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wagionvigil
Counselor
Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 192
Location: PA
Posted: 11 Aug 2004 06:55 am Post subject: Rate your Summer
Camp Experience
In most cases everyone is done with summer camp. I just
thought it might be nice to relate some of your camp
experiences good and bad for this summer.
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Action Center D Rappel Tower Director 2001 and 2005 National
Jamborees
Northeast REgion Area 4 Venturing Chairman
Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"
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Guneukitschik
Life
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 162
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posted: 11 Aug 2004 07:48 am Post subject:
Our troops summer camp experience was fantastic! The only
change that we would make is that the Trading post not sell
matches to scouts. Well actually selling matches by the pack
would probably not hurt but the girls working in the trading
post were selling them by the case to scouts...who go and burn
the entire thing for a thrill.... then they would go back and
buy another case and the story repeats itself... so if there
are any trading post operators out there...keep a lookout for
the pyromaniacs out there!
I must give credit to some of the troop leaders who stepped in
and stopped their scouts from participating in this popular
activity..however there were many troops who let this activity
continue.
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Buffalo Bill
First Class
Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Posts: 54
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posted: 11 Aug 2004 08:55 am Post subject:
Matches by the case? Sorry, but I had to laugh at that one!
The fact that a camp trading post would even consider selling
a bunch of tweens and teens cases of matches is
hilarious...and unfortunately scary.
We had a blast. We loaded all 42 of us in our "new" Big Dog
tour bus and 2 support vehicles, the Chuck Wagon and the
Little Dog, and went to Tennessee. The Chuck Wagon held two
Dads/Leaders and they forged ahead of the main group and
scouted (sorry, had to) out rest stops to stop and eat and
generally made things easier for the group. Little Dog hauled
a small trailer that carried the few bulkier items that
wouldn't fit in the Big Dog's cargo bins.
We left Friday at "Oh dark thirty" and motored up to
Sweetwater, TN. There, we spent the night at the Lost Sea
Caverns. Majority of the comments from the boys" "WOW". It was
really fun, and we got mud in more places than I care to
remember.
Saturday morning we traveled 40 minutes down to Ocoee, TN,
where we went whitewater rafting. Our younger boys ventured
down the Hiwassee River in self-guided rafts. Our boys 12 and
over (State Law for the Ocoee) braved the mighty Ocoee river.
Couldn't get them to stop raving about both experiences for
the rest of the week--didn't wanna either!
After a great all-you-can-eat buffet for everyone at a
Chattanooga Golden Corral we headed to Skymont, on the
Cumberland Plateau. Got into camp Saturday night; and, since
we had coordinated with Skymont prior to our arrival, they
were prepared and really went out of their way to make us
welcome and get settled in that night.
The week was great. It really helped to have a responsive
staff. That doesn't mean that everything ran without a glitch.
It didn't. But it was very nice to be able to address the
problem and see an immediate attempt by the staff to rectify
the situation--kudos to the Skymont staff for that! Met their
SE at an awesome steak dinner for the leaders, and it was
amazing to see how open communication is at that council.
The boys had a great time. I saw my 13 year old Chaplain Aide
give his phone card to a first year camper to call home. That
provoked a tear, and an impromptu Scoutmaster conference
praising selfless small acts of kindness; and how witnessing
simple acts like that makes me the richest man in the world.
We only had 16 first year campers and with the help of some
great Scouts keeping them busy, the worst I overheard at the
phones was, "I miss you". I never heard, "I wanna go home".
This was a vacation for me. The other leaders worked hard to
help guide the boys, leaving me with little to do. I had time
to do what I love best at camp, watch the boys grow.
Next year: Seabase for the big boys. Camp Sawyer in the Keys,
and our own summer camp program for the younger boys. Then
we've got several adults and youth attending or staffing the
National Jamboree. This will be my 4th Jamboree. It would have
been my 5th, but Uncle Sam wanted me to help with things going
on in Bosnia. It'll will be my 3rd Jamboree as Pool Leader for
SCUBA/Snorkeling. Folks always say I'm all wet!
B2
ASM-P, Troop 87, '85 NJ
Pool Leader, SCUBA Staff, '97, '01, '05
Lodge Adviser, Achpateuny 498, 88-89.
Crew Adviser, Philmont '89, '91
...and the best darn job on earth, Scoutmaster
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Bill Britt
Scoutmaster
Troop 509
Hurlburt Field, FL
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Guneukitschik
Life
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 162
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posted: 11 Aug 2004 09:00 am Post subject:
the matches story is funny BUT true...
unfortunately this summer they didn't seem to have common
sense as a requirement to operate the trading post!
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wagionvigil
Counselor
Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 192
Location: PA
Posted: 11 Aug 2004 09:01 am Post subject:
Like a Brain?
_________________
Action Center D Rappel Tower Director 2001 and 2005 National
Jamborees
Northeast REgion Area 4 Venturing Chairman
Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"
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Guneukitschik
Life
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 162
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posted: 11 Aug 2004 09:08 am Post subject:
exactly...
we have taken the issue to the council and requested that next
year this not be allowed. I think it would be more than ok to
sell matches to scouts...just not is such large
quantities...day after day...
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Buffalo Bill
First Class
Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Posts: 54
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posted: 11 Aug 2004 10:05 am Post subject:
Stopping it at the source is a good idea. The other part of
your post that I didn't address was your observed lack of
adult monitoring of the situation.
It never ceases to amaze me how some leaders fail to lead,
whether by action or example. I wish I couldn't recount how
many times I have been struck dumbfounded by seeing Scouts
doing dangerous, or simply destructive, things in plain sight
of adults with no reaction from those same adults.
Oh well...
Our Troop was going scalloping this weekend at St. Joseph
Peninsula State Park. Fantastic park with 2002's #1 beach in
the nation. Unfortunately Bonnie and Charley made us change
our plans. I was lucky enough to get the Youth Camp there
reserved for August 27-29, hopefully in between the next
storms to come through.
At least we might get the opportunity to help with cleanup
after the storms.
B2
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Bill Britt
Scoutmaster
Troop 509
Hurlburt Field, FL
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t305spl
Tenderfoot
Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 8
Location: New York
Posted: 11 Aug 2004 12:06 pm Post subject:
Mine was horrible. The scouts don't behave and are
disrespectful but then their are the adults who are too. We
took 20 scouts and 6 adult leaders. I'm the SPL and have been
for over a year and it was horrible. I would rate it -10 out
of the 7 summer camp experiences I have had. Because of this
camp I probabily wont get reelected. The PL's didnt help at
all so I did everything. The adults threw all the hard
decisions on me (I mean the decisions that were easy to answer
but once you answered it the scouts would hate you for
decideing it) The adult leaders would make decsions and then
tell the scouts their descision then I have to change it for
the better but to the scouts it's worse so they decide to hate
me. I was ready to leave after 2 days. I couldn't control them
because some adults were out of control too. Sorry for venting
but this is the only place to and you all would understand.
Any suggestions on how to handle them now please write back.
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wagionvigil
Counselor
Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 192
Location: PA
Posted: 11 Aug 2004 12:20 pm Post subject:
Your case is not isolated. Again we have adults that think and
feel they are in the Troop as a youth. Remember this is for
the boys not for them.
_________________
Action Center D Rappel Tower Director 2001 and 2005 National
Jamborees
Northeast REgion Area 4 Venturing Chairman
Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"
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wagionvigil
Counselor
Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 192
Location: PA
Posted: 11 Aug 2004 12:25 pm Post subject:
OUr camp experience was great. This was the first year we used
a food service at our camp rather than hiring a cook etc. We
were there week one and there were a few minor glitches but
they were worked out. We had hot food and plenty. Most meals
had 2nds and thirds. WE had several First Year scouts and they
went to Pathfinder where they worked on their scouting skills
BUT they also got swimming MB and First Aid MB. ALl had time
for another and finished Bird Study MB The older patrol all
went to COPE and worked on their Teambuilding. Only a lttle
rain and comfortable Temperatures. A good time was had by All!
_________________
Action Center D Rappel Tower Director 2001 and 2005 National
Jamborees
Northeast REgion Area 4 Venturing Chairman
Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"
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Guneukitschik
Life
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 162
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posted: 11 Aug 2004 12:45 pm Post subject:
t305spl -- sounds to me like your leaders need TRAINING! and
it probably wouldn't hurt some of your scouts to attend Junior
Leader Training....
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Buffalo Bill
First Class
Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Posts: 54
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posted: 11 Aug 2004 12:54 pm Post subject:
To t305spl:
Please try to go to your Scoutmaster and try to explain some
of your concerns to him. Do try to express yourself by being
objective and trying to keep strong emotions at check. Try to
offer possible solutions as well as present problems, this
will earn you some serious brownie points.
You have some valid concerns, and you need to let your
Scoutmaster know. Keeping these concerns bottled up will only
hurt you and your performance as SPL. Give yourself a break.
You may be surprised, but Scoutmasters aren't ogres. We really
want to help. Most of us would really appreciate some feedback
once in a while.
Good Luck and feel free to vent to us anytime. Just remember
you have to take the first step at home.
Let us know how it goes.
B2
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Bill Britt
Scoutmaster
Troop 509
Hurlburt Field, FL
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t305spl
Tenderfoot
Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 8
Location: New York
Posted: 12 Aug 2004 08:35 am Post subject:
Thanks for your help. I called a committee meeting to be held
at the end of this month. Their I will talk with my
scoutmaster and get committee to make some serious changes.
I'll let you all know how it goes.
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Firefish
Life
Joined: 05 Jul 2004
Posts: 145
Location: Beaver, Pa
Posted: 12 Aug 2004 12:28 pm Post subject:
I would give mine an eight it was all really cool except I
kinda had a problem like t305spl's but luckily the leaders
were good. Everything went smoothly except for the new scouts
who had been in the troop for like two months. We have a small
troop and all of us "older" scouts joined at the same time.
when we joined only three kids were left and they were all
almost eighteen and left for college within a month of us
getting there so we had to fight it on our own and we all had
the same experience level and everything flowed smoothly. the
new scouts came in and arent as experinced as us and they kept
doing everything wrong and the junior leanders and the adult
leaders had to convince them that we were not meanies we were
just trying to tell them our mistakes that made us miserable
and that they would not have to experince the same mistakes.
well then the spl, aspl, pl, and apl for the other patrol(only
2 patrols only 14 scouts in the entire troop) were gone so my
pl and myself (apl) had to manage all the newer scouts by
ourselves and it was awful. other than that it was great! we
also had a yellow timber rattle snake in out campsite. that
was cool.
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Peter Cahill
Troop 469
A Fighting Irish
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Buffalo Bill
First Class
Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Posts: 54
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posted: 12 Aug 2004 10:20 pm Post subject:
Remember just a few years ago you guys were the new Scouts.
Remember how great it was when an older Scout paid
constructive attention to you. I know it's hard to sometimes,
but making them feel part of the Troop is important. We need
new Scouts to make older Scouts!
Several years ago I remember a boy walking around with a
coffee can. I finally couldn't control my curiosity and I
asked him what the had in it. He came trundling over to me
smiling and reached into the can and pulled out a Pygmy
Rattler. Luckily, it was a juvenile and he held it behind the
head. After I recovered my composure, we took it to the Nature
Hut and I explained why it wasn't such a good idea to play
with venomous snakes.
B2
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Bill Britt
Scoutmaster
Troop 509
Hurlburt Field, FL
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MeritBadge.Net
The Scouting Discussion Network
). Here's the link:
. they had connections with Salt lake though 
All of our council camps are within 4 hours of Salt Lake except the high advernture base in the Tetons. most for them are in the Unitas about 2 hours away
Anyway I love the troop t-shirts.