Should other boy youth groups be allowed to attend scout summer camp (on a space available basis) with BSA troops?

[RememberSchiff]

Should other boy youth groups be allowed to attend scout summer camp (on a space available basis) with BSA troops?

[Scouter99]

World Brotherhood of Scouting.

Several years ago, in a camp that was already packed to double capacity, there was some kind of high-school-aged boy/girl group in camp I don't believe they were Venturers, but they appeared to be some kind of ROTC group. Their adult leader was a constant annoyance during flags every morning and evening, barking his own commands to his group out of sync with the other 920 people, loudly. Their PT all over camp required a lot of dodging or getting steamrolled. etc

Place was already packed over capacity, food ran short all week, and here's Himmler II and the young Marines taking up space.

[skeptic]

Camps should be used as much as possible. If we have space in a camp, and the group is willing to work within camp program and rules, then why not. If you had a group like noted above, the leaders should have been pulled aside and told they are violating the camp rules and being rude to the other campers. If they continued, then they should have been sent home. Of course any such action should be pre warned in their accepting the time in camp and acknowledging the stipulations. An over crowded camp is worse than one not at capacity, and that needs to be considered by an attentive council.

[boomerscout]

First, you'll need to make sure insurance covers non-Scout groups enmeshed into Scouting activities. Many Council camps make available their facilities when Scout camp is not in session. The only problem I foresee is the "outsiders" won't understand or practice the Scout Laws, leave no trace camping, or being helpful to others. They may even taint the Scouts by having IYAs (individual youth accounts).

[Stosh]

It's good to keep the camp at full capacity, but again I would be concerned about liability and the inability of the non-scout group to function adequately within the program offered. They have no experience of what is expected and could either be a pain in the butt or needing babysitting for the week.

 

Possibly an off-summer camp weekend shakedown by the group would give the camp the heads up as to what to expect prior to their arrival. Better to say no at that point and not embarrass anyone by kicking them out mid-week.

 

Stosh

[qwazse]

Not enough experience to have an opinion on this one. Shared council facilities with outside groups on weekends and such, and everyone pretty much kept to themselves, or collaborated in a couple of common activities. Not sure how a week long camp would work,

[TAHAWK]

We had Jr R.O.T.C. in camp when one week of NYLT was running. They communicated great contempt for the Scouts and Scouters (pointing, laughing), and knee-slapping, would not comply with agreed shower schedule, and left a mess in the shower house and area. Not a happy experience.

[Basementdweller]

We had a church youth group at a BSA summer camp my first year with the troop.

 

They were coed and it caused issues. Especially at the pool.

 

I didn't fully appreciate what a distraction they were until several years later.

 

 

[Basementdweller]

We had Jr R.O.T.C. in camp when one week of NYLT was running. They communicated great contempt for the Scouts and Scouters (pointing' date=' laughing), and knee-slapping, would not comply with agreed shower schedule, and left a mess in the shower house and area. Not a happy experience.[/quote']

 

 

Our troop kicks the crap out of the one of the Local Rotc groups at the orienteering competitions.

 

Yes the Rotc folks do not like scouts or scouters.

[AlamanceScouter]

Only when summer camp is not in session.

[RememberSchiff]

Thanks for the feedback. Somehow the insurance issue has not surfaced locally, though there was a discussion about the YP training in non-scout groups that use our scout camps.

[dedkad]

I think if a few non-Scouts wanted to attend on an individual basis, that would be OK. Having a whole other group come could possibly create an "us" and "them" attitude and would be counter-productive.

[SR540Beaver]

I know we have an Indian tribe that rents our summer camp and a religious group that rents another property each year, but it is not while summer camp is in session.

[Cambridgeskip]

From the other side of the pond..... it's quite common over here for non scout groups to use scout campsites. Includes Girl Guides, Schools, Boys and Girls Brigade, Wood Craft Folk and military cadets. Generally they are charged significantly more than scout groups.

 

For the most part they have never been a problem. Once met some obnoxious wood craft folk but they have a reputation for being anti scouts. They laughed, teased and generally disrupted a campfire. They were politely asked to go back to their tents. Other than that though it's never been a problem.

[pchadbo]

So we are bashing the ROTC folks? How many of those ROTC units are Explorer posts. They may be the ignored, never mentioned ugly step child of the BSA but Explorers are still considered "Scouts"