Designing a week long camping program for Older Scouts

[wagionvigil]

If you had a camp that you could turn into a
1. Alternate scout camp ( troop run program)
2. Venture Crew Base

The Camp would be staffed with no more than 3 staff 1- 21 year old two 19-Up
you could have access to the regular scout camp for COPE nothing else

You would prepare all meals in your camp site(option dinner in the dining hall)
No Merit Badges would be offered
What would you like to see

[616kayak]

• One-rope bridge
• Orienteering races
• Search and rescue practice drill
• Canoe races
• Races for vest time on that flat wall at low cope.

There's some healthy competition in those activities that would be great for a camp.

[pipestone1991]

Stocked fish pond, CTF field, archery range, and organized football.

[wagionvigil]

football is against the G2SS.

[hops_scout]

Obviously the activities have to be fun! I think it would be great to do a variety of high adventure stuff in the same week. Whitewater rafting, rock climbing, caving, rappelling, backpacking, etc. You mention no merit badges, but I think some learning could take place too. How about a night where the participant gets only what he can fit into his daypack and send in into the woods. Bring in the SAR team to do a demostration. Doing a COPE course is always a fun time. How about Wilderness First Aid class?

You said 3 staff members and that's it. COPE was the only thing you could use a camp for. Again, bring out SAR and maybe they can teach Wilderness First Aid as well as wilderness survival stuff?

Wagion, this is gonna bug me because there's so much I'd love to do and don't have the opportunity to do. I'll sit here and daydream about everything I've posted now

[wagionvigil]

I am on a planning committee and this is our job to design a program for older scouts a Venture Crews. We have a camp that is under utilized and at one time was an alternate scout camp.

Ideas So far are
BMX Couse Like Jambo
Caving
Climbing and Rappelling
Whitewater
Mountain Biking
GPS Course. One that would take a whole day and also force compass use.
Horesback Riding

[wagionvigil]

Come On folks give me some input here.!!!

[CapXK]

Multi-day backpacking trek.
Search and rescue drill competition
Mountain-man activities - blacksmithing, black powder rifles, primitive camping skills (especially alternative fire-making techniques)
Advanced survival outing - set up a series of scenarios, wrecked car, crashed plane, etc and have Scouts improvise (way beyond the requirements in the Wilderness Survival MB).
Pioneering the old way - large structures that require skill and teamwork to construct - could be a competition.

[cballman]

having thought about this for a while since it will be a week long event then why not put some leader training in for the kids. then also put up some team building excerises. just my 2 cents worth.

[wagionvigil]

team building would fall under the COPE Program. The training idea is solid and I will look at it.Remember there would only be three staff members to work this.

[WeeWillie]

I think the lure of any older boy program is getting away from the 11-12 year olds and the SM; and doing something the younger scouts can't. That is particularly true for small troops where there are only 2-3 scouts over 14.

[vpalango]

For Older Scouts one might "resurect" what I knew as a scout as the "outpost" program (this may exist in some areas still).

High end Pioneering, Wilderness Survival, and Backpacking. This was a 2 week program with a week of skills work in camp, and a week in the back-country including a wilderness survival night where scouts were sent out with limited supplies (no sleeping bag) to build a shelter, and live off the land for 24 hours. The area for this activity was carefully selected as an area where making it through the day was relatively easy.

At the end of the trip, you had a group of scouts with VERY strong scoutcraft skills, and scouts that would take the program year after year.

YIS

[lambeausam]

The camp we just went to had an OWL program for anyone 14 or older. The excursions were day long trips for caving, climbing, and canoeing. The on-site activities were branding, tomahawk tossing, backpack cooking classes, black powder rifles, low COPE, large intiative games.

Sam

[wagionvigil]

What was the week cost for this program???

[ThunderingWind]

Put dressed dummies in the woods (lost persons). Send Crews/Patrols to find them and bring them back. Leg and arm is "broken" so "apply" first aid and make field litter to carry.

Make it a heavy person who over exerted themselves and limit what the team can take with them or make them carry 50 pound loads. 5 miles out, 5 miles back over rough terrain. It is really fun if it is raining.

Of course provide some instruction before hand for the less knowledgable teams that want to try.

This emphasizes team work, land navigation skills, physical conditioning and first aid knowledge. All things the older scout and Crews should know or want to get more of.

Whatever you do, ensure the adequate instruction and information is provided and offered so that a Crew member could possibly earn some credit towads a Bronze or Ranger. I have found most of the kids will take it if offered but do not go out seeking it as much. I know they should seek it but they do not. So if it readily available they may take it.

Also, have them build catapaults and launch 2 inch hitch balls. This has always been popular at the Camporees I have attened. Only lashing is approved to create the contraption.

[lambeausam]

I only paid $5 each for the canoeing and the caving. The rest of the events were free. Technically, they were paid via the summer camp registration. (175/scout 65/leader)

Sam

[wagionvigil]

How much was the camp registration???

[hops_scout]

Technically, they were paid via the summer camp registration. (175/scout 65/leader)

Sam

[wagionvigil]

DUH!!!!!!

[hops_scout]

Old age getting ya already wagion? Or maybe the hair got in your way?