The Guide Newsletter: May 15

It was just last evening we received the news of the Supreme Court ruling concerning “Safer at Home”. A lot of you have questions about how this will impact Scouting in our Council. Please know that our primary objective always has been and always will be the safety of our Scouts, volunteers, and staff. We are as anxious as anyone to get back to some form of normalcy. Our staff and committee chairs are working tirelessly to assess when and how we best do that. As the picture becomes clearer, we will communicate that as soon as possible. Until then, please stay the course. Continue to do the things to keep Scouting exciting and progressing in the many unique ways you have shown on-line and via social media. While we have never faced the kinds of challenges we are seeing today, I am continually grateful for your efforts and the support of our many friends and donors.

I want to take a moment to talk about the role of a commissioner in helping keep a unit healthy and strong. Actually, they play several roles. A commissioner is:

• A friend of the unit – the most important of their roles.  Building a great relationship with the unit leadership is key to success.  It springs from the attitude, “I care, I am here to help you, what can I do for you?”
  
  
• A representative – The average unit leader is totally occupied in working with the Scouts. Your commissioner is visible as a representative of the Boy Scouts of America when they visit your meeting, serving as an example of the ideals, the principles, and the policies of the Scouting movement.

• A unit “doctor” – As “doctor”, your unit commissioner knows that prevention is better than a cure. They are there to see that your units make good “health practices” a way of life.  Use them to help you diagnose what may be ailing your unit and then help you find the appropriate remedy. Quick action is needed for units at risk; ones who are not meeting or growing, lack trained leadership, or are having issues with their chartered organization.

• A teacher – Commissioners are experienced Scouters with a wealth of information to share.  Take advantage of their practical knowledge, access to resources and their network of other Scouters. Roundtable commissioners have additional opportunities to teach in a “classroom” like setting at monthly roundtables.

• A coach – Commissioners help to guide units in solving their own problems.  Everyone needs coaching or assistance from time to time, even experienced leaders. Commissioners provide them with different “plays” that might be the right one for them to move ahead or succeed at solving a problem.

This past week, a former commissioner, David Hirn passed away. Not only was he a huge part of what makes Bay-Lakes Council such a great place for Scouts and Scouters, but he was a personal friend and mentor to me and many other leaders in our Council. Au revoir, mon ami.

Ensuring a Safe Summer Resident Camp

During these past months, we all have made decisions to protect ourselves and our families, and anyone else with whom we come in contact as we gingerly move about for our essentials. Through the past GUIDE issues, we have shared some of the actions and planning underway for outdoor programming. Safety, first. We await direction from the Wisconsin and Michigan Departments of Health, which closely regulates all camping activities, to determine our ability to operate safely. And adjust and adapt, as necessary based on the county health departments, in which our camps are located, and CDC guidelines, to operate safely.

Our summer resident camp programs will look much different than in past years. Here is a non-exhaustive list of those activities intended to protect the health, safety and welfare of our campers, visitors and staff.  (By the way, there are activities that you can do at home to ensure a safe and healthy experience before you even leave for camp; so, keep reading)

• Working closely with the Council Medical Director and all the resources available, there will be new protocols for both pre-arrival and on-site screening.
• Any participant in a high-risk category for protections from the coronavirus should not attend camp this summer, based on current protocols.
• Because of the higher risk of transmitting communicable diseases, visitor opportunities may be restricted, or eliminated altogether, consistent with CDC, and with state and local regulations and guidelines.
• There will be increased cleaning and sanitation in shared spaces, buildings and program area.
• Food service operations will be adjusted.
• Camp-wide activities and large gatherings will be limited based on size of attendance and the ability to maintain physical distancing, or will be eliminated if these cannot be done safely.

 

• Telephonic Wellness Appointment by existing health care provider with examiner’s signature
• Professional or compliance wellness exam – an exam that is required for emergency responders, pilots, etc.
• Local community clinic or alternative health care provider – can’t see your doctor, see a different one.

What You Can Do at Home to Prepare for Summer Camp
A healthy summer camp really does start and end at home! Here are some things you can do to help your child have a great camp experience.

• If your child is showing signs of illness such as running a temperature, throwing up, has diarrhea, nasal drainage and/or coughing/sneezing, keep the child home and contact your camp director. This greatly reduces the spread of illness at camp but also supports your child’s recovery. Know your camp’s policy about illness and camp attendance.
• Teach your child to sneeze/cough in his/her sleeve and to wash his/her hands often while at camp, especially before eating and after toileting. If you really want to achieve impact, teach your child to accompany hand washing with another behavior: keeping their hands away from their face.
• If your child has mental, emotional, or social health challenges, talk with a camp representative before camp starts. Proactively discussing a camp’s ability to accommodate a child can help minimize – if not eliminate – potential problems.
• Should your child need a particular nutrition plan because of allergies, intolerances or a diagnosis (e.g., diabetes), note these on the Health History form but also contact the camp to make sure (a) they have noted that need and (b) the camp can address it. Discuss how your child will receive appropriate meals and snacks then explain that to your camper. Should your child be uncomfortable with the plan, arrange for a camp staff member to assist/monitor the process until the child is comfortable.
• Make sure your child has and wears appropriate close-toed shoes for activities such as soccer and hiking, and that your child understands that camp is a more rugged environment that the sub/urban setting. Talk with your child about wearing appropriate shoes to avoid slips, trips and falls that, in turn, can result in injuries such as sprained ankle.
• Send enough clothes so your child can dress in layers. Mornings can be chilly and afternoons get quite hot. Dressing in layers allows your child to remove clothing as s/he warms while still enjoying camp.
• Fatigue plays a part in both injuries and illnesses – and camp is a very busy place! Be sure they get enough rest at night. If the child will be at a resident camp, explain that camp is not like a sleepover; they need to sleep, not stay up all night!
• Remember to send sunscreen appropriate to the camp’s geographic location and that your child has tried at home. Teach your child how to apply his/her sunscreen and how often to do so.
• Send a reusable water bottle. Instruct your child to use it and refill it frequently during their camp stay. Staying hydrated is important to a healthy camp experience, something your child can assess by noting the color of their urine (“pee”); go for light yellow.
• Talk with your child about telling their counselor, the nurse or camp director about problems or things that are troublesome to them at camp. These camp professionals can be quite helpful as children learn to handle being lonesome for home or cope with things such as loosing something special. These helpers can’t be helpful if they don’t know about the problem – so talk to them.
• Should something come up during the camp experience or afterward – you see an unusual rash on your child or the child shares a disturbing story – contact the camp’s representative and let them know. Camps want to partner effectively with parents; sharing information makes this possible.

If you need more information, please contact your unit’s leader who can either contact the Camp Director or the Council office. We encourage each of you to build the partnership between you and your child’s camp leadership team. It’s one way to help your child have the best camp experience possible!

What’s New for Bear Paw 2020
A brand-new summer camp staff who is excited to provide one of the best summer camp programs ever…A whole new look to camp as a result of the 2019 storm, with new program areas and camp layout…A continued focus on the summer camp customer experience and renewed spirit of adventure.

The approach to the summer of 2020 was to take what we learned in 2019 and apply those lessons to improve the program we provide our Scouts each summer. Pat Williquette has come on board as our Summer Camp Director and Toby Wing as our Program Director, both long time campers and summer camp staff. They have put together one of the best summer camp staffs that have walked the Camp trails over many years. Expect to experience some very exciting projects and activities that all these young people have envisioned for this summer.

It’s all about program and we have it. Taking what we offered in 2019, in conjunction with all the input from leaders and campers along with many other volunteers, we adjusted our schedule and made several changes to our advancement program. We think you will find the changes to be well worth your week at camp. If you have not had a chance to explore our 2020 Program Guide, please do so. You will notice that for the most part, our weekly schedule is the same as 2019, the big difference is the advancement program schedule has changed. This was in large part due to the input and feedback of our 2019 campers and leaders. The merit badges and skill advancement options have remained, but their schedule has changed. A huge thank you to the volunteers who helped develop this advancement program.

Camp is a Phoenix and rises steadfastly from the ashes of the July 2019 storm. Follow Bear Paw on Facebook as Council volunteers bring camp forward. Here is a short list of some facility changes: a new boathouse and year-round nature center, a new Maple Educational and STEM center, the new Jack Van Sistine educational Center for shooting sports, a new program storage building, a new shower house/restrooms near the waterfront, and a new commissioners/leaders center with year round bath facilities. Many Council volunteers continue to work hard to make these projects happen.

We hope to see you this summer! Don’t forget: fall camping is not that far away. Plan now and and make your camping reservations soon.

New Summer Camp Refund Policy
Because of the extenuating circumstances that COVID-19 presents, Council has revised its summer camp refund policy for the 2020 season.  The full message was sent last week to the unit camping coordinators to be distributed to the parents and campers.  Here is a summary of its contents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to the May 25, 2020 cancellation deadline, final payment is requested by June 15, 2020.

All refund requests are to be made by email, sent to Laura.Daigle@Scouting.org. Laura is working remotely while the Center for Scouting remains closed. For individual participant requests, please provide names and reasoning for the requests. Any questions can also be sent to Laura.

 

 

 

 

 

Over 30,000 Scouts are expected to participate in next summer’s National Jamboree. You can be a part of the Council contingent. The Jamboree Service Team (staff) is also looking for volunteers. Program, medical services, trading post and more. Adults can be part of the contingent leadership or service team. Watch for a virtual Jamboree Rally to answer all your questions. You can register now! There are scholarships available; the application deadline is May 31. More information can be found on the Jamboree page at the Bay-Lakes Council Jamboree webpage.

When was the first National Jamboree and where was it held?

Answer:  1937, Washington, D.C.  But here’s the rest of the story…It was originally planned for 1935.The polio epidemic forced the postponement of the first National Jamboree. And now you know the rest of the story.

How many National Jamborees have been held? The answer will be revealed in the next issue of The Guide. If you can’t wait until then, contact Mike Mailandfor the answer to the trivia question and get answers to all of your Jamboree questions.