Summer Camp on ScoutmasterCG Archive

Preparing Scout Parents for Summer Camp

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Scout parents are usually less prepared for summer camp than their Scouts.

Parents of Scouts headed to camp (especially for the first time) are going to be anxious; they may find the experience more difficult than their Scouts will. It’s fair to expect Scout parents may feel uncomfortable turning over full-time care of their child, especially to Scouters they may have just gotten to know. They may worry about their Scout’s diet at camp, who will be looking after daily concerns like clean clothes or taking a shower, and how their Scout is getting along. Our good intentions can go awry if rational concern becomes paranoia, when we overplay natural parental fears. How can Scout parents prepare themselves?

Summer Camp Letters- Day One

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0000

DAY ONE This is the forst of several summer camp letters from Chester County Council’s Camp Horseshoe.

Horseshoe offers one of the last seven day traditional Boy Scout summer resident camp programs in the country. With over 40+ merit badge choices, a stellar first-year program, computer lab, STEM offerings, a multitude of SIP’s as well as older-Scout program opportunities including COPE, mountain biking and Independent Merit Badge Studies.

Summer Camp Thoughts for Scoutmasters

Sun, 20 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Summer camps all over the country opened over the last couple of weeks. The role of the Scoutmaster during a week at summer camp is crucial to a successful stay for his or her Scouts. What is a successful week at camp? That is largely for the troop to decide. Here are some goals to consider; Patrol Building Encourage patrol growth by making Patrol function integral to any activity at camp.

Scout Summer Camp Information

Tue, 23 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Summer camp time has arrived! Here’s some information from ScoutmasterCG.com for everyone heading to camp this summer: A Scoutmaster’s day at Scout Camp It’s a great privilege to be a guest of the Scouts while we are at summer camp for the week. Here’s what our average day looks like.

Sharing a Campsite Larry Gieger’s cautionary (and hilarious) tale and excellent advice on sharing a campsite.

I awoke slowly early Monday morning at Scout camp and enjoyed listening to the stream and the birds. A cool breeze coming through the open tent flap… what could be better?

Which Scout Summer Camp?

Sun, 31 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Two troops, same Scout summer camp, same week; one troop has a wonderful time and goes home smiling, one has a difficult time and leaves unhappy. Some of my fondest Scouting memories come from the years I spent working on our Scout summer camp staff and serving as a camp director.

After observing hundreds of troops and thousands of Scouts for a dozen summers I learned there’s one thing that makes or breaks a week at camp. Is it the facilities, location, staff, or program? Can these things assure that your stay at camp this summer will be a positive one? The short answer is no, evaluating a camp’s facilities, location, staff, or program actually has very little to do with the experience you’ll have once you are there. The most reliable predictor of the sort of experience you will have is what you bring with you.

Troop Bank

Sat, 12 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

When a Scout arrives at summer camp with our troop he deposits all of his money in the troop bank. He’s been told to bring his money in one dollar bills to keep things simple. The troop scribe collects all the money and records deposits in a small notebook. The cash and the notebook go into a metal strongbox that is locked with a padlock and placed in an inconspicuous place (usually under a tent platform) and the padlock key, on a lanyard, is placed in another inconspicuous spot.

Scout Summer Camp Benefits

Thu, 01 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Your son comes home from Scout summer camp more capable and mature than the boy you waved goodbye to a short week ago.

Outside of the normal support structure of his family, away from the solitary distractions of modernity, a Scout must both take care of himself and cooperate with his peers. He does all this in a supportive environment that permits failure without compromising safety. He’ll be challenged to expand his abilities, to accept and offer help, and to function cooperatively in everyday tasks. Here’s some of what your Scout does at Camp: Gets up in the morning on schedule.

Rethinking Summer Camp Merit Badges

Thu, 04 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

What are your expectations for summer camp merit badges? To most of us and to nearly all of our Scouts the central feature of the week at camp is earning merit badges. But what if it wasn’t? What if Scouts exchanged earning summer camp merit badges for learning and doing the things that actually interest them, the kind of things that Scouts do, instead ? Want to take your patrol on an overnight hike in some remote part of camp? Want to learn to swim, shoot a rifle, how to identify plants, learn about the stars, cook in a dutch oven, learn to tie a dozen knots, cut and split a half a pile of fire wood, make a sheath for your ax, a belt, or a candle lantern? How about studying the interrelationships of the natural environment or how to find your way with (or without) a map and compass?

Working With Homesick Scouts

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

If you are headed off to camp this summer it’s likely you will be working with one or more homesick Scouts.

Understanding, preventing and treating homesickness ought to be approached like administering first aid for any other illness or injury.

Homesickness is not imaginary, it’s not an indication of weakness or lack of character, it’s not a symptom of bad parenting or bad leadership and, thankfully, it’s reasonably easy to prevent.

Preparing Parents for Summer Camp

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Parents are usually less prepared for summer camp than their sons.

Parents concentrate on preparing children for summer camp but may be unaware how much they will miss and worry about their child. They may feel uncomfortable turning over full-time care to people they have just gotten to know. They worry about what kind of food he’ll be eating, who will be looking after daily concerns like clean clothes and taking a shower, if the other boys will tease him. What happens if he just doesn’t like camp? Can he call home or can his parents call him?

Merit Badge Thoughts

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000

We had a wonderful, if somewhat damp, week at summer camp and our Scouts arrived home happily tired from having a great time.

Merit Badge work is a big part of summer camp so there are usually some conversations about the quality of instruction and the effort extended by Scouts in completing requirements.

There is talk of ‘merit badge factories’ of ‘giving away’ badges and so forth as if a merit badge was something the counselor could give away in the first place. Some counselors are better than others and some Scouts are more adept at certain skills so evaluating the work done for a given badge is evaluated on a very subjective scale. What is important is that a Scout has been given instruction in and opportunity to experience subjects that interest him.

Summer Camp! More Dos and Don'ts

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Summer camp is a big part of most Troop annual programs. A week of opportunity awaits and what follows is some advice on how to make the best of it.

Preparing Scouts for camp is relatively simple, preparing adults is somewhat more difficult and important.

Without wishing to sound like a broken record most difficulties in Scouting arise from adults who misunderstand their role.

Simply put the role of adults at camp is not any different than their year-round responsibilities; to enable the Scouts to plan, prepare and lead their own program. DO encourage Scouts to plan, prepare and lead their week at camp – DON’T impose your goals and aspirations on them.

Scouts and Homesickness

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Night falls on the first day at summer camp; the big opening campfire is over, the troop has returned to the campsite, the Scouts are preparing for taps. Just after we end the Patrol Leader’s Council a young scout, at camp for his first time, is wandering around the edge of a pool of lantern light.

I know exactly why he is there; he and his brethren have been there for twenty plus years – he is one of my homesick Scouts.