2015 Camp Madron – Boy Scout Program 2015 Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation Boy Scout Leader’s Guide Dear Unit Leader: This Leader’s Guide is designed to provide you with the information you need to make your week of summer camp a memorable one for you and your boys. Please review the information carefully prior to your arrival at camp and with your Scouts. The Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation Staff would like to thank you for choosing Rota- Kiwan and to welcome you and your boys to camp this summer for an outstanding summer camp experience. If you have any questions, please call or e-mail us, as we want to hear from you to ensure success for you and your boys. For the latest summer camp information, please visit the Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation section on the Michigan Crossroads Council website at: http://www.michiganscouting.org/Camping/RotaKiwanScoutReservation/ We look forward to your arrival this summer! BSA MISSION STATEMENT It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law: Scout Oath Scout Law On my honor A Scout is I will do my best to Trustworthy do my duty to God Loyal and my country Helpful and to obey the Scout Friendly Law; Courteous to help other people Kind at all times; Obedient to keep myself Cheerful physically strong Thrifty mentally awake and Brave morally straight. Clean and Reverent Page 2 2015 Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation Boy Scout Leader’s Guide Table of Contents Welcome to Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation 5 How Do I Sign Up for Summer? 7 Camper and Adult Fees 2015 7 Recommended Packing List 12 The Scout Uniform 15 National BSA and Camp Policies 16 Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation Health and Safety 17 State Laws & Policies 19 Check-In Procedure 20 Schedule Overview 23 Weekly Schedules 25 While You Are at Camp 27 A Scout is Reverent! 34 Advancement in Camp 35 1st Year Campers – Pedro Patrol 37 Program Areas 38 Aquatics Program Area 38 Scoutcraft Program Area 42 Handicraft Program Area 44 Fine Arts Program Area 46 Shooting Sports Program Area 48 The Ecology/Conservation (Nature) Program Area 49 Eagles’ Nest 51 Health and Safety 53 Trading Post 55 Other Program Offerings 56 OA in Camp 56 Leader Training and Programs at Camp 58 Checkout Procedures 60 Camp Emergency Procedures 63 Directions to Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation 63 Page 3 2015 Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation Boy Scout Leader’s Guide Camp Map 64 Appendix 65 2015 MCC Roster – Camp Check-in 66 2015 Camp Accommodation Request 67 Camp Madron Spirit Award 68 Leaders Check-in Checklist 69 Medication Log 71 Page 4 2015 Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation Boy Scout Leader’s Guide Welcome to Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation The Michigan Crossroads Council, Boy Scouts of America, prides itself in operating Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation. At Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation you will find over 199 acres of beautiful terrain dotted with oak, pine, maple, cedar and poplar. Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation has frontage on Bass Lake and Scouter’s Pond. Fish and wildlife are plentiful. The camp is rich in program, a perfect setting for your Scouts to experience real Scouting adventure! We offer over 50 merit badges and instructional activities as well as activities for older Scouts, and our staff is committed to assisting you, the troop leader, in helping your Scouts reach First Class in a year with our world-class Pedro Patrol program. Eleven troop campsites complete with nearby modern shower houses and flush toilets are available. Major activity areas include aquatics, shooting sports (rifle, archery, and shotgun), ecology/conservation (nature), outdoor living skills (Scoutcraft), a new fine arts area (photography and cinematography). Handicraft, Pedro Patrol, and Eagles’ Nest. Acceptance and participation in the camping programs at Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation are the same for everyone without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. The Aims and Methods of Scouting It is the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America to provide an effective program for youth designed to accomplish the following Aims of Scouting: • Participating in Citizenship • Growth in Moral Strength & Character • Development in Physical, Mental, & Emotional Fitness These purposes are accomplished by using the following eight defined Methods of Scouting: • Scouting Ideals • Adult Association • Outdoor Program • Uniform • Patrol Method • Advancement • Leadership • Personal Growth Page 5 2015 Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation Boy Scout Leader’s Guide The camp staff and troop leadership must be aware of the Aims of Scouting and the Methods used to achieve them. They should plan to use the methods of Scouting throughout the camping season. What is your Troop’s leadership role at camp? With the camp staff available and handling a number of programs, what is the role of the troop leader? It is not the staff’s intent to take over the operation of your troop. Instead, their support should enable leaders to devote more time to the real task at camp – a Scout’s development. A Scout’s development at camp generally takes place in two ways - as an individual and as a part of a group. As an individual, he will be learning through merit badge and other camping skills, challenging himself in activities like the mile swim, and increasing his self-confidence through the accomplishment. Your role as leader will be to give him guidance, encourage him as he tries new things, motivate him to stay on schedule with his goals, and provide understanding and counseling when things don’t go right. As a member of a patrol and troop, he will learn responsibility, cooperation, and leadership. That is a lot to ask of a young boy, but it is also why camp is such a good experience. Your role as a leader will be to help the PATROL METHOD succeed. Don’t shortcut it - you will only be undercutting the boys’ development. Work with and through your Senior Patrol Leader and the Patrol Leaders Council, and allow the boy leaders to lead. Important: Advise all your boy leaders (SPL, JASM, patrol leaders and their assistants, etc.) to schedule their own camp time wisely, so that they not only have time to earn merit badges for themselves but also time to teach and pass the younger Scouts on requirements for Tenderfoot, Second, and First Class rank. The Boy Scouts of America’s policies state that meetings, trips, and outings must never be led by only one adult. At least two adult leaders, one of whom must be 21 years of age or older, are required for all meetings, trips, and outings. Troops may camp together and share leadership, but each troop must agree to have leadership in camp at all times. If two or more troops intend to share leadership, the leaders must meet together before camp and get to know one another, and both troop committees must approve of these arrangements. All troops must fill out a separate reservation form. Your second adult must be at least 18 years of age or older. The term “adult leader” includes officially registered leaders (Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Committee Member, etc.) and parents of Scouts. Parents who agree to serve in this role must register as adult leaders prior to camp. Page 6 2015 Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation Boy Scout Leader’s Guide Online Merit Badge Sign-Up and Other Activities The Michigan Crossroads Council will enable online signups for merit badge classes and other activities. You must have your participants registered first before they can sign up for classes and activities. Many Merit Badge classes have an attendance limit, so registering your boys in a timely manner is advised to help make sure your boys get the merit badges they want. Detailed online Merit Badge/Activity registration instructions will be provided once Merit Badge/Activity registration has been enabled. Camper and Adult Fees 2014 Paid in full by May 4, 2015 Paid on or after May 5, 2015 Scout $300.00 $315.00 Adult Leader $135.00 $135.00 Summer Camp Fee Payment Schedule $200 reservation fee per is required to register and reserve your campsite for the 2015 camping season. http://www.michiganscouting.org/files/d/usr/37/MCC%20Summer%20Camp%202 015%20Final.pdf The best way to make sure that you get the dates and campsite that you wish to have is to register early. Campsites are reserved on a first come first served basis. Please visit the Michigan Crossroads Council website at www.michganscouting.org for up to date information about the remaining per camper fee payment dates. Campership Assistance If any Scout lacks the ability to pay the full camp fee he may apply for a campership. Campership applications are reviewed and are approved when a Scout or his parents cannot afford the camp fee. The Campership application is due at your Field Service Council Service Center no later than April 1, 2015. Applications received after the due date will be reviewed and only awarded if funds are available. Each Field Service Council Campership Committee will determine number and amount of camperships awarded. This amount will depend on the number of requests and the amount of campership funds available. The Campership application is available at this link: http://www.michiganscouting.org/Camping/News/Camperships Page 7 2015 Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation Boy Scout Leader’s Guide Camperships are not transferable nor may they be split within the troop. If an individual that was awarded a campership is unable to attend camp or no longer has the need for the campership, please advise the Michigan Crossroads Council Service Center, so that another camper may receive this support.