Questions re Summer Camp Staff & Advancement Policy
Mark Elias (Mark.Elias@AIT5.AMERITECH.COM)
Mon, 16 Aug 1999 23:30:14 -0400
Fellow Scouters,
I need your advise on this one. =20
Think of this more a "procedural" as opposed to "problematic". While
there does not seem to be any problems with the program / situation I
want to discuss, there appears to be a question within our council of,
for lack of a better word, "ownership".
Our camp staff (Camp Director, Program Director, etc.) are reporting
that National Camp School is telling them those that attend National
Camp School can counsel for ANY merit badge, not just those that are
normally taught at summer camp, without ANY approval by Council or
District Advancement Committee. Staff has also stated that "national
policy" states that camps that earn an "A" rating (and both of our
camps did!) can approve their own merit badge staff (again bypassing
Council / District Advancement Committee approval).
Now, I have read the Advancement Committee guidebook (1999 edition),
so no need to quote chapter & verse to me. As far as I can see, what
they are saying "ain't necessarily so". The problem is trying to prove
a negative. Ideally, I would like to see something in writing to
refute or support each of the above statements.
What I am asking for is:
1) Can anyone speak about the National Camp School statement as to
whether this what is actually being taught (i.e. copy of the syllabus,
training notes, etc)? =20
2) Does anyone have a copy of said "national policy" on "A" rated
camps?
3) Are other councils experiencing either of these situations /
hearing these statements?
In case you can't tell, I'm saying there is not (for now) a problem
here, at least as far as the youth are concerned. The current problem
is understanding each other's role in providing a quality program for
our Scouts. The ultimate goal is to work together, but we need to sort
out this ownership issue first.
Thanks, in advance, for your help sorting this one out.
YiS,
Mark Elias
ASM Troop 344
Lakeshore District Advancement Committee
Detroit Area Council
