SeanScott1

Unless it isn't a pig to begin with. Just because you called it one for some reason doesn't make it so.

We all come from many walks in Scouting, I am sure. What is most amazing to me is that based on purely opinion, which was expressed, that the program is an easy-way to Eagle. Points-of-fact, first while endorsed by the council and run as a council program, it is entirely volunteer led. 45 Adult volunteers on average year. Average attendance 75 boys. Program originated approximately 18 years ago in a slightly different form at Camp La No Che, called Eagle Week by an Eagle Scout/Silver Beaver as a special program run during regular Summer Camp at Camp La No Che, focused toward boys who were usually older and needed to work on their Eagle Required MBs. It was revised in 2008 and a new, scandalous name of Air Conditioned Eagle Encampment was erected, by 3 volunteers from the prior iteration of the program to include the A/C element and slightly re-organized, as it was concluded by consensus that working on any academic, school book, or (whatever you'd like to call merit badges that do not have outdoor components to them), in the outdoors at the end of July in Central Florida was just stupid. So the 3 volunteers revised and reorganized the program to include air conditioning, as a practical use that's been around for quite a few years in the United States they'd heard. The 3 primary volunteers heading this revamp up were all Wood Badge Trained, All 3 Silver Beavers, two are Eagle Scouts, all have been to Philmont at least once and the Program Director has been led Philmont Council Contingents or Troop Treks 5 times in the last 15 years. None are interested at all in an easy ride to Eagle, for any boy. And all constantly promote the outdoor program in the Central Florida Council, their district, and the local Troop-level, in the form of Camping, Hiking and Backpacking regularly. What the aim in Eagle Encampment and it's predecessor was just to have a solid and professional opportunity for any boy in Scouting to experience a very focused week, that requires a lot of pre-requisites to arrive at camp with, and required participation in the teaching environment to work on Eagle Required merit badges. Add to that, the goal to make sure the boys didn't have a 15 year old teaching them Citizenship in the World. So they went out and recruited qualified counselors for each merit badge. Volunteers that were actually merit badge counselors vetted to teach the specific merit badges at Eagle Encampment. Professionals in the community engaged in things like financial planning and accounting to be involved in teaching/counseling Personal Management effectively. State and Federal Judges involved in the Citizenship merit badges. You understand the difference and purpose here, I'm sure. The impact the opportunity has on advancement is undoubtedly huge. But no Scout shows up and just gets a merit badge, like many merit badge factories as can often be found at quite a few summer camps. They have to earn it on their own. They are provided opportunities to experience the presentations and interact with qualified professionals, and the Scouts prepared pre-requisites. The boys while at camp choose to engage in, or not at their discretion. They never have it handed to them, EVER! I'm sure we all can have a differing opinion on a lot of things, A/C Eagle Encampment is a solid program for the boys. If it were possible to have you talk to boys that have gone through the program in today's "privacy concerned" society, I could give you countless examples of the honest-to-goodness excellence the program is. But suffice to say, it's a hard driven week that most of the boys look back at with great accomplishment, at all the relationships gleaned, knowledge gained, works completed and fun and camaraderie experienced. I read all the comments and replies and I know where you're coming from and don't disagree in many points, but to pick on this program without your carcass having actually witnessed the excellence of the program is honestly just funny. That's the truth, not an opinion. Feel free to schedule some time at the program this next year, Air Conditioned Eagle Encampment will be running it's 8th Annual in 2015, June14th - June 19th. See you there so you can quit whining. You might learn your opinion has no connection to reality in this case. YIS - SS