Re: Summer Camp Trends
Ian N Ford (ian@FORD.DIRCON.CO.UK)
Fri, 30 Jul 1999 21:22:55 +0100
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scouts-L Youth Group List [mailto:Scouts-L@LISTSERV.TCU.EDU]On
> Behalf Of Dale Karweik
> Sent: 30 July 1999 15:48
> To: SCOUTS-L@LISTSERV.TCU.EDU
> Subject: Summer Camp Trends
>
>
> The first issue we can influence. First, adult leaders need to
> monitor the classes at summer camp. If every leader just dropped in once
or twice at
> every class and let the counsellors know that we are watching, the
> instruction would improve or could be corrected if it didn't.
What would be good is if more concerned Scouters would volunteer to serve as
a Camp Commissioners or in other staff capacities. Then they could both
monitor the program AND deal with the disruption caused to classes by
Scouters who " just
drop in " and end up criticising and undermining the instructors. Of course,
I know YOU wouldn't do that ...
When I was Archery Director in 1991 I had to ask a Scouter who decided to "
help " one of his Scouts to leave the range.
The trouble was he was using a technique that was different from the
approved style that I was teaching. When he said
my junior staffer was teaching incorrectly I politely said " It may be that
it is a few years since you taught archery. When I took my professional
archery teacher's course last year this is the way that was being taught,
because it is safer. That is the way I expect my staff to teach, and the
Scouts to learn." He left, but I heard later that he had gone on to another
area and disrupted the class, taking over from the junior staff member and
again teaching something that was incorrect.
Certainly at the BSA's Baden-Powell High Adventure Camp here in England the
junior staff are selected and trained, they are monitored by the adult
directors, the Program Director and the Camp Director. We have staff members
who fly from all over Europe and beyond to attend. Next year one staffer
will fly in from the USA. Scouts who attend British schools (which are still
in session) have to apply for permission to count serving on staff as "
work experience " and they have to keep a log book and the Camp Director has
to write a report that count towards their National Record of Achievement.
In addition, as one of the Camp Commissioners I try to visit each program
area and see the staff and Scouts. I also try to talk to all of the leaders
and as many as possible of the three hundred Scouts in camp, some of whom I
know from other district events. The PD and Commissioners attend a daily
SPL meeting, and the Camp Director, PD, Directors and Commissioners meet
with the Scout Masters at the start and finish of each week. Comments and
suggestions are taken very seriously indeed.
Nearly all the junior staff are either Life or Eagle Scouts. Most adult
staff are Wood Badge holders, members of the training team and usually
District Committee members or Commissioners. For the high adventure program
we are required to use instructors who hold the appropriate national
certification. Staff need to comply with the rules of BSA, The Scout
Association (who own the site) , the Local Authority, and various national
regulatory authorities - and of course, it is always the toughest criterion
that applies.
Any leader is perfectly welcome to monitor the training provided, provided
he does not disrupt the class. Most of them prefer to attend the adult
training on offer,get involved with the high adventure program, or to work
with their Scouts. We use patrol camping, and there is usually enough to be
done on camp without needing to monitor the staff.
Ian N Ford
District Committee Member, Mayflower District, Transatlantic Council BSA
