From <@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU:owner-scouts-l@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU> Fri Aug 1 17:06:46 1997 Return-Path: <@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU:owner-scouts-l@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU> Received: from pucc.PRINCETON.EDU (smtpe@pucc.Princeton.EDU [128.112.129.99]) by cap1.CapAccess.org (8.6.12/8.6.10) with SMTP id RAA20760; Fri, 1 Aug 1997 17:06:46 -0400 Received: from PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU by pucc.PRINCETON.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 4847; Fri, 01 Aug 97 16:58:17 EDT Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin MAILER@TCUBVM) by PUCC.PRINCETON.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 5873; Fri, 1 Aug 1997 16:58:18 -0400 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 6785; Fri, 1 Aug 1997 16:01:28 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LISTSERV release 1.8b) with NJE id 6765 for SCOUTS-L@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU; Fri, 1 Aug 1997 15:58:46 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM (NJE origin SMTP@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 6734; Fri, 1 Aug 1997 15:58:35 -0500 Received: from gridsat.thegrid.net by tcubvm.is.tcu.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Fri, 01 Aug 97 15:57:48 CDT Received: from [209.60.97.90] (s2-97-90.thegrid.net [209.60.97.90]) by gridsat.thegrid.net (8.8.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id NAA22494 for ; Fri, 1 Aug 1997 13:30:47 -0700 (PDT) X-Sender: i753412@mail.thegrid.net (Unverified) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Message-ID: Date: Fri, 1 Aug 1997 13:34:54 +0100 Reply-To: Haeusers Sender: Scouts-L Youth Group List From: Haeusers Subject: Re: MB's at Summer Camp To: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Status: RO X-Status: On page 19 of the _Advancement Policies and Procedures Committee Guide_ under Advancement in Summer Camp the second paragraph says: "The procedures for advancement in summer camp are established by the council advancement committee in cooperation with the committee responsible for summer camp, the camp director, and the program director. These procedures must be approved by the council advancement committee prior to the opening of camp. This procedure must include the four processes of advancement-learning, testing, reviewing and recognition." There are several more paragraphs under this heading detailing specifics. The point of my post is this: Council Advancement Committees do not have a practical vehicle for assessing, monitoring, policing if you will, the quality of the jobs done by the Merit Badge Counselors they are responsible for recruiting, training and approving or disapproving in their council. At Philmont in June in the Advancement Course the topic of Summer Camp Merit Badge Counselors came up and the question was "Just whose job is it to make sure these people are trained?" The answer was the Council Advancement Chair. How many gasps did we hear from the group of 44 who were mostly Council Advancement Chairs? Collectively, a minor monsoon. As Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters, Committee Chairs or Committee Members, if/when you think/suspect a Merit Badge Counselor is not doing the job completely and correctly, PLEASE let your District or Council Advancement Chair know. This does include summer camp. It doesn't need to be 3 pages in triplicate, just a word or two so it can be looked into and dealt with if necessary. The beginning of the 6th paragraph states: "Camp merit badge counselors must be qualified (see `Qualifications of Counselors,' page 9). Camp staff members who are qualified in the subject and are younger than age 18 may assist the merit badge counselor with instruction." It goes on to detail the adult's responsibilities. Under 18 may assist with instruction. The Merit Badge Counselors at summer camps should be instructed by their camp directors to be the only ones who sign blue cards. Then if the Scout feels he didn't earn the credit he's been signed off on, he can go discuss it with the Merit Badge Counselor. Ultimately it's up to the two committees and the two directors, but the plan must be in writing before camp starts. This info is available to attending troops in advance. Request it. Why wait until 1/2 way through or after camp to find out that 16 year olds are being allowed to sign off. If more units request info on things like this up front and follow up with letters after camp, the council should get the message and try to provide a better experience. I think what we all want for our boys is the best possible camp experience. They should come away feeling good about what they've earned, not wondering what to do about NOT feeling good about it. Summer camps vary greatly from one to the next. There are areas so well suited for camps that several camps can be found within one council. Lots of boys from out of council attend. It's easy to go home and complain. Let's help those councils do what they can to give the boys the best possible camp experience; provide the best possible program. How? I imagine the members of Scouts-L could come up with pages of ways to do this. Things I can think of include: Encourage your boys to offer service as staff (certainly the ones who felt they may have gotten off too easy on a badge earned at camp). Encourage Merit Badge Counselors you know to be good ones to offer service as a Merit Badge Counselor. Offer to contribute ideas, time, energy to the council committee responsible for summer camp, even if (especially if) it's not your council. Councils with several summer camps in them have a lot of staffing and training to provide. Just my $.02 8^} In the Spirit of Scouting, Robin Church Haeuser, Chair Del Norte District Advancement Committee Los Padres Council **** Atascadero, CA Philmont 1997 (Philmont Phanatics) scryer@thegrid.net