National Camp School - Boy Scouts of America

Last month I went to National Camp School.

The purpose of the National Camping School is to provide a learning experience and training for adults related to the operation of council resident camps. The key staff members will in turn have the responsibility of training and supervising other staff personnel in your council camping program.  It is a comprehensive training on all aspects of the day camp operation, including methods of day camping, program scheduling and resources, staff organization, recruiting and training, and health and safety protection.

It was a lot of fun to attend with about 30 other adults that have either run a Cub Scout Day Camp and need to be retrained or need to be trained so they can run a Day Camp this summer.  I have been helping as the Webelos Director for the Grand Canyon Council Day Camp for 4 years.  This year the Camp Director has asked me to assist her in her duties.

For more information about the camp clock here.

Both of my kids have been helping for the past two years and might be taking some key roles at camp this year.  I am so proud of them.

Cub Scout Day Camp

Wow. Have I been busy......

Just got finished with Boy Scouts of America, Grand Canyon Council, Heard Scout Pueblo Cub Scout Day Camp. I was the Webelos Director for the camp and taught over 900 Webelos the Scientist pin.

Each year the camp has a theme - this year's theme was Pirates of the Pueblo. I was Captain No-Black Beard. Day camp started on May 28th and finished on June 27th. The sessions are 3 days long and each day starts at 3 pm and finished about 9:30 pm. Total number of cub scouts at camp is set at 300 boys per session.

Want to get more info about Cub Scout Day Camp, click here.

I had a blast!!!

Camp Honor finalized

Well it looks like it might finally be decided...
The Camper Committee made a decision to allow the three campers to go to camp that went last year but are not yet 8. They will be able to go if the camp does not fill up in their age group.
Since the camp changed the age from 7 to 8 and "most" of the 7 year olds are now 8 and the 17 year olds are now 18, shouldn't we know there will be room. No new kids were added to camp and the only ones who left are the older kids. There should be room. The cutoff date was today at 5 PM, so we should know by tomorrow if the three kids can go.
I'm looking at the bright side - the Camper Committee changed their ruling.

Oh, I got interviewed by the Executive Director and Camp Director to be a staff member. I was asked what volunteer experience I have? My reply was as follows "How far back did you want me to go? I can go all the way back to when I was 9." The next question was to explain my camping experience. "I've been camping since I was 11 with the Boy Scouts. Where did you want me to start?", I asked. I think I passed the interview.

Camp Honor revisited

Today is the day.....

On May 10th we appealed to the Board of Directors and gave our case. The camper sub-committee also wrote a 3 page letter detailing their decision. Who won?

We did. At least in theory. The Board of Directors was not going to tell the camper sub-committee to change the policies but the Board of Directors unanimously recommended the committee "grandfather" in those children who attended camp last year but will not be 8 this year by the cut-off date. The caveat is conditional on availible space for all three campers affected by the new age policy. So if the camp fills up they still won't be able to go to camp.

I'm one of those people that need to understand why rules are made, when they were made, and what had to have happened for rules to be made. YES, I touched the hot stove.

The Board also recomended 2 other changes:

1. A standard date be used to determine eligibility instead of the first day of camp they currently use.
2. The Camp Committee put its policies in writing re: its responsibilities and authority and that of its sub-committees.

..... So why is today the day? The Board put it back on the Camper Committee to decide to grandfather in these three kids. The Camper Committee is meeting today to discuss if they want to follow the recomemdations of the Arizona Hemophilia Association's Board of Directors or to ignore the Board's recomendations and continue with their current policies.

Now that all the lights are on, I'm ready to accept what happens next. I might not like the decision, but at least it is out in the open.

Camp Honor Revisited

Just an Update... After we brought our disagreements over the policy to the camp committee, and after the meeting the Association sent us a letter informing us that the Camp Committee are not making any exceptions to the policy.

Horse Puckey!

So we know a few people on the Board of Directors. So we called them, since they were the ones that approved the policy. We wanted to inform them how the new policy will harm people in the community. Would you believe they were not aware of our situation???? People are not communicating here.....

Let's see where it goes from here. So far all is quiet. TOO QUIET! It's CYA time.

Camp Honor

Found out this week that my youngest will not be able to attend camp due to a change in the rules for camp. He has to be 8 to go. Last year camp was later in the year andthe cutoff was 7, so he went. This year they decided too break his heart and not allow him to attend.

What BS. They are not making any exceptions to the rule. If they make an exception to mine they would have to make it for everyone. Just let him go - he's a child. Who do I have to bribe?

My youngest loves camp. The nurses know it, the Assocation knows it, the camp director knows it. Who made the new rule - why not put a grandfather clause in it. Since he went last year what is the problem. He wasn't home sick, he didn't cause fights, he doesn't eat "that much". LOL

Why can't I just go to the powers that be and request this. "It would show favoratism." Explain that to my kid......! What does he know about politics? He just wants to go to camp, meet up with his friends and HAVE FUN!