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The Impact of Camp – Part 5

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BSA Scouts Elijah and Dominic lead a group of Cub Scouts during Week 1 of McGimsey’s Day Camp 2021

I’ve written a few stories this week about what I observed with members of my unit while at Day Camp, but I wouldn’t be giving a complete picture of the week without mentioning the Youth Staff and volunteers who make camp an enjoyable experience for the kids.

The Cub Scouts at Day Camp are divided into smaller groups who travel throughout the camp stations during the day. Den Walkers are Scouts themselves – active in Scouts BSA – who ensure the Cub’s safety and aid them at each station. It’s a big job. The Cubs are constantly going to the restroom or leaving their items behind, and the Den Walkers not only make sure the kids are all accounted for but keep them healthy and hydrated in the Texas heat. They tie shoes, hold tape, act as referees during games, pass out lunches, put names on water cups, encourage, coach, and praise a group of kids they’ve never met…for an entire week.

I’ve heard that Scouts BSA builds character and leaders, and at Day Camp I saw one way Scouting creates an opportunity for it.

Dominic, who is working toward his Eagle, not only provided leadership to our Cub Scouts and their parents who came with them, but he mentored Elijah, his assistant for the week. Together they identified potential issues, solved problems, and worked in tandem to make the experience enjoyable for everyone in our group. Even I, a 44-year old mother of two, looked to the two of them for guidance. Dominic delegated tasks to Elijah and provided him gentle instruction when needed. Elijah reported back to Dominic and offered suggestions when appropriate. Together they involved parents to help make things run smoothly throughout the week, and it worked beautifully.

For the kids in my Pack, Day Camp is a chance at trying new things, but Day Camp also offers an opportunity for our teens to develop their own leadership skills. For the record, the Webelos in my den took notice of their future in Scouting. My daughter is already asking when she can be an assistant and has big plans to be a lifeguard at the pool as soon as she’s old enough to be certified. That’s quite the compliment when you’ve made such an impact on a younger Scout, that they can’t wait to follow in your footsteps!

It’s not too late to register your child for Cub Scout Summer Day Camp. Visit the Alamo Area Council Summer Day Camp Page and sign up today.

Do you have a story to share about your Scout’s experience at Camp? Send them to Jennifer.Arntson@AlamoAreaBSA.org.

The Impact of Camp – Part 4

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I’ve been a Cub Master and Den Leader for nearly three years, and though I think I’m hilarious, not everybody does. In fact, there is one young man I’ve never even seen smile. He’s a great kid – kind and polite, but that smile has illuded me for years, and man, have I tried everything to catch a glimpse of it.

…then we went to Day Camp.

The first one, I caught by accident.

The others he posed for.

Three years.

Three.

As much as I’d like to take credit for it, this amazing smile was all thanks to Day Camp, and these are my favorite pictures of the year – even if they’re a little blurry!

 

It’s not too late to register your child for Cub Scout Summer Day Camp. Visit the Alamo Area Council Summer Day Camp Page and sign up today.

Do you have a story to share about your Scout’s experience at Camp? Send them to Jennifer.Arntson@AlamoAreaBSA.o

 

    

The Impact of Camp – Part 3

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After a year of virtual learning with a parent who is working remotely from home, some kids couldn’t wait to escape the house and go to Day Camp. There were others, like Eliso, a Cub just entering the Wolves den, who had a difficult time imagining what a whole day without his parents might look like. To help soothe Elisio’s anxiety, mom took a personal day off of work and attended the first day of Day Camp with her young son.

He had so much fun, and like many of the kids in his group, looked forward to pool time, which happened to be the final class of the day. A couple of the kids mentioned that they brought their water shoes to protect their toes, so Elisio’s mom decided to go buy him a pair before lunch.

Though she explained to her son that she’d be back shortly, Eliso’s anxiety got the better of him, and he begged her not to go. “I’ll be back before you know it,” she said before leaving for her car.

It was the first time he’d been separated from his parents in 18-months, and for him, the hour seemed like an eternity.

Elisio and his Day Camp cohort make bouncy balls.

Willie, a dad from Elisio’s Pack had come to Day Camp as a parent partner for his Tiger Scout. When he saw how distraught Elisio was, Willie sat under the shade tree with him a few yards from the other campers and helped him with his craft. They talked and talked and talked. They talked so much, he didn’t complete his craft.

As planned, mom returned with the shoes, and all was well with the world.

I didn’t expect to see Elisio the next day, because his mom couldn’t take off another day to be there with us. You can imagine my surprise when the two of them walked up together on Tuesday. “Good morning, Ms. Jenn,” she said. “Elisio said he’d like to come today if that’s alright, but I can’t stay-” she started to say, but Elisio quickly interrupted her. “Yesterday was fun,” he confessed in a small voice. “Momma packed my lunch.”

Willie’s son saw Elisio and ran to him, giving him a big hug, and a moment later the two were off, starting the day with repeat-after-me songs with the other Day Campers at opening ceremonies. “I can come and pick him up if he changes his mind,” his mom assured me. “It’s really no trouble.”

Elisio and Willie giving mom two thumbs up right before lunch!

But I never had to make that call. Instead, I texted her this picture of Elisio and his Day Camp mentor, Mr. Willie. Just look at that smile! The best part is that the Scouts supported each other, and helped make a safe space for Elisio to try new things on his own…and he enjoyed it so much, he wished to come back for a second day.

Day Camp inspires kids to do their best – to be brave and embrace adventure. That’s what Elisio did this summer, and what could possibly be better than that?

 

 

 

 

It’s not too late to register your child for Cub Scout Summer Day Camp. Visit the Alamo Area Council Summer Day Camp Page and sign up today.

Do you have a story to share about your Scout’s experience at Camp? Send them to Jennifer.Arntson@AlamoAreaBSA.o

National Summertime Pack Award

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Just because school classrooms go dark in the summer doesn’t mean Cub Scouting has to.

Extend the fun of Cub Scouting into the year’s hottest season by earning the National Summertime Pack Award. To be eligible, your pack must hold one activity per month in June, July and August. Do that, and you’ll get a streamer for your pack flag and a certificate suitable for framing. Youth who participate in all three events earn a nifty pin that can be worn on the right pocket flap of the uniform shirt. Dens that have at least 50 percent of their youth members at the three summertime events get a den participation ribbon.

Why you should earn this award

I can think of three reasons:

  • Summer is the best time to enjoy the great outdoors.
  • Kids often have more free time — and fewer scheduled activities — in the summer.
  • Packs that offer a year-round program see higher retention numbers.

Things to keep in mind

Many families take long vacations in the summer. Some kids even spend a week or more at grandma’s house in another state. That’s why attendance at your summertime events shouldn’t be mandatory. And the summer isn’t a great time to get a jump start on the next program year’s adventures. Best not to start the fall with Cub Scouts who have fallen behind. Instead, plan activities that are optional but exciting. For example, this is a great time to earn a Nova Award. *

The Alamo Area Council 2022 Support

The AAC believes in Scouting all you can, which includes the National Summertime Pack Award. District events count toward the award, and in support of our members who wish to earn the award, download the 2022 Passport for Cub Scouts to record their progress this summer. As Scouts complete Council or Pack Events, they can mark the completion and present the completed Passport to their Unit’s Advancement Chair.

It’s not too late for your unit to make a plan

The award has three components–pack, den and individual. The application for the award is a bit unclear on how these three work.  This makes the award somewhat confusing. I suspect that some packs who have actually earned the award aren’t applying for it because they think they didn’t meet the requirements. For a pack to earn the award, they simply need to hold at least one pack event or activity in each of the three months–June, July, and August. That’s it. There is no attendance requirement to earn the pack award.

Activities can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. They could be just for fun or could benefit your community. The point is to do something as a pack to keep the [sic] Scouts involved in Scouting over the summer break. Packs are awarded a certificate and a ribbon for their den flags.

National Summertime Pack Award for Dens

If 50% or more of the members of a den attend all three events, that den [may be eligible] for a den participation ribbon.

A Wolf den has 9 boys.  In June, 6 of them attend. In July, 4 of them attend. In August, 8 of them attend. That’s a total of 18 “boy units” (for lack of a better term) who attended a summer pack event. If all boys had attended all events, there would have been 27 “[sic] scout units.” I divided 18 by 27 to get 66%.

So, the Wolf den is eligible for the den award.

Some people may interpret this to mean that each month, the den must have 50% of its members in attendance. This page on the BSA website says, “Dens with an average attendance of at least half their members at the three summer pack events are eligible for a colorful den participation ribbon.” Based on the way it’s worded, I think the correct way to calculate the average is by counting the “boy units.”

National Summertime Pack Award for Individuals

Cub Scouts who attend all three of the pack’s summer events earn the National Summertime Pack Award pin.  They can earn one each summer.  The color on the pin varies depending on rank.

Some packs conduct more than one event each month so that [sic] Scouts will have more than one opportunity to attend. If his family happens to be on vacation during one event, he’ll still have an opportunity to earn the award.

Our pack allows [sic] Scouts to count Scouting events beyond the pack events. For example, if a boy misses the pack’s June event, but he goes to Cub Scout day camp in June, we consider that as attending a June event.**

Check with your Unit Leaders for guidance

Your Unit Advancement Chair and Unit Committee may have specific expectations when it comes to fulfilling the requirements for this award. The opinions expressed in the passages above are for informational purposes only. See below for site notations. Please consult with your Cubmaster, Advancement Chair, or Committee Chair about earning this award, and as always, Do Your Best!

 

*Original Article Sourced from, “How to earn the National Summertime Pack Award,” published on https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org, May 2, 2017, by Bryan Wendell
** Original Article Sourced from, “Cub Scout National Summertime Pack Award,” published at CubScoutIdeas.com by Sherry.

Get Your Cub Scout Summer Passport

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Summer was made for adventure and this summer is no different…

Grab your Alamo Area 2022 Passport and start heading down the trail to your Summertime Award. How do you get the award? Easy, participate in at least one Scouting activity for the months of June, July, and August. Scouts can do something with their pack, den, or any Council activity — like camp! Simply mark off what you’ve accomplished in your Passport each month and turn it into your Pack’s Advancement Chair when you’ve completed your August event.

Campers attending McGimsey Day Camp will get theirs at the end of their week, or you can download the Passport for your Pack, Den, or Family and begin your great Summer Experience now!

Scouting Adventures