DEL-MAR-VA COUNCIL, INC. BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CUB SCOUT CAMPING POLICIES

The following is a summary of BSA and Del-Mar-Va Council policies pertaining to Cub Scout and Webelos camping.

CUB SCOUT CAMPING – Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and Webelos may participate in Cub Scout Resident Camp, Pack, District, or Council-sponsored Cub/parent overnights, or Cub Scout Day Camp. Cub Scouts may not attend camp with a Boy Scout Troop. Tigers must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Camping may take place at a council camp property, or at city, state, or national park or council approved facility only. No tent camping will take place between November 1st and April 15th. Tent camping should be done only in warm weather and at sites reasonably close to home. The focus of a campout should be on Cub Scout outdoor activities and Adventures.

PACK FAMILY CAMPING – Each Pack must have at least one adult that has completed BALOO or WELOT training in attendance at a campout. At least one attending adult must have completed Youth Protection training. Training cards must be shown to the Campmasters or camp administration upon check-in. Before a campout takes place, the Pack leadership must ensure that each family that will be participating receives an orientation on outdoor camping and Youth Protection from someone knowledgeable about the outdoors and BSA policies. The Buddy System must be in use at all times. No tent camping may take place between November 1st and April 15th.

The adult to child ratio must be one to one for ALL Cub Scout overnight activities, exceptions may be made only for siblings. Please do not attempt to circumvent this policy, it was designed for the benefit of your child. One goal of the Cub Scout program is to create opportunities for parents and children to spend quality time together. It is hoped that single parents might try to get someone to care for siblings, so that they may have some special, one on one time with their Cub Scout. In addition to Youth Protection concerns, it is true that boys will frequently experience homesickness when faced with unusual surroundings and unfamiliar people, the presence of a parent will mitigate this. Siblings other than registered Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts may not camp with a Pack at Henson, Rodney, or Akridge Scout Reservations at a Pack organized camping program. They may do so at a council or district sponsored camping event at any council camp, at the discretion of the volunteer committee organizing the event. When permitted by the event committee, it is the Pack’s decision on whether to include non- Scout siblings at those events. If siblings are to be permitted, it may be necessary to encourage additional adult family members to attend to ensure that children are properly supervised and that activities receive the attention they deserve. Siblings may only participate in age appropriate activities, and family members are responsible for their own children.

At Pack campouts, all meals must be provided from a central feeding area. Cooking is the responsibility of the Pack, individual Dens and families may not cook on their own. Youth involvement in cooking activities should be minimal.

Each family is responsible for their own medical care. The BSA’s accident insurance does not cover unregistered family members, unless they are attending council sponsored events at which families are specifically invited*. The Pack leadership must have a BSA Annual Health and Medical Record Form (# 680-001) -with Parts A and B completed for ALL participants for activities of 72 hours duration or less, and Parts A, B, and C completed for events longer than 72 hours.

A Tour and Activity Plan should be completed and submitted to the council at least 21 days in advance of any Pack activity involving aquatics, shooting sports, travel outside council boundaries, trips of at DEL-MAR-VA COUNCIL, INC. BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CUB SCOUT CAMPING POLICIES least 500 miles distance, or when otherwise requested by the council. This provides an opportunity to ensure that all the necessary details of a safe and well organized activity are in place, and allows the council to give guidance and assistance as necessary to ensure a successful program.

Packs may tour a facility such as a museum, military installation, or nature center, that includes an overnight stay as part of its program, provided: (1) there will be no outdoor camping on the trip, (2) all meals and other necessary facilities are provided to the Pack, (3) sleeping occurs indoors, and (4) there is a parent or other responsible adult participating with each child. The parent to child ratio may not be lowered regardless of the standards or policies of the facility being visited.

WEBELOS CAMPING – Please see the relevant section(s) of the Cub Scouts Webelos Handbook for Youth (#620140 or #620139). Webelos are strongly encouraged to participate in overnight camping. The Webelos and Arrow of Light Dens should not plan any overnight activities without parental participation from each family. Webelos leaders should have completed Webelos Leader Outdoor Training (WELOT). In planning a campout, it should be remembered that Webelos should not yet be experiencing full, Boy Scout-type camping. The focus should be on Webelos appropriate outdoor skills and Adventure Pins. Tent camping should take place only in warm weather and at sites reasonably close to home. Every Webelos and Arrow of Light Scout must have a parent or other responsible adult accompany him on the overnight. It is desirable to have every boy be under the supervision of his parent. Please do not attempt to circumvent this policy, it was formed for the benefit of your child. It is hoped that single parents might try to get someone to care for siblings, so that they may have some special, one on one time with their Webelos Scout. In addition to Youth Protection concerns, it is true that boys will frequently experience homesickness when faced with unusual surroundings and unfamiliar people, the presence of a parent will mitigate this. If a parent cannot attend, arrangements must be made by the Scout’s family for another adult relative or trusted friend to substitute at the campout. Only in the event of an emergency situation or other unusual circumstance may the parent of another youth who is not a registered Webelos leader assume responsibility for another parent’s Scout. Such adult may not be responsible for more than two Scouts. Webelos visiting Boy Scout Camporees or Klondike Derbies may only participate in age-appropriate activities, and no tent camping may take place between November 1st and April 15th.

BSA COUNCIL MANAGED FAMILY CAMPING is defined as a council or district-sponsored outdoor camping event, such as Cub Family Weekends, Council Jamborees, or Camporees (but excluding Resident Camp), that involves Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturing program elements in an overnight setting with one or more family members attending, that must include at least one registered member of the BSA. This activity may take place only on a council property, a city, state, or national park, or other council approved facility.

1. Families of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Explorers may attend district and council sponsored overnight activities at Del-Mar-Va Council camps at the discretion of the volunteer committee responsible for the event. They may participate only in age appropriate activities. At least one adult is required to attend for each family. That adult is responsible for all family members in attendance, especially younger siblings of the BSA youth member. Event staff members may only be responsible for their own children, and should remember that they are responsible for the successful operation of the event. If bringing younger siblings, it may be DEL-MAR-VA COUNCIL, INC. BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CUB SCOUT CAMPING POLICIES

necessary to enlist other family members so that the children are properly supervised and that the staff member can devote the proper attention to their portion of the event. 2. BSA Council Managed Family Camping activities involving tent camping will not take place between November 1st and April 15th. 3. All meals must be provided from a central feeding area. The cooking staff must be approved by the council Director of Program Experience or designee. 4. Pre-camp training on outdoor camping and Youth Protection is provided for all families prior to the event by persons that are knowledgeable of the outdoors and BSA policies and are approved by the council Director of Program Experience or designee. 5. Each family is responsible for their own medical care. BSA accident insurance does not cover unregistered family members, except in cases where family members are attending council sponsored family camping events*. 6. Any group not adhering to these policies will be cause for approval to attend being denied or rescinded, or cancellation of the event.

For more information on guidelines for outdoor activities, see the Guide to Safe Scouting (# 34416) or the Cub Scouts Leader Handbook (#620569).

*For more information regarding BSA Accident and Sickness Insurance coverage, please contact the Del-Mar-Va Council at 302-622-3300 or visit delmarvacouncil.org to view a copy of the current insurance certificate with description of coverage.

Revised 12/2015