What should I expect?

[Sarge]

I just put my non-refundable deposit down for my sons first cub scout summer camp.

What should I be expecting when we get there?

Are the kids scheduled dawn (or before) to dusk?

Is it all fun and games or are there advancement/awards opprotunities?

 

Is there a chance for the leaders to step back away from the kids and chill for a while?

 

I have talked to parents of the boys in my wolf den that went last year, and they said they had a good time.

However, they were just coming off their Tiger year and were still young.

Now, with them about to be Bears, their maturity level is much higher (watched many of them improve in just the last few months...) and there might be some advanced training they could attend, if they so choose. Curious what may or may not be offered.

 

I'm using vacation time to get away from work. Will I need to use more as a vacation from my vacation to recover?

[adamsdwa]

"What should I expect?"

 

FUN, FUN, FUN....

 

Go with an open mind ready to let the boys be boys and enjoy it. If they don't make the birdhouse just right, or miss the target, so be it. Let them enjoy the experience and allow them some freedoms to "enjoy" new things.

 

If it's a worthwhile summer camp you will have things to do pretty much all day into the evening campfire. You should have some time after the fire to sit back and relax before going to bed. Last year we left with 1/2 our Bear requirements done.

 

Not much chance for leaders to step back as Cub Scouting is a family program and you will need to be your son's partner in most things. But, maybe you're like me and Dad could use a chance to step back into the child's world every once and a while. Some parent's did swap of duties in our group - but remember you're opportunity to sit back and relax is someone's else's opportunity to share a new experience with your child.

 

I hope you enjoy - we sure did!

[raisinemright]

I've never done Cub Scout resident camp (this year will be the first time) but day camp is best described as "three days of chasing the Little rascals around."

 

Success is best achieved when they fall asleep on the ride home. Real success is if you have several scouts and they all fall asleep on the way home.

 

Scout camps tens to be fairly tightly scheduled, but there is some specified downtime. Some activities are less intense that others too.

 

The key is to put yourself in the kids shoes, act like big kids and have fun.

[gwd-scouter]

Cub Resident Camp is Fun - both for the parents and the boys. I attended camp with my son for three years and then was a camp director for five more. The most fun I've ever had in Scouting.

 

There is another thread running about training opportunities for leaders during Cub resident camp. Not a bad idea, but at least during my years there wasn't any time during the four days to really put on anything meaningful as far as leader training. The adults were expected to stay with their sons during the camp.

 

Activities ran from after breakfast until about 5:00. Dinner was at 6:00 followed by evening activities. The only free time was after lunch when there was a rest period (a requirement to meet National standards).

 

We actually had two different camps running: Webelos came for four days and three nights, Cubs for three days and two nights. Webelos would arrive on Wednesday evening, check in, get to their campsites, do swim tests, then gather at the flagpoles in their dens - the dens were created by me based on the registrations, I tried to keep members of the same Pack/District together. Each den would select a den leader and assistant for the weekend (mostly to make sure the boys stayed together and made their way to each activity). The dens, with the help of a couple of staff members, would take time the first evening to create a den name, cheer, and flag based on the theme for that year's camp.

 

After that, the staff would take the dens around camp for a tour, sing songs and have general fun with the boys while I conducted an orientation session for the parents and leaders. All ended with a crackerbarrel in the dining hall before lights out.

 

On Thursday evening the Wolf and Bear Cubs would arrive and go through the same process, while the Webelos left camp and went down the road to do a night of tent camping.

 

We had six activity rotations on Thursday for the Webelos and Friday for the Cubs which were the same for both: swimming, canoeing/rowing, archery, BBs, nature, and a craft that kept with the theme. On Friday, we had six additional rotations for the Webelos targeted to activity pins such as readyman, outdoorsman, forester, aquanaut, scientist, etc.

 

We had free time on Friday night after dinner for the dens to get together and practice their skits for the Friday night campfire. Then on Saturday we had campwide games planned to fit in with that year's theme. Camp closed at noon on Saturday.

 

That's a snapshot of what you could expect attending our camp. Yours may differ slightly, but probably not too much since a lot of what we did had to meet with National Camp Standards.

 

Edited to add: we handed out sheets to the adults during the orientation that showed what advancements their sons could earn during the rotations. Also, we did have safe swim/safety afloat during the rest period after lunch.(This message has been edited by gwd-scouter)

[shortridge]

Good advice and snapshots from everyone else. Some additional observations:

 

- As an adult leader/parent, you'll generally be expected to help out and supervise the young'uns, so you will stay busy. There may be a staffer assigned to your group as a "program specialist" to lead you around camp, fill waiting times, sing songs, play games, etc. That can give you some breathing space.

 

- Get into the theme of the camp - pirates, knights, Wild West, space, etc. Brainstorm with your Cubs what they can do or bring that'll help them have fun with the theme - eyepatches, mini catapults, "ray guns," etc. That'll set your guys apart.

 

- The best advice I can give you is study the camp rules and schedules closely. If your Bears want to do an evening archery program, for example, make sure you or another leader gets to the camp office in time to sign up first, otherwise the slot will be filled post-haste and the kids will be disappointed. If the camp has certain rules about what you can or cannot have in a campsite (glass bottles, for example), then follow those rules.

 

- If there's a program your kids want to do and it's not part of the plan, just ask. At the camp I staffed for five years, we offered Whittling Chip instruction as an option. It wasn't one of our regularly scheduled offerings because a lot of dens had already done it on their own. If you want to take the Cubs on a nature or sightseeing hike, ask for advice on trails and scenic spots - or ask a staffer if they could lead you on an adventure into the unmapped environs.

[Hal_Crawford]

Best tip I got was to bring a lightweight, folding stool/chair that you can carry with you to the program areas. There is a lot of time spent waiting and watching while cubs participate. While there are sometimes opportunities to help if you are qualified there is still a lot of down time during which it helps to be comfortable.

 

[Lisabob]

Hello Sarge,

 

Like others say, cub resident camp is a blast. I'd just add that the advancement vs. just fun divide you seem to start with is a bit erroneous, in terms of how you approach this. Looking at the requirements for Bears, most of them ARE fun. For example, I've never met a boy who did not have fun with archery while at camp. Most boys love swimming and water sports. Kids that age love playing active games with their den. The various nature/wildlife activities tend to fascinate most boys. Telling tall tales around a campfire at night while eating cobbler that the boys made in the dutch oven can't be beat. Building bird houses or other wood crafts is exciting for most boys. And all of those fit somewhere into various advancement requirements too. Think about not only the Bear requirements, but also belt loops and other awards that the boys can earn! But most of all, let your guys have a good time and let them make choices about what they want to do.

[ghermanno]

Sarge,

 

You didn't say if yours was a "Day Camp" or "Resident Camp" and if it last the full week or just a few days.

 

As others have stated, "Be Prepared" for controled chaos.

 

If a "Day Camp" the boys time throughout the day should be scheduled with a little down time around lunch. My Day camps kept the boys having fun that most fell asleep on the rides home at night.

 

If a "Resident camp" the boys time should be scheduled till around lights out. There probably will be a period or two per day for leaders work with the Den on projects but parents (those not working in the camp) normally are required only for sleeping time. the "Den Leaders" will be responsible for moving boys from session to session.

 

Both offer advancement opportunities by doing things. The emphasis is on the doing (not on the advancement) so it is up to the "Program Director/Den Leader" to ensure that a list of achievements is provided to the parents (Akela) after the camp.

 

That said, I suggest you volunteer to help. It is the most enjoyable hard work you will ever do. Seeing the kids smile as the go from session to session and having fun... You might need some time after camp to recuperate but most don't as the kids having fun have a weird rejuvinating affect on us adults too.

 

Enjoy.

 

Rick