Normally done in January or February:

The Polar Bear Award has been established by the Gerald R. Ford Council to provide Boy Scouts and Venturers an opportunity to have a challenging winter camp experience. It is the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America to have its youth prepared to live in the out-of doors in any season and any weathers.
Requirements
All registered Boy Scouts and Venturers who have completed at least two nights of previous Scout Camping. Each applicant must have the approval of his unit leader.
In order to qualify for the Polar Bear Award, camping must be done between December 1st and March 31st and when the temperature is below 32 F. All camping days to be under the auspices of Boy Scouts of America.
All Polar Bear groups must be accompanied by qualified adult leadership.
Participants must live in camp for at least (20) hours and sleep overnight in an improvised shelter (tents or tarps are acceptable).
Participants must prepare a menu and have it approved. They should help with the purchase of the food, preparation and cleanup. This may be done individually or by patrols.
The unit leader or camp leader must be certain that all participants are properly trained for cold weather experience. Campers should be inspected prior to departure with regard to clothing and equipment.
Participants have a responsibility to their unit leader and fellow campers to be prepared for this type of experience. The principles of the Scout Oath, Law Motto and Slogan are an excellent guide to follow.
The application for the Polar Bear Award patches and year segments should be sent along with the proper fee to the Center For Scouting in Grand Rapids.

Our Cabin Campout at Indian Trails Camp (ITC), was a great success.  The boys all had a Great Time tagging up with Troop 31.  We did some cooking, and also went swimming in the heated (somewhat) indoor swimming pool.  Got to make pita pizza's in the dutch ovens, and even went on a short hike.
During the morning, the boys helped to decorate the camp Lodge by setting up the artificial Christmas Tree's, decorating them, and decorating the 2 main rooms with garland & lights.

Way to go troop 223.  Also see the note below that was sent to Zach Voogt, Scoutmaster of Troop 31, regarding how they appreciated the help, and also an e-mail from Zach asking if anyone is interested in volunteering over the Christmas break.

Hello everyone;

Well, we have our 1st campout under our belts, and it wasn't too bad for being the 2nd weekend in November.  It was mostly sunny, and got into the 60's Saturday and Sunday.

I think we all ate well, and learned a lot about cooking, and many other things.  1st attempt at Apple & Blueberry Cobbler came out fairly good, at least by the empty dutch ovens.

I would like to personally thank the Leaders, and Boys from Boy Scout Troop 31 for welcoming us to their campsite, and making us feel at home.  Their boys set up and ran classes on Knife & Axe Safety, Fire Safety & Fire Building, and First Aid.

Then they had our boys join them in a game of Capture the flag.  It was like they had known each other for years.

It was such a fun weekend, that it ended in what seemed to be no time at all.

I know it was hard for myself, as well as some of the boys to call it a weekend and end all of this fun, but some Rank advancements, and some other awards were earned by the boys of Troop 223.

I would also like to thank our Committee Chair, Jan Choroszucha, or as Troop 31 nick named her, "Mrs C", for tagging along as our second adult to maintain the required 2 deep leadership for our Troop.  Jan was a real Trooper, and set up and took down her own tent without asking for any help.   I think she was just showing the boys, that if she could do it, they could do it.

For those of you who did not know, we camped at the campsite that is behind Troop 31's chartering organization, St. Mary's Catholic Church, in Marne, MI.

Here is a link to Google Maps:     Google Map for St. Mary's Catholic Church Campground

I would like to thank all 5 boys who attended this campout, and did some things they have probably never done, like camping in November, and making dutch oven cobbler, and Baggie Omelets.

Thank you everyone again for a Great Weekend.

Last, but not least, Troop 223 would like to offer their thoughts and prayers to the Barkel family.

Yours in Scouting;

Kurt Munro
Scoutmaster
Boy Scout Troop 223
kmunro1464@charter.net