Journey to Excellence Highlight: Day/Resident Camp, Long-term Camp, Superactivity
This is the January JtE Highlight. Each month, you should be reviewing progress toward your JtE goals for the end of your charter year. Now is the time to start thinking about your camping highlight of the year. For Cubs, this is Day Camp and Resident Camp. For Scouts, this is long term camp. For Varsity and Venturing, this is a superactivity. All of these require planning that should be started about now to have a successful camping season. To help track your progress, go to http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards/JourneyToExcellence.aspx. There you will find downloadable scoresheets you may use to track your progress. We recommend you update your scoresheet monthly. We are showing the 2012 requirements, some packs rechartering in January and February will use the 2011 requirement to earn their awards.
This month’s Highlight is:
Cub Scouts – “Day/Resident camp: Increase the percentage of Cub Scouts attending Cub Scout day camp, Family camp, and/or Cub Scout resident Camp. Bronze Level (50 points): 30% or 2% increase. Silver Level: (100 points) 45% or 30% and 2% increase. Gold Level (200 points): 90% or 45% and 2% increase.”
Boy Scouts – “The troop participates in a long-term camp. Bronze (50): The troop participates. Silver (100): 60% of boys attend. Gold (200): 70% of boys attend.”
Varsity Scouts – “Long-term high adventure: The team participates in at lease one high adventure activity. Bronze (50): The team participates in high-adventure activities. Silver (100): 60% of Scouts attend a high-adventure activity. Gold (200): 70% attend.”
Venturing – “Superactivity: The crew participates in a superactivity. Bronze (75): Participates in a superactivity. Silver (150): 55% of youth attend. Gold (300): 75% attend.
Sea Scouts – ““Superactivity: The crew participates in a superactivity/long cruise. Bronze (75): Participates. Silver (150): 55% of youth attend. Gold (300): 75% attend.”
The youth can often get as much done in several days of long term activity as they do in several months of unit meetings. They also develop a much better team spirit during a longer term activity. This is an important outcome of Scouting. Whether it is belt loops, activity pins, First Class rank, merit badges, Bronze Awards, or other recognition, long term camping activities help a youth grow in many ways. Advancement is only one of the ways. Growth toward independence is an important part of growing up. Challenging, age-appropriate activities are also an important way we help young people grow. Long term camps, whether they are day camps or a long-cruise over the horizon help our young people mature.
None of these programs happen by magic, or by starting to think about them in May. If you have not already laid plans, you need to start planning now. Make your reservations. Start your fund-raising projects. Teach and practice the skills that are needed. Prepare the youth and the adults for the commitment that it requires (and it is a commitment!) Long-term camp experiences are usually the highlights of a youth’s experience in Scouting. Make sure your youth have that opportunity!
Next Year – for all units who recharter in December through February and on – There is a new Journey to Excellence scoresheet for the coming year. As you review this year’s scoresheet, make a direct comparison with next year’s scoresheet. There are differences, and they differ between the various Scouting programs. Some requirements are getting easier. Some are different. There is a new category – Fitness. Review the scoresheet, set your goals for the coming recharter year, and plan on reviewing them in your unit committee meeting every month.
