| Program Overview |
| "The Starting Place" is designed to be incredibly flexible in almost every aspect. First year Scouts will have the ability to work on rank requirements and still participate in the merit badge program. All the supplies and equipment for the rank requirements are supplied in the event the Scout does not have his own. |
| Program Attributes |
- The Scout receives personal attention.
- The Scout Leader learns the strength and weakness of his/her group.
- The Scout has individual attention from the leader making a mentoring situation possible.
- The Scout can sign up for merit badges.
- The Scout Leader will have first hand knowledge that the Scout knows the skills..
- Camp staff was not permitted to "sign off' in a book anyway, the Scout still had to demonstrate the knowledge to the leader.
- This method is not boring for the Scout.
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| More Information |
"The Starting Place" will be setup near the pool as it was last year. The area will be split up into small skill centers for each of the requirements of the ranks. Each skill center will have all of the necessary supplies to complete the requirement with the exception of a staff member. Lesson plans will be provided to each troop. Some of the skill centers may also have a list of required supplies; the Scouts should bring these items. Ideally, the Scouts will have many of the supplies needed for most of the requirements. In other words, we have compasses, but we would prefer the Scouts bring their own. Items such as these can be checked out in the area.
The key behind this program will be the Scout Leaders. The Scout Leader will complete the actual skill instruction. Any Scout Leader that does not feel comfortable teaching any skill is recommended to talk to their camp commissioner for advice or help. A staff member will also be in "The Starting Place" to make sure that the equipment is in good repair and available for use. The staff member may also help in instruction, as time is available and if requested by the Scout Leader. Several of the centers could also be self-guided; for instance, knot tying is an easy skill to learn on your own by looking at the provided steps and mimicking the knot. All skills may also be taught back in the campsite, we are just trying to provide an area that facilitates the instruction.
Skills involved in Aquatics and Ecology will be handled at a one-hour seminar at the respective areas. These seminars will be held daily for 15 - 20 Scouts. It is recommended that a Leader observe their Scouts as they attend the seminars. Each Scout only needs to go to one of the seminars during the week for each area. A sign up sheet is located at the entrance of "The Starting Place". Aquatics seminars will be held at 11:00 AM at the Pool. The Ecology seminar will be at 4:00 PM. It is recommended that Scouts do not take merit badges at these times. Attendance and completion of these requirements will be recorded and submitted to the Scout Leader upon check out. Additional help on these two seminars is available during open hours. Scouts that cannot meet the swimmer requirement are also encouraged to take advantage of the instructional swim at the Pool. Make sure the Scouts start early in the week.
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| Suggested Other Activities |
First Year Scouts can, with this program, take advantage of almost every other program in camp. Camp program is set up to have too many things to do and not enough time to do it. This is to give a unique experience to each troop, each year, that they attend camp. Do not try to do everything, do what you want and leave the rest for next year. Camp does not have to be such a rush, it is everyone's vacation, take time to sit back and relax. Encourage the Scouts to do the same.
We do recommend that you encourage the Scouts to sign up for at least one merit badge. The following list of merit badges are recommended for the First Year Scout:
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Basketry
- Leatherwork
- Metalwork
- Art
- Mammal Study
- Nature
- Space Exploration
Other merit badges are not recommended due to their complexity or skill level involved. We would much rather see a Scout start and finish his first merit badge, to help him build personal satisfaction without frustration.
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| Suggested Materials |
The following is a list of materials that would be helpful for each Scout to bring:
- Scout Handbook
- Pocketknife
- Compass
- Pen or pencil
- Note pad
- Small First Aid Kit
- Full set of clothes to get wet in*
*Clothing required: long pants, shoes, socks, long sleeve shirt and swim suit. All clothing should be able to get wet, as this is part of the requirements.
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| Outpost Overview |
| "The Starting Place" Outpost is a combined effort of the staff and Scout Leaders. Tuesday night any First Year Scout is welcome to attend the outpost. We will meet at "The Starting Place" at 4:00 PM. Scouts should bring their knife, compass, Scout Handbook and appetites. The group will hike to the outpost site together and will be broken up into small groups. Each group will be sent to a station for completion of an activity. The activities will range from "bum the string" fire starting, to making dinner, to black powder shooting. Either staff or leaders will conduct each activity. On a signal, each group will orient themselves to their next activity. The outpost will combine both fun and demonstration of skills that they have already accomplished. Sign up for the Outpost is at Frontier Headquarters until 2:00 PM Monday. |
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