ItsBrian

8 minutes ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Minsi isn't far from here...waiting for the other shoe to drop on our chosen camp 

Exactly what I was thinking... less than 2 hours away from the camp I work at.

Just now, 5thGenTexan said:

Texas Gov pretty much told the state to go do your thing today.  About May 15 we may be seeing a nice big spike in cases.

Interesting. I feel around Memorial Day there will be spikes as well. I can’t see camps opening around me for the summer currently.

I’ve been reading that many camps will be making a decision around May 15th, my camp included. 
 

We will see!

9 hours ago, qwazse said:

The persistent banner ads for Boy Scout compensation fund are getting old. Any way the forum can charge them double and send them to troubled camps?

That’s all I get anymore on here and YouTube ads!

24 minutes ago, MattR said:

I hope the SM's with the stereotypical SM gut stay home. That's just one more underlying condition.

BTW, what will they do if they find someone with a high temperature? By that point they've already been spreading the virus for 2 days.

I think he means at check in. I know my camp is suppose to be doing temp checks/med checks as the first stop on Sunday. 

43 minutes ago, RememberSchiff said:

One council here is offering a virtual First Aid merit badge class via Google classroom at $20/student. Drive thru online registration and virtual learning...

As a former First Aid MBC,  my scouts spent all sessions hands-on - practicing (again and again) assessment, bandaging , proper splinting, transport, ... never charged a student .

Need to add a third panel on left showing a scout staring at his smartphone!

Well...maybe my son can take his driver test virtually.

Taking my 2 aspirin now.

Wow. I can’t believe they’re doing first aid online. I use to work in the FY scout program, but I did instruct the first aid merit badge one week due to being short handed. I hated giving just lectures, so I did a bunch of scenarios with them and hands on practice. I don’t know how they could’ve learned by only lectures.
 

I believe that it’s impossible to do the first aid merit badge online, unless they have every supply they possibly need to practice (which I’m sure they don’t, because who has a CPR dummy at home?). 

1 hour ago, 5thGenTexan said:

I am involved with the Cub Program so I am watching Webelos and Cub Resident Camp.  I am not sure how the various Summer Camps operate, but one slide from a meeting recently dealth with changes to the dining hall.  They are suggesting 6 people to a table instead of 10.  Its still a dining hall full of people and I don't see how's it going to be a good idea.  And, I am scheduled to be there the first week of June.

Sorry to break it to you, but I don’t think the first week of June will happen 😢.

I don’t see how the 10 to 6 seats will make a huge difference, dining halls are cramped to begin with, making it impossible to spread out.

2 hours ago, scoutldr said:

Our Governor (VA) has ordered a shutdown until June 10th.  They are still debating how to make up the lost school year...going to school all summer is on the table.  

Are they not doing online school? NJ DOE designed the online instruction to count towards the 180 days.

Just now, karunamom3 said:

I will send my son to another state provo if its within 6 hours of NJ. He will also be devastated if he cant go this year.

That would depend if the other camps even allow out of state campers.

3 minutes ago, swilliams said:

My boys can't wait, and will be devastated if there's no camp this summer.  With Gov. Wolf (PA) being part of the northeast group talking about re-openings, if NJ summer camps are closed, you can bet PA scout camps will be closed, too.

I'm not concerned about sending my boys, should camp still be an option.

Exact same thoughts. I hope they’re open since this is my last year on staff.

2 hours ago, fred8033 said:

I wish you the best.  I'm trying to make just a simple decision for summer camp ... if summer camp is offered.  My last son has a medical condition that makes him vulnerable and there is no chance of a vaccine by July.  So do I wait until I have to put money out?  Or do I cancel now?  Our local camp is asking for deposits, but they have been fairly good at waiting for full payment.  

My gut says there is no way I'll send my kid even if the camp is open.  But, I'm leaving options open for now.  

I just can't see how any summer camp will happen right now.  This will take a year and a vaccine to solve.  

I'd hate to be the camp directories and councils this year.  How do you budget, staff and purchase materials with such huge unknowns ?  I'm better there are tons of parents holding off saying no, but that when the final decision comes they will NOT send their kids to camp this summer. 

 I totally agree with you. If your son is immunocompromised due to a more serious chronic disease, then I wouldn’t send him. If it’s something like asthma, which is serious, but there are worse diseases. 

On a different note, I know my camp is doing business as usual. In a recent meeting, we aren’t even at the point to start buying all the supplies we need. The budget is the same as if it was a normal summer. I believe it’s too early to do that with everything going on. Everything you brought up is probably going through every council’s minds as well.

2 hours ago, Sentinel947 said:

My state currently has a 14 day quarantine for people traveling back to the state from elsewhere. That might be possible for out of state staff. Not really possible for out of state campers. 

That would be hard to work around. My camp would lose at least 5 staff members, plus the health officer (me). Not too sure how a 14 day quarantine would work at a camp for staff.

3 hours ago, Chisos said:

I'm not surprised with this line of thought.  When this was ramping up, college spring break was just starting...exactly the wrong thing to do--take a bunch of college kids, disperse them all over the country / hemisphere, and bring them back a week later.  On a smaller scale, that's basically what happens at HA bases...folks from all over coming in and going out.

I wonder what "locally attended" means in a summer camp context.  In council?  Within xx miles?  Can a camp say "if you're from these states you can attend, but if you're from those states, you can't" ??

If councils only allowed “locally attended”, then they would lose staff as well.

44 minutes ago, fred8033 said:

I hugely agree.  Example:  2nd class 3B five mile hike ... The new statement drops the word "TAKE".  Take the hike.  I can plan any hike in two minutes.  Actually taking the hike takes real time, sweat and energy.  How can you drop the word "TAKE" ?  ... One of my son's said can't they at least use a treadmill ?

So BSA is an outdoor program emphasizing physical fitness and doing things the scout has never done

... but you never need to leave your chair ?

You can even google a premade hike plan and get it in 20 seconds! 
 

I don’t understand either. I get that BSA is making it possible to advance, but these new standards are too low.

I would’ve got Eagle so fast if I was able to do these revised requirements 😂... but I wouldn’t of learned the actual skills. 

3 minutes ago, karunamom3 said:

We are a brand new troop this year and decided to go to winnebago so we could possibly get camperships and its within 1 hr from us.  (Last year was a different troop at jersey shore council camp). And 2 of our boys love Winnebago. They had really great Webelos resident camp experiences there.

But, I hear great things about SOME of the PA camps. Would love to know which ones you recommend.

Bashore Scout Reservation is the top on my list. It’s under $400 and includes all merit badge materials in it. It’s like 30 mins from Hershey. 

I can answer any questions in messages. 
 

And yes, SOME of PA camps. Haha

2 minutes ago, karunamom3 said:

I agree. We are scheduled to go to Winnebago July 12th. Who knows how things will be then. We are struggling with approaching our families about camp & applying for camperships when we have families losing income and loved ones. Now we are considering moving our week to later or cancelling and going to the MB week in August. 😥

Another reason why my troop goes to PA for camp... a lot cheaper! I suggest your troop possibly trying one in the future! I’ve gone to at least 3 PA summer camps and had all great experiences. I’ve had amazing experiences working at one for hopefully a 3rd summer. 
 

Best wishes with the scheduling.

Just now, karunamom3 said:

The early bird deadline is now May 1 for PPC. It will be really tough for us to get our scouts to go I fear. It is the last thing on many people's minds. 

I saw that email that was sent out. I feel like the camps will be hurting this year if they open.

I work at a camp in PA, but I’m in PPC.

2 hours ago, qwazse said:

Welcome to the forums. Best of luck on your endeavors.

The idea? Doesn't sell to me. My better scouts were venturers in a coed crew. Scouting in the company of girls did wonders for my boys.

On the other hand, that you don't want to discriminate on the basis of religion would be a selling point at my church.

Same for me, I have no problem with being co-ed. If anything, it develops communications skills faster. I wish I had the time to join venturing. I like having co-ed, it makes everything a lot more fun and interesting. At the camps I’ve worked at, it’s been great to have a mix of everyone.

1 minute ago, Eagle1993 said:

Its early April.  I expect by end of May (7 weeks from now) we will have many of those things in place.  Perhaps not in all states, but enough that will allow many summer camps to run.  I could see those camps limit participants to only scouts from the state or within a limited range … but I would be surprised if 100% of camps are closed all summer.  I would also expect dates in July and August are more likely to operate than June.

I actually believe high adventure is a bigger risk.  That brings in scouts throughout the country, including mixing scouts between high and low covid-19 areas.  That seems to be a much bigger risk than having scouts within a specific region go to summer camp.

 

Yeah I’m not too sure if high adventure camps are the best idea for this summer.

1 hour ago, HashTagScouts said:

Because Covid-19 doesn't disappear once a government official removes stay-at-home orders.  Until there is a vaccine, secondary/tertiary/etc. outbreak is a real threat.  Gathering 250 kids together, with what is a best mediocre sanitation (we all have stories of having to drag kids to take showers) is a scenario that could derail the rest of the summer.  I'm all for putting the efforts at planning, but I would not bank on summer camp happening. 

Oh I’m aware, but I’m just say if the officials deem that x date is when they deem it safe to be in large gathers & all that stuff. 
 

I was talking more so if the  officials said May 30th (Random date) is when it is safe for schools, camps, etc to open and operate. I would assume the council would cancel whatever weeks are before and during that time, then operate after that. 

41 minutes ago, Sentinel947 said:

How can any reasonable individuals have ill will towards the council or camp if the virus situation means some weeks of camp has to be cancelled in June, but the council and health authorities deem it safe to proceed with later weeks in July? As long as they get a refund, it's a literal act of God. Given the logistical challenges of putting together a camp, training and hiring staff, I could see the whole summer cancelled rather than partial cancellations, but we'll see.

I’m not sure why canceling the whole summer (if not needed) would be done. Every week is the same, the staff is in repeat mode. If the first 2 weeks gets cancelled, there’s still 5 weeks left. I know some camps are shorter, but the one I work at is 7 + staff week.

31 minutes ago, MacBrave said:

I don't know how they can start it later in June without either a) cancelling those troops who had early to mid-June reservations or b) move the end of the camp season back to mid-August.  

Both have their issues with a) will most likely cause a lot of ill-will for those canceled troops and b) being you will lose the majority of your camp staff if the camp season runs much past August 1st.  Most public schools here in Indiana start up in early August, not to mention the college aged  kids.

 

I would assume they would want to only cancel maybe 2 weeks instead of the whole summer. It’s really hard to say what each council will do.

There are going to be problems no matter what way it goes.

40 minutes ago, MacBrave said:

This is part of the email that was sent out on 4/3 to unit leaders in Crossroads American Council, regarding summer camp at Ransburg Scout Reservation which is located south of Bloomington, IN.

After 4/15 the fee goes up by $20, and $20 more after 5/15.   This year the summer camp season is scheduled for 5/31/20 to 8/1/20.

 

Since our troop is also not meeting in person,  I've told our families to contact me and we can work out a time when they can either drop the payment off at my home or I will come to them if need be.     We'll see how it goes.....

 

 

 

I’m actually shocked the camp is planning to start at the end of May. That’s very close if you think about it. I have a feeling it will not be starting until later in June. 

10 minutes ago, yknot said:

I'm sorry but this is not the reality in many corners of our country that are not affluent. Sometimes the only times kids with underlying issues are picked up is when they have a mandatory physical. 

I was thinking of an “if everything worked as it should” scenario.  I agree with your previous statements, it’s certain underserved communities or uneducated (not in a bad way) parents may not be able to afford or detect certain underlying issues.

I was thinking of the worst case scenario. Let’s say the curve flattens enough to where camp can be held. I don’t think councils will close camps if part C was the only issue. There would probably be something in place. That’s just my take, who knows. 

Yes, you mentioned BSA in their mess of issues going on right now. We can assume all we want but there’s so many directions BSA can go in.