Reasonable Rascal

Heck, of all the things you would think a Scout would miss we still can't get anyone to claim the zip off leggings from their Scout pants that were left behind from summer camp after all the gear was claimed. Tonight I had 5 boys with their leggings missing, wearing the pants as shorts instead. RR

DR, the option of patrol cooking still exists, though unsure of how many exercise it. Unfortunately it is not an option for out-of-council units such as ours. RR

I'll chime in and speak for Camp Geronimo near Payson, AZ. They do have a decent trail to first class program. They mark each requirement completed so you can transfer the info to books or however you keep your records. It is an all-in-one program as opposed to choose one rank to work on and spend the period working on that alone. Thus we had new Scouts who completed several requirements each for TF, 2nd and 1st Class ranks. They have a very good MB program. Aquatics are limited to canoe and rowing on a small lake, plus the pool swimming, lifesaving, lifeguard, mile swims, polar bear, etc). They offer both horsemanship and climbing as well - in all about 35-40 MB's the choose from. Fire Safety was new this year and we had a boy who is also a Fire Explorer earn that one as an extra (offered outside of regular MB sessions). The dining hall isn't gourmet but there is always more than enough food. Hot and cold cereal offered as extras, salad and soup for lunch and dinner, variety of cold drinks, milk and juices (and coffee). Toast or bread was available for all meals. These are in addition to the hot food lines (one for each end of the dining hall). The camp divides into 2 meal sessions to make things manageable. If you go during 4th of July week you'll find attendance is likely less than half of the other sessions. More time to sit and digest with shorter lines. :-) I've had better food, I have certainly had worse, and there were camps where I went away somewhat hungry, but I had no real reason to offer more than a general gripe or two regards the food service. Mostly that was limited to the fact that troops take turns serving, and some were slower than others as you might imagine. A professional kitchen staff does the cooking, etc, no worries there. Our campsite had a 2-hole flush latrine and a 2-hole forest service-type latrine at opposite ends of the camp site. There are 2 shower houses for the camp and the water is hot! Open dressing area off of individual stalls. Divided between youth and adult with separate entrances, no youth protection problems there. The newer shower house had a separate women's side, the other required a chaperone outside while the ladies were in. There is an older Scout program called the Spade Ranch program. It is limited to 12 boys each week, though. Our first year there they had only 4 boys for the week so they earned Horsemanship, Climbing and Wilderness Survival MB's. The next year they were full and were only signed off and requirements completed but didn't aim for any specific MB's. The boys had a blast though, and they get the special steak dinner to end their week. They had an overnight horse ride as part of their activities, something the "regular" campers don't come close to. They stay with the rest of the troop during the week save for any overnighters, but otherwise have their own program and often their own meals away. The camp has always been well staffed and they always have a doc in camp for the week. This in addition to the camp nurse and a couple of other health lodge staff. Truthfully I have never seen a better health lodge outside of a Jamboree or Philmont. And I am speaking as a Paramedic/RN. The temps can range between 95 days down to 40's at night. We had rain twice this year but nothing real serious. No more rain after Monday. The camp week, BTW, starts on Saturday and ends the following Saturday. They offer Catholic, LDS and Protestant services on Sunday, each with their own chapel. There are Jewish services available on Friday if applicable. Each campsite has at least one Adirondack shelter for the leaders, with bunks for 4. Our site this year and 2 years ago - Site 2 - has two such shelters, plus tentage for 40. We shared with another troop each year and had a great time. 28 boys and 9 adults between us. We were also the host campsite for the inter-troop campfire on Wed. There are 4 such host sites out of 22 campsites. Basically we had a nice campfire area right in the middle of our campsite. Skits are presented for consideration for the overall campfire program on Friday night at the main arena. Our troop has camped Hi-Sierra in mid-upper CA, Rancho Alegre by Santa Barbara, CA, and Geronimo. We sent boys to Camp Potosi near Las Vegas for NYLT this year and we use Camp Levi Levi near Kingman, AZ for camporees, OA and troop campouts, so we are well familiar with the facilities for our two in-council camps. The boys' hands-down favorite and overwhelming choice is Geronimo. As a Scout and a Scouter I have camped at Mitigwa (Boone, IA - Mid-Iowa council), Wakonda, Cedars and Eagle (Griswold, IA and Fremont, NE - Mid-America council. Eagle is now used for Cubs only. Wakonda was closed in the 80's), Camp Cayuna (upper MN), Medicine Mountain Scout Ranch (Black Hills area of SD) and all of the aforementioned camps with this troop. My personal favorites are Geronimo, Cayuna and Medicine Mountain, in that order. RR(This message has been edited by Reasonable Rascal)

I understand the difficulties. One of our best campouts was last November when we used a local BSA camp for a week-ender and camped by patrol method - 2 patrols in separate sites and the adults in a 3rd. Each group planned their own menu and cooked separately, and likewise tented. We recently sent 4 boys to NYLT and they cam back infused with spirit. Granted, they didn't teach strict patrol method as I was taught vis-a-vis' JLITC back in the early 70's. But it's a definite start. We saw a definite difference at summer camp this year. I am not ready - because the boys themselves are not ready - to unleash them for youth-only overnighters, etc. But they are expected increasingly to act as patrols that form a troop, rather than as a troop that is divided into patrols. RR

Kudu, thank you for the clarification. I am trying hard to get a decent core of boys who can be trusted - yes, trusted - to act as independently as that. When I was a youth we could be and were. In my view that means maturity, appropriate rank with all that entails (learned skills and responsible behavior), and the ability to react without the crutch of a cell phone call for every hangnail. RR

Anti-patrol method policy? Did I overlook something? Always willing to learn from others. RR

Howdy folks. I've been surfing the 'net tonight in preparation for summer camp the end of the week, and found a link that eventually lead me here. Long time Scout and Scouter. Even with too-long breaks once I aged out I am approaching 25 years total, a wee bit shy of the 60 years I awarded recognition for to one of our Troop's Committee members earlier this year. Originally from western Iowa I came here from central Iowa and have been living here and serving with this troop for almost 6 years. I started out as a ASM and was later told I was taking over as the SM decided to retire from Scouting. It has been an uphill climb ever since. Hope to learn and share. RR