Summer Camp meeting

[ASM59]

I was wondering at what time of the year does your Troop begin serious discussion about summer camp attendance.

 

For example, letting the boys know where your troop is going, how much it will cost, picking merit badges, etc.

 

Do you typically have a parent meeting to let them know or do you combine this type of information meeting with a Court of Honor?

 

Thanks for your input...

 

ASM59

[SemperParatus]

We go to a different summercamp just about every year.

 

Next year's camp alternatives are investigated by a nominating team of scouts and adults typically in June/July. We usually visit camps for a day and try to come up with a list of 3 options to present to the PLC in September.

 

Next year's camp destination is selected by the PLC and approved by the Committee in September. The week is selected at that time so as to finalize the annual calendar. Initial hold money is paid in September. Everyone in the troop knows where we will be going after the release of the calendar in late September. But most know beforehand anyway.

 

Depending on when initial deposits are due (some camps require deposits as early as Feb. 1), we'll start promoting summer camp in January or February (usually kicked off at the winter COH). Some camps have promotional videos they can provide. Cost and deposit information is provided then along with information that is particularly noteworthy about the camp.

 

We also schedule time in February and March (again depending on deposit requirements) for the SPL and SM to visit dens that have committed to our troop to share basic information about scouting and 'sell' summercamp.

 

Real preparations usually begin in May. We provide a packet of information (typically available from the summer camp) that includes the basics about the camp, what to pack, and the schedule of merit badges and activities. Information on merit badge prerequisites are provided with the instruction to begin working on them now. At the June meetings, scouts bring their merit badge selections and planned schedule in where the SM and SPL review to make sure the scout meets the eligibility requirements of the camp and their are no conflicts. Also, during the June meetings, we have counselors attend meetings to review and sign-off on any prerequisites that the scouts have completed.

 

The June PLC meeting is usually entirely about summercamp, where the BIG duty chart is prepared to ensure a fair rotation of duties (waiters, fireguards, latrines am/pm, G-men am/pm, colorguard, etc.) throughout the week.

 

July is our typical summer camp month.

 

 

 

[hacimsaalk12]

in our troop, we start advertising it about 2 monthes in advance. then about 1 1/2 monthes before camp the committee chair and the SM sit down and have a parents meeting, to imform them. about 1 month (or whenever the money is due by) we sit down and talk about MB's. the next week we select which ones we want to take.

[EagleBeaver]

We go to the same week-long camp each year on the same week in July, decided every year by the scouts. The reservation is put in for the site a year ahead. If the scouts some day decide to go somewhere else, we'll just forfeit the reservation fee.

 

Scouts just last night turned in their merit badge selections which were handed out through the PLC at the beginning of this month.

Each patrol also turned in troop activity requests to the SPL last night and those activities getting the most votes are what we'll do.

First payment was due in April and final payment was due end of May.

 

As Scoutmaster, I have short training sessions for adults during each troop meeting in the spring. Summer camp is discussed during a couple of these sessions.

 

Paul

[Eamonn]

Every Troop in the District, except one which is dead by it refuses to lie down. Is returning to our Council Summer camp. Most if not all sign up for the same week, same site next year before they leave this year.

Deposits are due sometime in early March and everyone does everything possible to get in at the discount price.

While this is good for the Council and good for the camp, the down side is that never in all the time that I have been in this District have I heard of a Troop going some place else or participating in a high adventure activity.

Strange thing is that the Council for the Jamboree sends two Troops, a North Troop from the two Districts from the north end of the Council and a South Troop made up from the two Districts from the South end. We only have one Lad attending the Jamboree from the other District. From talking with the parents they want to see their kids go to Philmont or Sea Base, they know the cost and are willing to pay. Yet it isn't happening.

I am a self confessed lazy toad, but so many of our Scoutmasters are happy to spend a week living in the site while the Scouts rush from one merit badge class to the next.

I am giving some very serious thought to starting a Venture Crew, just so the 14 + age group can get a taste of some of the more exciting things that Scouting has to offer.

Eamonn.

[SR540Beaver]

E,

 

Does your council not do a Philmont, Seabase or Northern Tier contingent trip? Obviously it would be nice to see troops planning high adventure trips on their own, but lacking that, the boys should have an opportunity thru the council.

[HopewellT8SM]

Our troop goes to the same summer camp each year. It is a council camp. We start the infomation process in late April. The Summer camp is always the second week in July. This is the camp that we truely integrate the new scouts into the troop, as for some reason in this area, bridging takes place in late April and early May, and we do not get a good feel for the number of new scouts until end of May, early June.

 

But, we also offer a week High Adventure trip each year as troop. This Saturday we depart for a week in the Ohiopyle/Laurel Highlands area of western PA.

In 2006 we have been blessed with two crews, as a troop, to Philmont. For the scouts who are not able to make a Philmont type adventure, due to age, rank, or finacial reason, we offer 4day/3night Mini High Adventure trips.

 

HHS

 

 

[hacimsaalk12]

in our troop, we have a high adventure patrol that plans activites to do for scouts that are first class or above. we do short trips, usually a weekend long, just about evey month. we accassionally do a week long trip too. in the troop every 3 years (2 years of scout camp, then one year big trip) we do a "big trip". this is when we go out of state. usually we have 2 groups, the base camp group, and the high adventure group that goes and does something above and beyond that is designed for older scouts.

 

hopewell-what activites do you have planned for your week in Ohiopyle?

[HopewellT8SM]

hacimsaclk12, and all,

Sat- Sun, Backpacking in.

Monday-Rock climbing

Tuesday - White water rafting

Wed.- Buffer -free day

Thurs. Kayak for some, others a bike and canoe run

Fri. Cave exploration.

Sat. return.

 

HHS

[scoutldr]

In this council, we are made to feel like traitors if we go out of council to camp, and don't "support your council camp". I don't see the point. As long as there are "butts in bunks", who cares what council they are from?

[eagle90]

For us Summer Camp promotion is a 12 month process. We emphasize it all year long - it is the culmination of the year. We start actively promoting and taking deposits in January. Balance of fees is due in April. The deadline for signing up is usually May 1. Merit Badge selections are due by mid May. We have a Shakedown Training day in June (tomorrow, by the way!) and then have a scouts and parents meeting two weeks before camp.

 

Dale