Another Year at Camp Minute

This scoutmaster minute is pointing out that every year there are new scouts. The scouts that WERE new need to help those that ARE new. It's an ongoing cycle, year after year, to grow youth into adults.

It was just another year at Many Point Scout Camp.

Two summers ago, Troop 479 had its annual week of scout camp at Many Point. They had had a good Webelos recruitment and there were 12 new scouts, only 11 years old. These dozen new recruits were standing around the campsite looking confused. There were two new Assistant Scoutmasters, parents of the new scouts and not used to camping, on their first scout camp as well - looking confused as well.

The camp counselor had just left the site to get some forms he had forgotten. Before he left, he told the new campers to set up the tents, go to the commissary and give the patrol counts, and be ready for swim test in 45 minutes.

Troop 479 also had a patrol of young adults at camp, two of whom would become Eagle Scouts in the next year. They sat on a large log by the campfire pit and patiently watched as 12 Scouts & 2 Leaders tried to get their camp area set up. After about 15 minutes of confusion they looked at each other, shook their heads, stood up & walked over to the young Scouts & said "OK, we're going to teach you how to survive a week at camp... & have fun!"

Last summer, Troop 479 had its annual week of scout camp at Many Point. Those two Assistant Scoutmasters were over in the adult area and after about 20 minutes they had set up their tents and unpacked their gear. They had been taught well. After setting up their site they walked through the tree line to the Scouts patrol sites to see how they were doing.

They had had a good Webelos recruitment and there were 12 new scouts, only 11 years old. These dozen new recruits were standing around the campsite looking confused. There were two new Assistant Scoutmasters, parents of the new scouts and not used to camping, on their first scout camp as well - looking confused as well.

The camp counselor had just left the site to get some forms he had forgotten. Before he left, he told the new campers to set up the tents, go to the commissary and give the patrol counts, and be ready for swim test in 45 minutes.

Troop 479 also had a patrol of young adults at camp. It seems like just yesterday they were the "babies" of the Troop. Several of them would make Eagle in the next year. They sat on a large log by the campfire pit and patiently watched as 12 Scouts & 2 Leaders tried to get their camp area set up. After about 15 minutes of confusion, they looked at each other, shook their heads, stood up & walked over to the young Scouts & said "OK, were going to teach you how to survive a week at camp... & have fun!"

It was just another year at Many Point Scout Camp.