Re: Super Summer Camps (Southern Region)
Ed Darrell (EDarr1776@AOL.COM)
Sat, 28 Dec 1996 21:02:13 -0500
On the camp quality improvement discussion:
Dan Brown said:
><<However, I disagree when he describes some of the rivalries that exist out
>there
> as healthy.>>
Ed Henderson replied:
>The healthy rivalry I referred to in my original post between many of the
>better camps is not a situation one of one camp trying to take troops from
>each other most of the better camps are already at capacity or even over it.
> What I have noticed is that the better camps and councils send staffers and
>executives to visit each others camps during the summer and off season.
They
>actively compare notes and share ideas with each other almost a year in
>advance.
Visiting, making notes, comparing, studying how others do it -- in the
corporate world we call this "benchmarking" and we spend millions trying to
do it well. It's practically a requirement for the Baldrige Quality prize.
Since Scouting teaches leadership much better than any corporation I know,
and some companies are figuring that out and stealing the processes, it's
only fair Scouts borrow from the corporate side. Besides, a healthy rivalry
can make for much better health all the way around.
This entire discussion has been most enlightening, and I look forward to the
next installments. My experience is long, but limited to fewer than 10 camps
in three councils. For most Scouts the running of a camp is a complete
mystery. If it works, it's great -- if it doesn't work, the kid is off to
baseball next summer instead. I think camp management is a mystery as well
to most parents of Scouts and to many Scouters.
It would help most of us to know more about all camps -- is there a
semi-definitive list of all camps operated by U.S. BSA Councils? Would it
help troop planning to have such a thing? Would it help the camps and
councils?
Ed Darrell,
Duncanville, Texas
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
