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Summer camp advice for Scouters from a former camp director.
When I was a camp director the Scouts were never really a significant challenge. My biggest challenges often came from the ‘adult’ leaders who accompany the Scouts to camp.
- Don’t over-do it and make yourself into a time bomb.
When hot tired, hungry, and thirsty get cool, rested, fed, and hydrated. I tend to be cranky if I don’t look after myself (years of observation prove that many of my fellow leaders may share the same problem). - Camp staff members are great people.
Younger staffers are learning and growing just like your Scouts – be considerate and supportive of them. - Never berate, criticize, argue with or yell at a staff member, youth leader or fellow adult leader in the presence of Scouts.
No matter how much you think they deserve it. A quiet talk at an appropriate distance will usually solve the problem (and the problem may turn out to be yours). - Don’t “pull rank”.
You are a Scoutmaster, not a general or an admiral, so there really isn’t any rank to pull is there? You occupy a position that demands respect in and of itself, but don’t make a big deal out of it. Don’t ask for special privileges or try to impress staff members with your self importance. - Get with the program and encourage your Scouts to join in.
Even if the program, in your humble opinion, isn’t all that good. A lively audience does more than anything to enliven and energize a performer. - Participate in ceremonies, traditions and practices of the camp even if they are unfamiliar to you.
Camps and camp staffs are proud of their traditions; imposing your way of doing things on their program is a rude as imposing your way of doing things in someone else’s home. - Carefully monitor any inter-troop rivalries that may develop.
Scout aged boys are hyper-competitive and often need to be reminded about fairness, courtesy and sportsmanship. Set the tone of gentlemanly competition and require it of your Scouts. - Give your youth leaders all the responsibility for success.
See that they understand what needs to be done, how and why and then observe from a great distance. Check in with them every evening, ask lots of questions and put your oar in only when it is asked or it is matter of safety. - Be proud of your Scouts, encourage them, congratulate them, admire them. Don’t try to be one of them.
When the rare opportunity to join in at the boy level presents itself jump in, but don’t interfere with their fun. - Be as patient with your shortcomings as you are with those of your Scouts.
Don’t sacrifice the perfectly good on the altar of perfection.
I plan to pass this out to the parents going to camp with us this year if you don’t mind.
My older son is staffing at a Council Summer Camp this year for the first time. He volunteered to work in the first year camper skills program. Three Scoutmaster quotes he has relayed to me from his first Troop on the first day of camp were particularly sad.
1. “We don’t let our young Scouts do the first year programs at Summer Camps, we have Scoutmasters that we trust teach them all those skills during troop meetings.”
2. “Sonny, I been teaching Scouts this stuff since long before you were born, I am sure I won’t need your help.”
3. “We don’t let our kids carry water bottles around with them because they might forget them somewhere.”
Yeah, really. He said they did all have nice matching t-shirts and the SPL wore a snappy Red Beret and yelled a lot. So there is that.
Wow.
My first year as a Scouter at Camp Oljato, our camp director insisted that we call the boys “Scouts”. He felt that if you call them kids, they act like kids. If you call them Scouts,…
One summer at Worth Scout Ranch in west Texas, I got slightly hyponatremic. I knew I was drinking enough water, but still felt tired and had headaches. I started salting my food at meals and it cleared up.
Great advice from the camp director’s standpoint. Too often we lose the perspective that summer camp is the boys’ opportunity to experience leadership and self-reliance for an entire week, not just for a weekend or an evening. The Scout Law should govern our actions, and we must keep the main aim in view.
Thanks Clarke! Our troop has added 5 new dads to the camp roster this year, and this post was perfect to remind them that Scout camps are not military camps. I wanted to thank all of the other dads out there who are going to spend their Fathers’ Days driving Scouts to camp instead of enjoying a whole-family pamper. Our dads will be making a 5+ drive with 17 Scouts instead of having steak and a nice dessert. No offense intended to our Summer camp kitchen staff!!!
Hydration is the KEY! If you are dehydrated you don’t think clearly. Hydrate! Make sure your scouts do the same for a pleasant simmer camp.