Emerald Bay: Payment 1 Due January 7
Greetings, Camp Emerald Bay 2025 Summer Camp attendees. If you’re receiving this email, then you have submitted a $150/person deposit through the Troop 505/506 store and plan to attend Camp Emerald Bay Summer Camp in 2025. The dates for the camp are July 19-26, 2025.
We need to finalize the group’s headcount ahead of the first payment installment to Camp Emerald Bay. From this point forward, the funds we pay to Camp Emerald Bay are NON-REFUNDABLE. If your plans have changed and you are no longer able to attend, please let me know before January 7, 2025 at 9 PM.
Here is the list of names (Scouts and Adults) who are attending. If you see errors/omissions, please reach out to me immediately. If you want additional emails added to future communications, please let me know.
| First Name | Last Name | Scout/Adult | Troop | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton | Finney | cfinney@sbcglobal.net | Adult | 506 |
| Claire | Finney | cfinney@sbcglobal.net | Scout | 506 |
| Sophia | Pe | support@seanmeditrans.com | Scout | 506 |
| Sean | Pe | support@seanmeditrans.com | Adult | 506 |
| Charlotte | Nelson | keithcampbellnelson@gmail.com | Scout | 506 |
| Keith | Nelson | keithcampbellnelson@gmail.com | Adult | 506 |
| Lucile York | Chapman | taylor.chapman@gmail.com | Scout | 506 |
| Amber | York | taylor.chapman@gmail.com | Scout | 506 |
| Wilhelmina | Weiland | craig_weiland@hotmail.com | Scout | 506 |
| Peter | Wallace | peter.wallace@att.net | Scout | 506 |
| Mackenzie | Wallace | peter.wallace@att.net | Adult | 506 |
| Alice | Verret | kyleverret@gmail.com | Scout | 506 |
| Eleanor | Verret | eleanoreverret@gmail.com | Adult | 506 |
| Emery | Nelson | bonnie.barnett@yahoo.com | Scout | 506 |
| Bonnie | Nelson | bonnie.barnett@yahoo.com | Adult | 506 |
Important Actions:
Installment Payment #1:
Please go into the Troop 505/506 online store and pay the first $250 nonrefundable installment for the summer camp fees (see screenshot below). Please do this as soon as possible so you don’t forget over the holidays. The deadline to pay this first $250 installment is 9 PM, January 7, 2025. After this date/time, the $150 deposit also becomes non-refundable, and it will be applied to the overall camp cost. We need this installment payment in order to secure your scout’s slot at Camp Emerald Bay.
SCUBA Registration is OPEN:
The Summer 2025 SCUBA program registration portal just opened! All SCUBA courses have a minimum age of 12 years old except Discover Scuba Diving which has a minimum age of 11 years old. If you want to register your scout for either Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) or Open Water Diver Certification described below, contact me directly so we can submit the necessary registration information. DSD can be done in the evening/free time and will allow scout to pursue other merit badges. The Open Water Diver Certification will take up more of the scout’s week and may prevent them from participating in other merit badges. Payment will be due at the time of registration and is NON-REFUNDABLE. A completed PADI RSTC medical form signed by the participant, a parent or guardian and by a physician is required to dive - participation in SCUBA programs at Camp Emerald Bay (even after payment is received) is contingent on having a completed PADI RSTC medical form. More information will be forthcoming about SCUBA opportunities - visit the Emerald Bay website and then contact me directly with questions.
If you are an experienced/certified diver and want to see the full range of program offerings, check out this website: https://www.campemeraldbay.org/scout-programs/scuba-opportunities/ and reach out to me with questions.
OPTIONS FOR “INTRODUCTORY” SCUBA OPPORTUNITIES for scouts and adults - available on a first come, first served basis
$185 — Discover Scuba Diving (DSD): Try diving for non-certified divers
Ever dreamed of being an underwater explorer? Here is your opportunity to breathe underwater and experience the ocean like never before. Camp Emerald Bay is offering a once in a lifetime experience in our Discover Scuba Diving program, sign up online through Doubleknot or visit the dive locker at camp for availability. The session will last 2 hours in total and could even be done in your free time at camp. The Discover Scuba Diving program includes some small theories on scuba diving, all the gear you need for your dive and a 20-to-30-minute dive at Doctors Cove. A completed PADI RSTC medical form signed by the participant, a parent or guardian and by a physician is required to dive, so be sure to get that done prior to your arrival at camp! Additional dives can be purchased for $75/dive as add-ons to the DSD program.
$650 — Open Water Diver Certification (PADI Certification AND SCUBA Merit Badge):
If you’ve always wanted to take scuba diving lessons, experience unparalleled adventure, and see the world beneath the waves, this is where it starts. Get your scuba diving certification with the PADI Open Water Diver course. This was previously known as Rugged SCUBA. The world’s most popular and widely recognized scuba course where millions of people have learned to scuba dive and gone on to discover the wonders of the aquatic world. Why not join in!?
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
Through knowledge development and practical training, the PADI Open Water Diver course teaches you the basics of safe diving. The course consists of three main parts:
Knowledge Development (through online eLearning or bookwork) to understand the basic principles and theory of scuba diving
Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills in a pool or shallow, confined water
Open Water Dives to apply your skills and explore the underwater environment!
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If you have not already done so, please take some time to review the online materials and website for Camp Emerald Bay. There’s a lot of good FAQs as well as general information about program offerings: https://www.campemeraldbay.org/
As always, if you have questions about 2025 Emerald Bay Summer Camp, please reach out to me anytime (perrye475@yahoo.com, 832-580-2756).
Upcoming Steps:
Summary of Remaining Fees/Costs: With the first installment payment in early January, each family will have committed $400 towards the total cost of summer camp. For the traditional summer camp (merit badges, standard camp offerings, NO add-on SCUBA or sailing certification programs), the estimated total cost is $1800-2100/scout (inclusive of traditional summer camp, travel, all overnight accommodations, bus transport; final cost subject to change, but we will strive to make it as affordable as we can). Add-on programs such as SCUBA and sailing will require additional fees. More information regarding the price structure for these add-on programs will be provided early in 2025.
Travel Information: Once we have finalized our group headcount in early January, I will be sending information regarding which flight to purchase tickets on. This year, we will have individual families purchase their own tickets (no group arranged travel). The plan will be to get everybody on the same flight to LAX. Watch for more information in early January and be prepared to purchase your scout’s flight when the time comes. We will likely fly Southwest From HOU to LAX. If you plan to travel independently from the group and meet us at Berth 85 in San Pedro (next to the Battleship USS Iowa) at 6 AM on Sunday, July 20 for departure to Catalina Island, then reach out to me directly.
Camping Scholarships: A limited number of financial assistance camperships are available to in and out of council scouts. If you would like to apply for this needs based support, please reach out to me individually and use the link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLEC3zN7K1AmjciKX6rbKwXsETZz9XOLzQNsjodsIHlZUoDQ/viewform
Aquatics Merit Badges: In order to participate in any of the aquatics merit badges at camp, it is required that scouts have earned their Swimming merit badge prior to participating in aquatics merit badges (e.g., Canoeing, Lifesaving, Motorboating, Rowing, Small Boat Sailing). Encourage your scout to earn their Swimming merit badge before Summer Camp so they can participate fully in what Camp Emerald Bay has to offer.
Program Selection: Information regarding merit badge offerings will be available in March 2025. I will share any information I receive earlier. In the meantime, you can reference the attached leader guide for information on 2024 program offerings - program offerings for 2025 are subject to change but this guide provides a very comprehensive view of the camp. Consider one of the SCUBA programs and contact me about getting signed up as soon as possible.
Overnight on the USS Iowa Battleship: Our group has reserved overnight accommodations for Saturday, July 19 on board the USS Iowa. The estimated cost will be $100/scout or adult. Separate accommodations will be provided for male and female scouts/adults. More details will follow. Departure via ferry to Camp Emerald Bay will occur early on Sunday, July 20 from the parking lot adjacent to the USS Iowa.
Health Forms, etc: As usual, you’ll be required to provide an updated BSA health form (Part A, B, and C) as part of the summer camp registration process. More information on the required paperwork will be provided later in the spring. No actions required at this time.
There is a lot of information above. Reach out with questions. The key thing is to confirm your scout’s attendance by paying the first installment of $250 at the Troop 505/506 Store before 9 PM, January 7.
Merry Christmas to you and your families.
Ethan Perry
832-580-2756
