars and juice that does not need to be refrigerated. We need to break camp and leave for home at sun-up.
Each car will is expected to plan their camping arrangements. We’ll need to bring our own tents and camping gear. Open fires are will not be permitted. Full bathroom facilities are available for Scouts, men and women including showers. The pool at Camp Belzer is not expected to be open. Showers after a hot day at the track are highly encouraged.
There are limited opportunities to charge your electronic devices at Camp Belzer; about 12 outlets for some 250 people. So bring you cameras fully charged. If you’re bringing electronics for the car ride, you will need to bring car chargers and work out charging privileges with your car’s driver.
To register: Contact Teri Fahlgren (troop55activities [at] gmail [dot] com).
