CPStaff747

Camp Fire Program

Where I work we also have a Sunday night opening, and a Friday night closing, with a mid-week "troop night" where each troop has the opportunity to invite other troops to a "friendship fire" where each troop puts on skits/songs and typically troops make cobbler, etc. for afterwords.

Commisioner Services

Each week we have a few voluteer "visiting commissioners" these are typically former staff members, or parents of staff, etc. who come out for a week. We also have a paid Head Commissioner on staff who oversees the visiting commissioners and handles the coordination of camp site assignments, inspections etc.

Scoutmaster/adult activities

Each program area generally offers some sort of scoutmaster activity for each day of the week. Scoutmaster Rifle Shoot, Scoutmaster Climb at the tower, Scoutmaster Cook-off etc. We also offer training for adults during the week; Youth protection (commissioner), safety afloat (Beach dir.), and climb on safely (tower dir.). Then friday is scoutmaster golf, where each scoutmaster has to make his own golf club.

Troop activities

Each program area develops there own list of troop time activities. Some are your standard and some are crazy off the wall ideas. Only requirement is that it's fun. Be creative. Use the resources you have and make something up. Here are some examples:

Beach: Canoe Swamp (tip over the other teams canoe), Swimming, sailing, snorkeling, etc.

Scoutcraft: Cooking, lashing (A-frame races), field games (frisbee, capture the flag)

Craftlodge: Merit Badges (fingerprinting, art, etc), patrol flag making, etc.

Ecology: Wheel-o-nature game, Plant ID games, nature hike, service project

Patrol competitions/activities

We have a friday patrol competition in scouting skills, followed by a relay race between troops (4 running legs, walker leg, canoeing leg, swimmer leg) and then a canoe race.

Dining hall program

Many camps offer some sort of run-on theme that is basically a skit where each meal there is a little more added to the story, then by the last night you conclude the skit (i.e. the camp staff defeats the crazy guy trying to take over camp). We offer two songs at each lunch & dinner.

Food Services

Family Style is where it's at. Plain and simple people prefer eating at a table with their boys rather that standing in line for an hour to eat cold food. We have each troop send 2 "waiters" to set the troops tables, and bring the food from the kitchen, etc. very efficient system.

Hope this helps, let me know if you want any more info.

"The current Day Camp program is a solid, BSA Accredited Cub Scout Day. It is no more, or no less, a Day Care Program than is the CS Day Camp run by your Council."

Is it just me or did he just refer to a scouting day camp program as a Day Care Program. That's what kindercare is for, send your kid there. I really hope you don't think that's what Day Camp is for...

I don't know that a BS Day Camp would be a good solution. If you can generate enough interest then sure why not, as long as you have a constant stream of scouts in the transition between CS and BS, but it seems like there is a period of about a year or two between cub scouts, and active boy scout camping... And then he's old enough to do what he wants, rather than forced into some program for the summer. Once the kid is 14-15 yeah, he goes to camp for a week with his troop, maybe another week or two as a provisional scout. I don't think he needs or wants to be part of some "day care program." Younger scouts it makes sense, but older boys won't be interested.

I find it amazing that your BS camp allows scouts to stay for a full 7 weeks. I've never seen a provisional scout stay more than 3 weeks in a summer.

If a tent is lost/stolen or damaged who do you think the parent will hold responsible?

If a flashlight is lost/stolen or damaged who do you think the parent will hold responsible?

If a stove is lost/stolen or damaged who do you think the parent will hold responsible?

If a compass is lost/stolen or damaged who do you think the parent will hold responsible?

If an adult takes a cell phone from a scout and it is lost/stolen or damaged who do you think the parent will hold responsible?

The Leader.

No one is going to win this battle. I personally would not participate in a troop that banned cell phones altogether, but at camp, especially if it's specifially on a ban list, you've been forwarned. It's an issue of following your troop and/or camps policy. If you disagree fine, you have a right to help change the policy, but not to flat out disregard the rules.

I can't believe that a troop would actually confiscate something like a cell phone. Its not that big of a deal. Who gives you the right to decide if/when a scout calls home or his girldfriend. Are you telling me that you don't have any adults in the troop who call home to speak to their wives from time to time? If i was in a troop and they even tried to take my phone, I wouldnt allow it. Although I think that if this is a troop rule and i dont agree to follow it I would have to find a new troop. Just because your old and didnt have cell phones "back in the day" doesnt mean that you have to be completely against change. Times have changed, get over it.

We have burried a high-grade electrical cable underground so that one end comes up in the actual fire pit, where the wires are connected to a copper coil, and the other end leads to a car battery backstage. You take a couple books of matches and touch them to the copper coil, use plenty of twine and kindling and such. We then do a traditional native american ceremony, talking about the role of the native americans in our area. At the end of this, the person says "At last, bring Fire to our council" and someone backstage connects the cable to the battery, which (if done correctly) will cause the fire to ignite "magically." Its very impressive.

I think we just need to agree to disagree on this one...

Granted your right, its not "just" work... but it is still work.

(just a side note) I think its interesting that your camp director AND program director are both in their mid twenties. I work at a summer camp that has been in continuous operation for 86 years, and our program director began working there in the early 70's. The camp director has been around for something like 10 years prior to becoming CD, and hes in his 50's as well.

Younger staff members most often do a better job of relating to the scouts, but usually thats the problem... They relate too well because they are so young.

As an EMT and having been camp medic, dont take this the wrong way, i'm not trying to offend you but i have serious issues with this story:

"when i was extremely sick... giving out meds...I did nothing but treat kids...until midnight...and working both in our dining hall and our trading post and having to deal with SEVERAL serious medical issues..."

Its a totally separate subject in itself, but you lose credibility when you use that as an example when as a healthcare provider (which i'm assuming you are since you dispense medication and treat injuries) you should know very well that if you are sick you should not be 1) handling meds 2) treating patients 3) serving or preparing food...

I completely understand the running around like crazy from area to area to make things workout the way they are supposed to.

"for the amount of work a camp staff member does, our budget should be endless"

He/she is exactly right, it should be, but its NOT.

Your right about the 15/16 year old finding it hard to find another job anyways.. but that too is part of the whole problem.. once that 15/16 year old becomes an 18/19 year old, its not hard to find another job, especially one that pays well. And i can tell you from experience that there comes a time when you have to prioritize, working at camp for a paycheck that is a joke, or not having as much fun working somewhere else.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I am glad that you don't have to worry about these expenses yet. Enjoy it while you still can.

If you can work at camp and "not need the money" then you should try taking off the camp goggles, and living/working in the real world for awhile... Its obvious that if you would pay to work at a camp, then you dont have a car, gas, an apartment, electricity, phoneline, food, or clothes. Its ridiculous how much we get paid. I am there to provide a top notch program for the scouts and that is all, but I could NEVER do it for free, EVER. Your lying to yourself if you think you can.

Camp Parsons, longest continuously operating scout camp in the nation. Opened in 1919, and has been operating every single summer since then.

http://www.seattlebsa.org/sbsa_CampingDepartment/CampingPages/CampParsons.htm (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

I agree with you, although I think that it is a two-headed coin. I work at one of the most highly regarded scout camps in the nation and its mainly because of our staff. I think that on the one hand, a staff member needs to feel like the work they are doing is appreciated, and pay is a major incentive. On the other hand, I also spent some time working at a smaller camp with a smaller staff and there was more money to go around. I found that when you start jacking up the salary of a staff member, it starts to become more about the money, and less about providing a quality program for the scouts.

I think that lack of funding is the biggest problem. We generally hire between 40 and 60 staff members for a full summer. In the last couple years we've been having more and more problems hiring staff members to committ to the full 9-week season, largely because of pay. It's really a shame, some of the best staff members I know are 18-22 years old and have been working there since age 15 or 16. It is unfortunate that most of us simply cannot afford to come back summer after summer. I dream of the day that scout camps will be able to pay minimum wage starting salary.

I quite honestly wouldn't have even thought about staffing until I spent a week as a CIT, just seeing what it was like. I cannot even explain the comeraderie, and friendships, and lifelong experiences that occur at camp. We see some great scouts and always encourage them to apply for staff, but more often than not they are too busy or cannot afford it.

As an experienced staffer I can tell you that, yes you work hard and make little money but that's all part of the job. If you are here to make money, you might as well go apply at McDonalds cause yes they do pay minimum wage. I can honestly tell you that summeer camps do not pay anywhere NEAR minimim wage. When I was a first year staffer at age 16 I made $1.75/hour and was paid for 48 work hours per week. 7AM to about 9PM 6 days a week is 84 hours, meaning I worked 36 hours that I will not receive pay for... But I justify it knowing that working at this camp is a once in a lifetime experience where i will meet people and learn things about myself and others that I might not otherwise have to opportunity for. I realize that eventually I will not be able to afford working at camp, and when that day comes as hard as it will be I will find a new job. THats the reality of it. As a third year staffer and assistant cook I made $3.75/hour. The amount you make is based on the area you work in, and how long you've been on staff. You have to earn a pay increase, and if you expect one, go somewhere else cause you're there for the wrong reasons. You should be there for the Scouts, that is your NUMBER ONE priority NO EXCEPTIONS. If you are not there for the scouts GO HOME.