Summer Camps

[insanescouter]

(Note I am posting these questions several places)

 

I just returned from summer camp with my Troop. We went to an out of Council Camp. However the local Council has asked me to assist them with their local camp for 2005 (marketing, program ideas, changes to be made, etc). It is from these two point of view that I am sending this email.

 

The more specifics and details you provide the better your answers will help me. Even real examples will be useful.

 

1. What thing(s) stand out most in your mind about summer camp? The things that impressed you the most, or the least.

 

2. If you could change anything about the summer camp you went to. what would it be?

 

3. What would you like to see summer camps do that they currently are not doing?

 

4. In your experience are the merit badges to easy to earn at summer camp? For example Wilderness Survival in 30 mins, Leatherwork in leass then an hour (plus making project in camp), most of nature in less a hour, etc.

 

5. Would you like to see the mess hall, and food services done in a different way?

 

6. Does the camp use a website effectively, if so how, and what is its address (www.mycamp.com)?

 

7. How do you fund summer camp? The parents pay the fees? Fundraisiers? Does the Troop pay for the adults?

 

8. Did the staff appear to be on the lazy side, immature, unwilling to work with your Scouts, or were they great?

 

9. Can you provide me with details from a Camp / Program Director point of view? (examples Camp Budget, meal planning, donations, what happens months before cam starts, hiring staff, facility maintenance, etc)

 

10. Any other info that may help...

 

I would really like BSA guidelines in regards to summer camps including accreditation requirements and details.

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer as many of my questions as you can. This data will help me put together a proposal for my council. I will also be willing to share the answers to these questions.

 

Happy and Wacky Scouting

 

Scott Robertson

Webmaster

www.insanescouter.org

www.webelos.org

 

[Eamonn]

1/Most: The time and effort that so many put into the programs offered.

Least: Where does the Patrol Method go???

2/ We as an organization need to take a look at what summer camp is all about? Is it a place to earn Merit Badges and maybe have some fun? Or is a place to have fun and maybe pick up a couple of merit badges? (I think the answer is in the Vision statement of the BSA.)

3/ Going to cheat and give two answers.

Give those that attend the chance to try new and different activities just for the sake of trying them.

Also more emphasis on the Patrol Method.

4/ Why ask a question and then answer it yourself? However the people working at camp do need more training. Or we need to pay better wages in order to attract people that are more qualified. As long as we are dealing in quantity the quality is going to suffer.

5/ While at our council camp troops do have the option of cooking for themselves. Most don't because of the time spent rushing from class to class. Looking at the troops that do cook it seems that the adults are doing all the cooking.Feeding 200 or more people at a time is never easy. Finding menus that are kid friendly is really hard.

6/ No

7/ Most troops run fund raising events. Parents pick up the balance. Scoutmaster is free and there is a scale of how many free leaders to how many Scouts.

8/ The Staff seems to be getting younger. They seem very keen to do their best. Could be that our expectations of a 15 or 16 year old are too high.

9 & 10/ Will do later.

Eamonn

[insanescouter]

Eamonn,

 

You bring up many good points. Some that others brought up in Newsgroups and ScoutL, among other places that I have posted this, and some no one has brought up.

 

For example how can Patrol method be better supported by a summer camp staff? How can directors better prepare and select staff to better teach merit badges? And how can a camp put on a better program for all?

 

Who knows where all of this is going, but I will do what I can to make camp a better place for all Scouts and Scouters.

 

InsaneScouter

www.insanescouter.org

[EagleInKY]

1. When the staff is courteous and helpful (to adults and boys) it makes a big impression on us all.

 

2. Quit giving away merit badges - especially the Eagle required ones.

 

3. More high adventure opportunities - even "mid adventure" for the younger scouts. Give them time on the climbing wall, shooting ranges and in the sailboats (within safe scouting rules, of course).

 

4. Basketry, Leatherwork & Woodcarving are great first year scout merit badges. Easy to do, and the projects help occupy the slow times (thus preventing home-sickness).

 

5. Using a little spice might elp.

 

6. Ours just has the leader guide and some basic info. I wish we could do all of the registration process online.

 

7. Boys (parents) pay their fee. A portion of their fund-raising goes into scout accounts, which can be used for summer camp.

 

8. All of the above.... some were great, some were not.

 

9. Nothing to share. I worked three summers of Scout camp, but not from a program director perspective.

 

10. A few comments from this year's camp:

http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=67294