Jump to content

ItsBrian

Members
  • Content Count

    980
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    8

Everything posted by ItsBrian

  1. If it’s a first year scout, I highly suggest the first year scout program at your summer camp.
  2. I’m on camp staff and my troop WANTS me to stay on staff. I don’t know why your scoutmaster wants him to take a week off. He can literally spend just about the same time with them as if he was a camper.
  3. I had my ECOH earlier today (right as I got home from staffing a camp, I was and still am tired), and it was a great experience! I thought I didn’t want one at first, but now I realized it would’ve been a mistake if I didn’t. We had a dinner buffet and a cake. I was at camp, so I wasn’t involved in much of the rehearsals or anything but it went pretty good. I was shocked with the town officials coming and everything.
  4. I’m currently staffing a summer camp so I’ve seen different things this week. I see some campers with a map and everything, but the best approach is using the bulletin board each campsite commonly has with all of the information they may need. If you have scouts that are in a first year scout program (I work in one), there isn’t a big need for them to have every bit of information since usually they will be with their instructors for the entire day.
  5. Heading to camp today, I’ll be posting again towards end of summer!

  6. I had a black bear encounter about a month ago. It kept coming to everyone’s camp site despite making noise. I made close eye contact one too many times that night. The camp workers are fine with it roaming since it hasn’t hurt anyone.
  7. Thanks for all replies. I would need 30 of those $1 rain ponchos, haha. They get all sweaty and sticky which is something I’m not trying to deal with. I’ll spend up to $45, since I use it outside of scouting as well. I don’t want an over the pack since I have a waterproof camelbak backpack. Ive heard great things about Frogg Togg, and I’ll be looking into them. I’ll look into Marmot, I know it’s a good brand.
  8. I leave to staff a camp on Sunday and totally forgot I wanted to ask for recommendations for a new rain jacket. I currently have a lightweight Columbia one that I got a few years ago, and it doesn’t really protect me from the rain anymore. I’m trying to find a not too expensive lightweight one since I’m always carrying a backpack and on the move in the first year scout program.
  9. Good luck! Don’t over stress it. You might do bad week one, but don’t forget it’s your first week ever doing it. You still have plenty more weeks to do great. Hah, I was bad week one trying to figure out everything. You’ll make mistakes, but don’t let it hold you down. I don’t mean to sound mean, but this is more of encouragement from my personal experience.
  10. Two years ago I staffed a CS day camp, last year and again this year I will be staffing a resident scout camp.
  11. I wouldn’t say trained. It’s just something you learn as you instruct, I staff the first year program and every scout reacts differently. Some want to be alone and some want attention. I’ve had leaders come up to me and let me know before I even met the scout.
  12. Whoops, I misread it earlier. I would still have the leaders let the staff he is with throughout the day and they shouid be able to help.
  13. I see this all summer long! I work at a Boy Scout camp in the first year scout program so I’m working with be youngest in camp. I don’t want you to think that this isn’t atypical. I’m not entirely sure how a Cub Scout summer camp works, but I’m assuming it’s somewhat structured like a Boy Scout one. Have your leaders tell the staff that he interacts with throughout the day. They can help keep him engaged and keep his mind off home. This usually works for scouts I work with. Small tasks such as getting something for me, holding something, has a huge impact on them since it makes them feel
  14. Agreed. Any small cut/injury could turn into an infection and become worse. There’s also the possibility of the scout didn’t treat it properly and still didn’t report it.
  15. I would make sure that your scouts know that they should report it. About your question for who can administer first aid, I believe anyone can. I don’t think there are age restrictions, I am the highest certified in my troop but I am a scout.
  16. It’s said somewhere if you are not religious to have a parent fill in that section.
  17. I had my EBOR in February and I am heavily religious either. I put one of my parents like your son did, but they didn’t have to write a letter. I don’t think you need a letter for every single person on that recommendation list on the application. I had like 3 letters.
  18. Sabbatis is owned by a NJ council, Patriots’ Path. I’ve heard good things about it but never had chance to visit. They do often talk about shutting it down. https://www.campsabattis.org/
  19. Why wouldn’t they be covered by troop insurance? I don’t see why not as long as there is a permission slip for the event.
  20. I forgot to mention we try to have them practice more later and then demonstrate it to their leaders before they get the requirement signed off by their leader. If they actually do that, I’m not sure. But, on Friday’s since we aren’t so time constrained I usually like to kill time reviewing mostly everything we have done. Friday is orienteering, and we just do the basic requirements of it. There is a big open field connecting most program areas that we do a orienteering course in. After they get everything right and head to the correction location, we stop and review a skill from ear
  21. Honestly, I basically use EDGE when instructing at the first year program. I average 14 kids, up to 21. I can’t be with every single one of them especially if I don’t have any adult volunteers. For example, when I teach beginner knots: Explain: I keep them gathered around and I explain what it’s used for and why you use it. Demonstrate: They don’t even touch their ropes yet and I make sure they pay attention on how I do it. I say step by step when I do it and offer some tips to make it easier. Guide: Now they try. I have them spread around to trees, their walking sticks, or
  22. We do the exact same. We still do this every year. We charge ~$10 since we also get Starbucks coffee donated which is always a big hit. I honestly don’t feel like all the extra thing that the article has is really needed. That’s a lot of options and expensive items for such a low entry cost.
  23. What program area do you work in? I’m with first years, so I’m constantly on the move.
  24. Since I staff the area in a camp with for first year scouts, I work with the youngest scouts. I have seen a small amount of phones during instruction time throughout the whole summer. It’s easy to notice if they are homesick and texting their parents. My camp suggests to not bring it, but people still do. If they do bring a phone, the best thing I’ve noticed was to simply just talk to them. I feel like if I took it away at any point, they would get even more homesick.
  25. I’m late, but that made me think. When I staffed a summer camp, I preferred my Nike running shoes over my Columbia boots. I tried to wear my running shoes since they were more comfortable for me. I had to wear BSA socks, so socks didn’t make a difference. I only wore the boots when it rained heavily and was muddy. Let’s see what I prefer this year when I go back.
×
×
  • Create New...