2008 Pack 26 Cub Scout Day Camp Q&A

Many people have a lot of questions about Day Camp
and we hope this helps!

1. How do I get Day Camp info?
You should have received a white & blue flyer in the mail from Council with the registration form and details on the Day Camp weeks and on the Fun with Son weekends. But the information is also available under the “Camping” item on the Burlington County Council (BCC) Web site: www.bccbsa.org. We will also link to the forms from our Pack Web site: www.pack26.us.

2. What are the Day Camp Week Themes and dates?
Road to Beijing (China & Olympics): Week 1 (June 23–27) & Week 2 (July 7–11)
The Wild, Wild West: Week 3 (July 21–25) & Week 4 (July 28–Aug. 1)
Mad, Mad Science: Week 5 (Aug. 4–8) & Week 6 (Aug. 11–15)

3. Where is the Day Camp held?
The Pine Tree Educational & Environmental Center is a facility owned by BCC in Tabernacle. It is approximately a 15–20 minute drive from Medford (a bit more in morning traffic). It is located not far from Carranza Road, below Russo’s and Conte’s farms. We recommend that you carpool whenever possible.

4. What do the boys do at Day Camp?
Camp runs from 8:30 am until 4 pm and it flies by quickly! Each week’s activities are designed around the camp theme. But every theme includes crafts, scout skills, and games. Every day, the boys have swimming, BB shooting, and archery– as well as some type of sports or game. Each day is broken into periods and each camp den moves together with their adult leaders (Den Guides) from one activity to another. They are kept very busy and have lots of fun.

5. How safe is the BB shooting and the archery?
Just as everything else with scouting, safety comes first. From experience, we can tell you that the BB and archery ranges are the most controlled areas of the whole camp. The boys must learn the safety rules before they are even allowed to touch a bow or a BB gun. The range masters are trained in safety and how to teach the boys. No one is allowed to enter or leave the range without permission (so no wandering) and everyone places the arrow or BB at the same time, when they are told. They shoot under well-controlled conditions with direct supervision. It is very safe and the boys have a great time. These are usually their favorite activities.

6. How safe is the swimming?
The swimming is also very safe and is done under good supervision of a group of trained waterfront staff (the only paid staff at camp). There is an adult swim director and older Boy scouts or Venturing crew members who are certified lifeguards. All swimmers––scouts and adults––must take a swimming test to swim anywhere past the nonswimmer (shallow) section. There is a beginning section and a swimmer section. Everyone gets a buddy tag that indicates the sections they are allowed to swim in. Every scout must have a buddy in the water and buddy checks are done every 15 minutes. Again, the boys have a lot of fun and get to cool off, but the swimming area (a roped off area with docks in the pond) is well supervised.

7. How does the swim test work?
The Sunday before each Week of camp starts, your son will be assigned a time to come to orientation. This involves making sure his registration and health forms are complete, getting his den assignment, picking up his camp T-shirts and materials, and taking the swim test.
No one needs to take a test to stay in the nonswimmer area (the first, shallow section). The beginner swim test involves jumping in water over his head (5–6 feet) and swimming to the end of the dock and back. The swimmer test is in deeper water and involves a longer swim length with specific strokes. It is best if scouts (and adults) take the swim test at orientation so they doesn’t lose swim time on the first day of camp. But anyone can take the test – or test for the next level any day, as soon as a lifeguard is free to watch.

8. What if my son needs medication or gets hurt or sick?
There is a nurse or certified First Aider on duty each week of camp and he/she supervises any medication and handles any injuries or illness. There is also a doctor on call each week. Each scout and adult at camp must have a medical form on file so that the nurse is aware of any allergies, medical issues, or medication.

9. What do the boys need to bring with them to camp?
At orientation, your son will receive his camp T-shirts, camp bag, and a cup. Every day, he must wear a camp T-shirt and bring his bag with the cup and a towel inside. He should wear his bathing suit to camp and bring a bagged lunch (with his name and camp den number on it). The lunches are refrigerated during the day, so you do not need to worry about spoilage. No glass bottles are allowed at camp. You may also send a water bottle. Make sure everything he brings (including his towel and water bottle) have his name and, if possible, den # on it. Also, they must wear sneakers and socks every day – no sandals or open-toed shoes (or “Crocs”) are allowed. This is for their safety in the woods. Do not send him in new or “good” sneakers – they will get very dirty!

10. How does Early Pack registration work?
To receive a discount (you will pay $115 for the week instead of the regular cost of $220 for the week), you must register through the Pack for Early Registration. HOWEVER, we can only register 3 scouts during Early Registration per full-week of adult volunteer coverage (this is a change from previous years, when it was 1 adult per 4 boys). This means that if 1 parent volunteers for the whole week, the Pack can register 3 boys early. Or, if a group of parents divide up the week (and ensure that there is at least 1 adult at camp every day that week), we can register 3 boys. We CANNOT register any scouts early for a week that we are not providing adult volunteers. To do this, you must get your

11. How can I register during Early Registration?
If you will be volunteering for the week, or you are certain that we have other adult volunteers for the week, you must get your completed Camp registration forms and check to the box at Pattie Norton’s house (16 Tolkien Passage, Medford Chase) no later than March 24^th (so we can get them all to Council by the 28^th). However, remember, we can only register 3 boys per full week of adult volunteer coverage during early registration.

12. Why does Day Camp require volunteers to register campers?
Other than the waterfront staff, the ENTIRE camp staff is made up of volunteers. Some volunteers work all year to plan the camp events and gather the supplies, etc. But Camp cannot happen without volunteers to actually lead the dens and help run the activities. So, they cannot take scout registrations if they do not have enough adults to run camp. Without volunteers, there is no Day Camp!

13. How can I be sure we have enough volunteers in the Pack?
First, you should talk to the other parents and the den leaders in your son’s den and in other dens at your son’s rank. Camp dens are generally divided by Scout rank, so scouts of similar ages are grouped together. See if you can pick a Camp Week that works for a number of boys and try to divide up a week among the adults to volunteer each day. Or maybe there will be enough week-long volunteers to cover all the boys who would like to go to camp (remember––3 boys per adult full-week coverage). This also makes it more likely that the boys will be in a camp den with boys from our Pack. All dens should let the rest of the Pack know if they have enough adult volunteers to add more scouts to our Early Pack registration.

14. What should I know about volunteering at Camp?
When you volunteer, you get a good idea of what you son does all day. Yes, you get hot, tired, and dirty, but it really is a lot of fun. Also, if you have younger children, when you volunteer, they can come to Camp for “Tot Lot” (if they are younger than scout age) for just $10 and often there is a Girls’ Group for scout-age sisters ($50 for the week). So you don’t have to worry about childcare and your other children get to have fun too! You need to complete a staff registration form and an adult medical form. If you are interested in Tot Lot or Girls’ Group, fill out a form ASAP so they can plan staff for each week based on how many siblings are attending. It is especially important for them to know ASAP if they have enough scout-age girls (entering 1^st through 5^th grade) to schedule a Girls’ group!
If you volunteer for a full week as a Den Guide (leading a den through their activities), you will receive a $40 refund at the end of the summer. So your son will have attended camp for just $75 for the week. If you volunteer as a Program Area Specialist (which requires some extra time before Camp), you will receive a $55 refund, and your son will have attended camp for just $60 for the week
Several of our Pack parents and leaders (Megan Johnson, Pattie Norton, Elizabeth McDonald, Betsy & Michael Mottershead, Cheryl Heflich, Donna Field) have volunteered at camp in the last couple years. Ask them about their experiences.

15. What about Individual Registration?
Individual registration (at $220 for the week) begins on April 4^th. At this time, camper registrations will be processed, as space is available, on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on the number of adults volunteering for the week. You will be notified if there is space or your check will be refunded if there is not enough space for your son.

16. How do I register my son for Early Registration?
If there are enough volunteers to register all of the boys interested, please return your completed registration form, medical form, and a check (payable to Burlington County Council, BSA) to the Pack by March 24^th. You can return them to the Day Camp Envelope in the box at Pattie Norton’s House (16 Tolkien Passage, Medford Chase). We need to organize all Early Registrations by Pack.

17. How do I register my son for Regular Registration?
Regular registration is handled individually and camper spots are only available as adult coverage permits. Regular registrations are processed first-come, first-served after April 4^th. You can mail your forms, check, and medical forms directly to the BCC Scout Service Center, P.O. Box 246, Rancocas, NJ 08073; or bring them to 693 Rancocas Road, Westampton, New Jersey 08060, phone (609) 261-5850.