The Biggest Part of the Word Scouting is Outing! (cont.)
Camping! Perhaps the single most significant feature that distinguishes Scouting from other youth serving organizations. As the snow and cold weather subsides and the temperatures warm, thoughts turn to pitching tents or sleeping under the stars, building fires, hiking through the woods and fields, and soaking in the sights and sounds of nature. The outdoor setting provides a natural classroom for skill building, leadership development, and of course FUN! This is the best time of year to put the Scout motto to use; Be Prepared!
The Bay Lakes Council provides and maintains four outstanding camp properties, each maintained to the highest standards of the National Camp Assessment Program. Camp Rokilio focuses on Cub Scouting and provides a rich program of summer activities in themed cabins. It is also home to the Bay Lakes Council museum and an unusual natural bog. Gardner Dam Adventure Base and Camp straddling the banks of the Wolf River, provides an outstanding program for Webelos Scouts as they transition to their Arrow of Light year and prepare for crossing over into Scouts BSA. It is also home to an active kayaking and river rafting program and provides high adventure programming for Scouts BSA units in a new summer program. Bear Paw Scout Camp offers a strong summer program for Scouts BSA units. Facilities include a new boat house, well developed nature building, shower and restroom facilities near the waterfront, staff cabins, and most notably a new STEM building that houses the maple sugar shack and other STEM programming. All three camps offer summer programming that is sure to please with opportunities for advancement for Scouts and training for adults. One lesser-known facility is Jax Camp, located just north of Sturgeon Bay, offering wilderness camping and access to Door County.
While our camps are most known for summer camp programming, Council camp facilities are available to units throughout the year and many units utilize the camps for weekend programming. Campsites, cabins, equipment and other facilities can be reserved for Pack, Troop and Crew activities. As the weather breaks, units can easily set up tents and camp outdoors in addition to indoor cabin camping. Reservations are available now for the remainder of the spring, and will open June 1st for the coming year, so now is a great time to begin your program planning and determine when and where you would like to plan your next adventure.
You can help your Scout to prepare for outdoor adventure by encouraging them to work with unit leaders to develop the skills required of camping. Adult leaders have much experience to share and will help those new to camping to obtain the right clothing, equipment and gear needed to have a positive experience. Embedded in the advancement program at both the Cub Scout and Scouts BSA level are introductory experiences designed to help a Scout succeed. Packing lists, suggestions for clothing and footwear, outerwear, and personal items as well as the backpacks and bags to carry them are available in the summer camp leader guides, from unit leaders, and online.
Attending Scout camp requires a health form from each youth and adult. For outings up to 72 hours, forms A and B are required and can be completed by the parent or guardian. Those participating in outings longer than 72 hours must visit with a health care professional and complete form C. These forms are left with the camp and retained for three years under secure storage as required by state law, so it is important to keep one or more copies at home for future use. Completed health forms are good for one year. Now is a great time to schedule a visit with your family physician for an annual check-up.
Each of our camps provide facilities for shooting sports, waterfront and boating activities, nature and conservation, science, cooking and other Scouting skills, advancement, cope and climbing, and high adventure. The Council also provides mountain biking and cycling, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, ATVs and other special programming in some of our camp locations. The Council strives to make camp accessible to all Scout families and provides financial assistance to those in need through camperships. Units work collaboratively with the Council to make sure that every Scout can enjoy the benefits of the camp program.
It is not too late to sign up for summer camp! There are many sessions with openings available and units can still find a session to meet their needs. Scout families may not be aware that summer programs are available to individual Scouts! If your unit does not plan to attend summer camp or if your Scout just wants more, each camp provides opportunities for individual Scouts to register and attend provisional camp or can be integrated into other units. Seasoned Scouts may also apply to serve on summer camp staff. A Counselor in Training (CIT) program allows Scouts to volunteer to serve on a staff for a couple of weeks to try out the staff experience. Scouts can also apply to serve as paid staff for the duration of the summer program. Staff are provided with lodging and meals, and the experience of a lifetime!
Camping introduces Scouts to the great outdoors and helps our youth to appreciate and understand stewardship of our natural resources. Many Scouts take their love of camping and outdoor recreation well into adulthood and continue to enjoy the forest, lakes and rivers with their families and friends outside of Scouting. Hopefully you will help your Scout get to camp this summer and enjoy the full measure of the camping experience.
As always, I want to thank you for entrusting your youth to Scouting and supporting their growth within our program. For more than a century, Scouting has helped young people to grow into mature, self-reliant servant leaders who appreciate the natural world and support and celebrate one anothe
Paul Shrode
psshrode@aol.com