camp anecdote
Joseph T. Nairn 475-2229 (NAIRN.JT@A1.RIT.EDU)
Wed, 23 Aug 1995 20:51:00 -0400
I didn't think I had a camp story until I read a couple of the
recent posts about the Boy Scout who was sent back from Cub Camp
and a few others. I agree with the person who said that the CM or
leader should have been firm with the camp staff.
Before I go on, I should note that I am not a "us against them"
type when it comes to professionals or staff, but I do think we
need to be able to exercise our own judgment. My situation occurred
a year ago when we were in the inaugural group of campers in the
Tepees in our Native American area of Otetiana Council's Cub
Adventure Camp. Prior to camp, we had been told that the tepees
would hold 8-10 campers and we were encouraged to sign up as dens.
When I and my Asst. WL signed up with 7 boys, we were confident
that we could be accommodated as a den, and would stay together. I
had as much as promised the parents that we would. When we got to
camp, we found that the tepees were set up for 8, and that they had
split our den between two tepees, several of the boys going to a
group where we knew no one. When the program director came to check
on us (we were already checked in) he told me that we could not
have 9 in the tepee, and that several of the boys were to be moved.
I told him that we should have been informed of this prior to camp,
and that I could not in good conscience send several kids to
another group. We had already arranged for three boys to sleep
across two bunks and they were okay with it. He gave me every
reason why this was wrong, including fire codes limiting us to 8
(it was alreadt too crowded and hot). I wasn't trying to be a pain,
but I felt it was their responsibility to give us this info in
advance and they had not. Finally, he threw his arms up, said
"There are 8 people in this tent" and walked out.
I am not encouraging anyone to be combative or difficult, but I do
feel that holding folks accountable is acceptable. They told us 8-
10 and we planned accordingly. If they knew they were limited to 8,
I would have recruited another adult or limited our group to 8.
The bottom line is, don't cave in when it is their fault that
things have gone awry.
This year the tepees are limited to 6 participants.
BTW< the camp is great and all the staff have been excellent. I
have been back three times now and have never had a bad camp.
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Joseph T. Nairn Pack 208 Fairport NY
42 Kings Lacey Way Den Leader Webelos Den 4
Fairport, NY 14450 "Pump it up Den 4!"
JTNRPT@RIT.EDU
"The education of the will is the object of our existence"
Emerson
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