karunamom3

Not given any drawings or sketches. That would have helped! And I cant find any using the description given. Thanks for your advice

I am from a newer troop with little to no pioneering experience. The scouts have decided to enter the Klondike this year with 3 weeks to go. We have zero idea on how to build what they are supposed build and many, many google searches turn up no results. Do you have any good pioneering resources that we can search for help? We may end up skipping this town I fear. Thanks!

A lot to unpack here. Thank you. Maturity... That is one of our biggest challenges. Our oldest scout is only 14. Most are 11/12. We are lacking older scouts. It's not easy. Your two rules are great. And yes our adults do need to learn to step back. So this year in camp everyone has to travel together due to Covid restrictions. All the scouts and leaders have to move from one program area to the next as a group. Unfortunately, some of the responsibility that falls on the scouts will be lost this year. But at least we can camp

Ah... Pooping and parents. Two things we haven't given much thought to yet 😉. I appreciate the insight on both topics Luckily we do have fairly nice bathrooms where we are going and latrines too. I never would have thought to switch tent mates mid week. But that was suggested more than once. Interesting. I can definitely see a benefit to it.

This is our newer units first summer camp. (Last year we did virtual). Who decides patrols and tent mates? I have read that units have either adults or scouts choose for summer camp. Seems like its more the adults choosing for summer camp. What do you do? Give me your best summer camp advice. Thanks

You nailed it. We are in bear country. Black bears. And we are talking late April when they are hungry. And the rules seem fuzzy to me and to our council since they couldnt answer my questions besides telling me there are grey areas. Our goal was to bring our newly crossed over AOLs to the council camp we plan to go to for summer resident camp. They can see and experience it. Solidifying their decision to go to camp, hopefully. No way can we expect folks to buy all kinds of equipment when so many are struggling. Geeze, we can just simply go camping as a group of friends, not under the auspices of the BSA, and none of this would be an issue. I hate to think that way because I love scouts. Guess a call to National is in order.

I can not find any details on the BSA site referencing rules for family camping and scouts BSA. All I can find is this under Camping... Family Camping "Family camping is an outdoor experience, other than resident camping, that involves Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Sea Scouting or Venturing program elements in overnight settings with two or more family members, including at least one BSA member of that family. Parents are responsible for the supervision of their children, and Youth Protection policies apply." Looking at the quote I copied above, family camping may apply to Scouts BSA, Sea Scouts & Venturing. Our council is only allowing Troops to "family camp" at this time.

Our council is requiring Troops to family camp at this time and it seems to leave some "grey areas". After a discussion with council today and hearing "again, it is a grey area" I feel like few of our questions have been answered. I figured maybe someone here can give some insight. So our biggest question is can a parent tent with a scout? It is family camping, not troop or patrol camping. I understand that no leader should tent with a youth according to YPT. Would that rule hold during a family camping event? Can a father & son or mother & daughter tent together? What about a parent that is not a leader? I believe almost all of our parents have YPT so we will meet that requirement. No youth can tent with another that is more that 2yrs apart in age. Does that hold with family camping? So then parent/child tenting would be out because of age? Any thoughts on a troop family camping? Thanks!

Thanks for the replies. I like the idea of a summer picnic. I will run it by our committee.

Is it in writing somewhere that cub scout camping counts? I can't find anything. Or is it assumed because the award says something like under BSA, so that includes cubs. If that's the case, does cub scout hiking, swimming, etc count too for the other awards?

So what is everyone doing for a blue & gold dinner this year? We are looking for ideas. Here in NJ we are restricted to only 10ppl inside. Last year we had around 90ppl attend. We usually hold it the last weekend in Feb. We are thinking of delaying it until warm weather so we can meet outside or doing something virtually over Zoom. What are you doing?

Our council doesn't have a pool, but this is a great idea! Thanks.

Thanks everyone for all of the great points on this topic! I appreciate your advice. I do agree. This scout in particular really is not fond of nature, bugs, outdoor camping, etc. I have seen him blossom in many of these areas which is great, but lake swimming will be tough. He went in last year, but wouldn't go over his head.

We are a newer troop with not much experience in how to handle the swimming portion of ranks. 2 of our scouts earned the swimming MB last year at camp. The camp let us know that the work on the MB can be used toward their ranks.... pass the beginners and full bsa swim test, etc. So what do you do in a year like this one when there is no summer camp? I can't see holding scouts back from earning rank because we are not going to camp and swimming. In addition, we have one scout who absolutely hates swimming in lakes. He freezes up. I have a pool and have seem him spend hours playing in it, jumping in, etc. I am not sure he can do laps, but the difference I have seen between lake and pool is great. (He was here for non BSA fun) So, Is it possible for the scouts to swim in my pool for the rank requirements? I will have to take some kind of training first I imagine? (Safe swim defense?) Who needs to be here to verify the work has been done satisfactorily? Anyone else besides the SM or do we need a certified lifeguard or BSA trained individual?