Re: Unit-run summer camps
Alan Houser (troop24@EMF.NET)
Mon, 9 Aug 1999 09:07:21 -0700
What I have observed locally from troops that have run their own
summer camp program is that it requires a lot of adult staff support.
Yes, there are tremendous opportunities for the older Scouts to learn
about planning and logistics, but do they get to enjoy camp while
they are running it? Do they get to earn merit badges while teaching
them?
Only ten years ago, there were four Berkeley troops that ran their own
summer camp. Today there are two, and no, the other two troops didn't
decide to go to council camps. If they had, instead of struggling to
put on one more summer camp by themselves, perhaps they might still be
around.
A council camp provides for cross-fertilization of new ideas, not to
mention support for more than 30 merit badges. Both of our council
summer camps have full-fledged water fronts that include canoeing and
rowing, and one of them also offers small boat sailing, motorboating,
and waterskiing.
I have seen few troops that are not mega-sized that would have the
resources to provide that sort of program, and then where would they
camp? Both of the remaining Berkeley troops have to work very hard
with the Forest Service to gain their permits each year.
BTW, Troop 24 used to have its own summer camp, but in 1928, the
council took it over. We still go there, and we usually have several
staffers, so it's still our camp.
YiS,
Alan R. Houser ** troop24@emf.net
** Scoutmaster, Troop 24, Berkeley, California **
** Committee Member, Crew 24, Berkeley, California **
** Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner, Herms District **
** WWW page ** http://www.emf.net/~troop24/t24.html **
