Camping Merit Badge

[Kalanio]

I MOVED THIS TO MERIT BADGES A-C
WV

The mother one of my scouts believes the camping merit badge booklet gives allowance for backyard camping in fullfilling the requirement for 20 nghts camping since it does not explicitly state that you can't.

I believe the intent of the requirement is for the scout to obtain experience spending the night in a remote location. This requires some planning and forethought. In a backyard there are nice grassy spots, readily available water and electricity, and the comforts of home just footsteps away. There are experiences to be had and things to learn by camping in a remote location that cannot be duplicated in a backyard.

As scoutmaster, I have been the counselor for this merit badge. My position on this has been to allow backyard camping to count toward fullfillment of the 20 nights requirement only in the event that there are extenuating cirmcumstances--such as health or inability to camp with the troop for some other reason. Our troop goes on plenty of camping trips and our scouts eventually obtain their 20 nights if they are active in the troop. I already have a problem with the way many of our merit badges get watered down to simply checking the box. I see no reason for the vast majority of scouts to camp in their backyards to fullfill this requirement.

I would appreciate your input on this subject.

[JazerNorth]

I would do everything "within my power" to convince the scout to camp away from home. Does camping in the backyard count, well, I guess it could. Meaning they cooked, set up their own tent, slept, etc. in the back yard. Either way, I would do whatever I could to convince the scout to want to camp elsewhere.

2 Cents In ....

JazerNorth

[evmori]

I don't think backyard camping should be included. If a Scout does all 20 nights in his backyard with the exception of long term camp, how will he complete requirements 9b & 9c?

[vpalango]

Interesting issue....

I've never run into that one as a counselor. I have run into a boy asking to include some family camping in the number, but never backyard camping.

When accepting family camping nights, I've always asked alot of questions about the nature of the trip. What did the scout do as part of the campout (did he select the site, did he cook, cleanup, etc?)

This might be an area where the BSA might add a little language to the requirement so we don't run into a add/subtract from the requirements issue as we (as MBCs) try and interpret the intent of the requirement.

YIS,

[FrankJ]

This is really up to the MBC to decide. If it is sleeping in a tent while doing normal activities & eating in the house, I wouldn't call it camping.

[Lynda J]

Camping in the back year isn't camping. It is spending the night at home in your back yard. There are other requirements that have to be done as part of the camping experience and I see no way he could complete the following requirements while camping in his back yard. That being said I could have done this requirement camping in my back yard as a kid. Of course my back yard backed up to the Osage River valley and was about 100 acres.


Show experience in camping by doing the following:
Camp a total of at least 20 days and nights. You may use a week of long-term camp toward this requirement. Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched (long-term camp excluded).
On any of these camping experiences, you must do TWO of the following, only with proper preparation and under qualified supervision:
Hike up a mountain, gaining at least 2,000 vertical feet.
Backpack for at least four miles.
Take a bike trip of at least 15 miles or at least four hours.
Plan and carry out a float trip of at least four hours.
Rappel down a rappel route of 30 feet or more.

[momma_bee]

I think you need to ask the setting and schedule. I think a backyard could count as part of the days, depending on the backyard. You hear coyotes, and see deer and maybe a bear in ours.

I had a Scout sleep over in our backyard (not a scout activity) and the boys pitched the tent, gathered firewood, used the 3rd tree to the left, cooked dinner and sat by the light of the lantern. At 10pm, I sent them inside to brush their teeth and grab the sleeping bags, which never made it to the tent for some mysterious reason and as we walked out the young man said, "are we really going to sleep out here" and BigBee said 'of course, we're camping out' and the other boy said "I like real camping better, where they have lights and everything."

I share that because of their different definitions of camping.

I think if you have cell phone reception you're too close to civilization to call it camping.

[summertop]

I leave it up to our MBC. He has given the OK for one "Backyard" camp per year. But, they must sleep outside (either in a tent or under the stars). Yes, they pitch the tents, cook, and eat outside. It is the one camp where I let them have electronic toys. The boys love it and they don't pester me the rest of the year to have their radios and gameboys at camp. Typically, I do this right after the week long camp.


I have heard of other troops that camp almost exclusively in the scoutmaster's backyard. I feel sorry for them. One of these boys has asked if he could go camping with my troop. I don't think the boys really learn camping that way. Once, or even twice, is OK. But get the boys out into the wilderness. Take them backpacking, fishing, hiking, etc. That's what scouting is about.

[summertop]

...On any of these camping experiences, you must do TWO of the following, only with proper preparation and under qualified supervision:
Hike up a mountain, gaining at least 2,000 vertical feet.
Backpack for at least four miles.
Take a bike trip of at least 15 miles or at least four hours.
Plan and carry out a float trip of at least four hours.
Rappel down a rappel route of 30 feet or more.

I think the requirements have changed, this year. For example, it no longer says to plan a float trip. It now just says to float down a river for either four hours or five miles.

[Lynda J]

If they are floating down a river they have to comply with G2SS standards. That requires planning.

[wagionvigil]

that is safety afloat

[summertop]

If they are floating down a river they have to comply with G2SS standards. That requires planning.

Yes, you are so right. But, "who" is required to plan it? Previously, the scout was. With the new wording, the scout does not have to be the one that plans it.

[scoutaholic]

I have had several boys and/or parents ask me about this same question.

My general rule has been that as long as they have done MOST of their camping with the troop, I will accept a few nights of family camping to complete the 20. I do clarify that this does not mean sleeping in the motorhome, or in the boat.

I had one scout who had done all the rest of the requirements and needed 2 more nights. I did count backyard camping for his merit badge. He has since completed enough camping with the troop to have done the full 20. It was just a matter of timing for him.

[Fünfte Adler]

I have been reading a lot of postings with the question of “Should backyard and family camping count for requirement 9?” This was an issue in our Troop until recently. Our Committee Chair called the national office and asked that very same question. She received a letter from the National Director of Advancement which states; “In regards to your question about the 20 days and nights of camping for the Camping merit badge, the 20 days and nights must be Scout activity related… Backyard camping and family camping are not acceptable to meet the 20 days and nights.” That says it pretty clear. Take it for what it’s worth. Hopefully, someday soon, they will change the requirement so it reflects what they really want it to be.

Fünfte Adler

[Lynda J]

Could you copy and post that letter to the group. This way there is something in writting from National regarding the policy on camping requirements.


As for as the planning of a float trip. The troop should be boy run. This means that under the supervision of a trained adult the boys should do the planning for the float trip.

I think the requirements have changed, this year. For example, it no longer says to plan a float trip. It now just says to float down a river for either four hours or five miles

.

2006 requirement book.
9b On any of these camping experiences, you must to Two of the following, only with proper preparation and under quialfied supervision:

Hike up a mountain. gaining at least 1,000 vertical feet.
Backpack, snowshoe, or cross-country ski for at least 4miles
Take anbike trip of at least 15 miles four hours
Plan and carry out a float trip of at least four hours
Plan and carry out an overnight snow camping experience
Rappel down a rappel route of 30 feet or more.
Perform a conservation project approved by the landowner or
land managing agency

The two that are in bold are the ones that were changed from the previous requirements.[/b]

[FrankJ]

She received a letter from the National Director of Advancement which states; “In regards to your question about the 20 days and nights of camping for the Camping merit badge, the 20 days and nights must be Scout activity related… Backyard camping and family camping are not acceptable to meet the 20 days and nights

So much for nothing added nothing taken away. I agree that backyard camping is not really camping in most cases, but the requirements say nothing about the camping needing to scout related.

[evmori]

She received a letter from the National Director of Advancement which states; “In regards to your question about the 20 days and nights of camping for the Camping merit badge, the 20 days and nights must be Scout activity related… Backyard camping and family camping are not acceptable to meet the 20 days and nights

So much for nothing added nothing taken away. I agree that backyard camping is not really camping in most cases, but the requirements say nothing about the camping needing to scout related.

I'd like to see the letter & who signed it before we take this as policy.

[drew2fast]

If you are giving a boy credit for camping in the backyard you are doing that boy an injustice and watering down the scouting program and principles. Backyard camping is for Cub Scouts. We aren't in Kansas anymore and camping in the backyard is not part of Boy Scouts. Boys have to earn their badges, not have their parents whine them for them. Next they will want credit for the trip to the Grand Canyon because they were in an RV in a campground. Good Grief Charlie Brown!

[jhawk]

Hey, Drew, leave Kansas out of this! ha
I don't think backyard "camping" counts for anything in scouting, but I do believe family camping does if it is really camping. No, RV "camping" isn't camping. Those things have more amenities than my house in most cases. I don't think National can say it has to be scout related. Well, I guess technically they CAN, but the badge requirements don't say that it has to be with the troop or patrol, so.... it does leave it open to interpretation. Most merit badge requirements are not written to involve the troop, a patrol, or scout activities at all per se....

[molscouter]

jhawk, it doesn't any more. Per the 2007 Requirements book for the Camping merit badge:

9. Show experience in camping by doing the following:

(a) Camp a total of at least 20 days and 20 nights. The 20 days and 20 nights must be at a designated Scouting activity or event. Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched. You may use a week of long-term camp toward this requirement. If the camp provides a tent that has already been pitched, you need not pitch your own tent.