Summer Camp Advancement

[TheGreyArea]

I am looking for an opinion on first class path advancement at summer camp.

 

Do you feel that it is acceptable for the Scoutmaster of a provisional unit to sign off on first class path advancement requirements, such as building a fire cooking over the fire, demonstrating first aid technique, etcetera etcetera?

 

How would you handle this?

[Gone]

I am looking for an opinion on first class path advancement at summer camp.

 

Do you feel that it is acceptable for the Scoutmaster of a provisional unit to sign off on first class path advancement requirements, such as building a fire cooking over the fire, demonstrating first aid technique, etcetera etcetera?

 

How would you handle this?

 

If by provisional you mean that the troop was formed as a contingent of many scouts from several troops? No, I would not sign off. I would document what was done with the scout and send that to his home unit. Most summer camps do not sign books either. They will note what was covered and send that home with the scout. Some units check how well the scout learned the content and then sign off.

[Stosh]

I would not sign for any scout that is not registered with my troop, nor would I as SM direct anyone from my troop to do so.  As a MB counselor that is different, my sign off is expected when the work is finished.

[qwazse]

I have mixed feelings. Technically, I always want to see a PL's signature in nearly all but the last two reqs for Tenderfoot 2nd Class and 1st Class. But then, I want that to be a PL/SPL I recognize. So I can understand why an SM might take that responsibility for a provisional camper.

 

It sounds like you don't know this SM very well, and the boy garnered a lot of signatures.

I'd either

1. Give the guy a call.

2. Ask the scout to review the skills he mastered with his PL, and get the PL's opinion.

[Eagle94-A1]

Depends upon who was the provisional SM. Also depends upon what the camp posted in their guide book.

 

I say that because I know some camps will put their 1st year camper staff as the provisional troop leaders. I was an exception, but that was because 25% of the provo troop were my scouts from the home troop. Some camps have the FYC staff sign off in the books, some have a handout, and some just state "This was worked on and your scout should be able to do." and leave the signing up to the troop.

 

While I'm a big proponent of youth signing off on the T-2-1, and after January 1, 2016 S-T-2-1, ranks. I do have some concerns about youth signing off.

 

1)  Youth leaders can only sign up to their own rank. So a Tenderfoot PL cannot sign off on Second Class requirements.

 

2) Non-youth leaders APPOINTED by the SPL to teach a skill, are acceptable to sign off.

[TheGreyArea]

So, I guess I wasn't very clear. what I'm wondering is this... You have the left hand box and then the right hand box on where the SM is expected to sign...

 

Would initials in the left hand side be acceptable...

 

An then have the SM review it.

[Hedgehog]

So, I guess I wasn't very clear. what I'm wondering is this... You have the left hand box and then the right hand box on where the SM is expected to sign...

 

Would initials in the left hand side be acceptable...

 

An then have the SM review it.

 

 

 Similar to others, we don't have adults sign off on T through 1st requiements.  More senior scouts will sign off for the younger scouts.  In our troop, the SM or ASMs only sign off on service hours, scout spirit and SM conference.  

 

At summer camp, our scouts working toward 1st Class get a sheet showing what was reviewed.  The scouts take that to a Guide, APL, PL ASPL or SPL for sign off.

[qwazse]

@@TheGreyArea, as you can see, scouters try to be flexible when it comes to sign-offs, we try to assign it to boy leaders, and sometimes use adults as a fall back, but the buck stops at:

 

Does the boy have the skills?

 

People don't always appreciate that with this provisional camping stuff, it takes a good deal of communication. Now, the shortest loop is with the boy and his home PL. If he comes back tying knots, inviting his buddies over to cook a meal, lashing catapults, etc ... and mom complains that his pack is now sitting at the ready at the foot of the kid's bed ... the PL will be talking about it, and the boy's permanent SM can be confident in those signatures. If the home troop is not that cohesive, the SM may have to make a few phone calls. It is necessarily a learning experience for all parties involved.