Changes in the Way We Camp – Scouts BSA Troop 75

Last week the Lake Erie Council sent out some changes to their camping policies and protocols that will affect how we camp moving forward. You will find that the changes are a move to return us to what we once saw as “normal”. Troop 75 will be using the re-implementing the following to our camping program:

1) Tent Sharing – Beginning at our June Campout this weekend (Oil Creek State Park, PA) we will resume tent sharing for our scouts. For those who have come into the Troop in the last 18 months, this was the standard prior to COVID. Tent sharing allows for growth in a multitude of areas for each of our scouts. The Troop has 2-man and 3-man tents and we will be performing an inventory of tents to make sure we have enough to accomodate all of our scouts. Personal tents will no longer be permitted on campouts, unless specifically noted in an email/written form from the SPL or Scoutmaster (NO OTHER EXCEPTIONS HERE).

2) Documents, ETC. – For the better part of a year, we have had to have 14 day temperature logs turned in when arriving at LEC camps. These are no longer required! The permission slips will still be needed for all campouts and should be turned in with payment (or at the very least on Friday before departure).

3) Camping Timelines – We have been very lax with late arrivals and early departures from camp over the past 18 months. We will resume our normal weekend camping routine. If you need to come for just the day, it will need to be communicated ahead of time to the Scoutmaster and SPL so that we can understand what the situation is. We prefer that ALL SCOUTS attend camp for the full weekend. This is for the enrichment of the scouts as individuals as well as for the Troop as a whole. I recognize that there will be exceptions, but it needs to be just that – an exception, not a rule. Additionally, please plan on scouts returning to St. Marys between 10am and 11am on Sundays for most campouts and when we are out of the area, we will communicate an estimated arrival time when we leave camp. If we happen to be on track for an earlier arrival than the times listed – we will certainly communicate that, but 10 or 11 will be our general target time.

4) Gear Assignments – At the end of each campout, scouts are assigned gear to clean. This will be assigned by the Quartermaster after each campout and scouts need to make sure they are returned the following week. If meetings are held offsite after a campout the scout should reach out to the Quatermaster via email to find out how to handle the gear needed to be returned. We have run into a situation where gear is missing and/or not being returned in time and we are not as prepared as we should be.

5) Tentmate Assignments – Beginning with the June campout, Tentmates will be assigned by the SPL/Campout SPL. This is done to ensure that our scouts are getting an opportunity to communicate and form friendships with all scouts and not just the same scouts every month. It enhances patrol spirit and camaraderie as well as builds social and communications skills. Tent cleaning assignments will be based on who sleeps in those tents and will be assigned to one of the tentmates.

6) Duty Rosters – We will be returning to the use of Duty Rosters at campouts. This is the list that is posted for each Patrol or for the Troop that identifies the job functions needing performed and who will be performing them. Each patrol should have a Duty Roster prepared prior to the campout and it should be shared with the SPL/Campout SPL. I will be harping on the SPL to have these and I will be asking him to share them with me….please make sure you do your job so he can do his.

7) Masks & Face Coverings – Simply put, we are going to follow suit with what seems to be the current standard – masks are recommended for those who are not vaccinated. We also ask that everyone live the scout motto and Be Prepared with a mask at all times in the event we are in a place where they are absolutely required.

8) Car Pooling to Campouts – We will resume car pooling and meeting at the barn to drop off scouts and pick up scouts. We no longer have to drive scouts to and from camp individually.