Cherokee District Spring Camporee Leader Guide

Middle Tennessee Council, BSA

Cherokee District Spring Camporee

LEADER’S GUIDE

Pioneering

May 3-5, 2019

To register, Visit MTCBSA.ORG

Fees and Registration

We encourage all units to register as soon as possible. We use this information to order patches and finalize plans for activities. Please register as soon as you can with your best estimate of attendance. Units may register for camporee with the Camporee Registration form at Doubleknot at http://www.doubleknot.com/event/2019-cherokee-spring-camporee/2491939.  The fee for camporee is $15 per scout; $5 per adult. Fees will be collected via DoubleKnot at registration.

Camporee Theme

The theme of this camporee is “Pioneering”. The activities may include elements of the pioneering merit badge handbook. Each troop shall provide their rope and timbers, if possible.

Camporee Location

The camporee will be held at Camp Light, Boxwell Reservation, 1284 Creighton Lane, Lebanon, TN 37087.

•        Campsites will not be assigned prior to arrival.

•        Units are advised to fill their water containers at the water tower by the health lodge. No sewer, or electrical services in campsites. All trash must be taken out or placed in the dumpster in the compound

•        Waste water shall be disposed of on-site following BSA policies.

•        Ground fires are permitted only in fire barrels. Units may provide camp stoves, back packing stoves, gas grills or other portable cooking capabilities. Units will provide their own fuels and fire protection equipment. BSA fire safety standards will be enforced.

Electronic Communications

We expect unit leaders to monitor smart phone use to ensure that phone use does not detract from the camporee experience, and are not improperly used.

Uniforms

Full field Scout uniforms should be worn by all Scouts and Scouters during color ceremonies, campfire and OA callout, and Scout’s Own. Activity uniforms may be worn during patrol competitions, games, and service projects. Arrowmen are encouraged to wear their sashes when appropriate.

Arrival, Parking, and Equipment

Upon arrival at the camporee site, the unit must send an adult leader to the check-in area (HQ). To participate in camporee, units must have at least one youth leader and at least two-deep adult leadership. All leaders must have current Youth Protection training. Current BSA medical forms are required for all participating youth and adults. Units will keep the forms.

For program activities, units are requested to provide:

Head protection (bike, climbing, equestrian, hardhat, etc. for use when assembling towers or other large items)

Gloves

Poles: at a minimum, each unit should bring enough poles for each patrol to make one trestle as directed in the Pioneering Merit Badge pamphlet (pages 68-69 in the current edition). The vertical poles should be at least 5 feet; the other poles can be 3 to 4 feet.

100 feet of jute twine for each patrol that will make a rope.

Ropes for lashing

Note: not all units have access to poles, so units that have them are encouraged to share. It would be a good idea to mark each unit’s poles with the troop number so that they can be returned.

Organization

On Friday evening, we encourage all units to send at least one youth and adult leader to the leadership meeting. At this meeting, we will review the following:

• Update of schedules and activities

• Details of competitions and games, including schedules and locations

• Details on campfire participation and unit contributions to the campfire program

• Requests for OA elections and collection of callout rosters

• Opportunity to volunteer to help with Scouts-Own

• Weather updates and safety review

• Payment (if not paid through Doubleknot)

• Location of First Aid station

Program

The Pioneering Merit Badge program will consist of four round-robin stations (subject to change if instructors/leaders are not available):

1.   Knot-tying and lashing techniques, culminating in each group building a trestle (approximately 6 boys per trestle)

2.   Splicing rope

3.   Rope making and care (include whipping ends)

4.   Camp-gadget construction (optional competition—troops are responsible for providing their own poles and ropes for this event)

5.   Surprise first aid “victim” wandering into camp. Youth, no adults, must assess and “treat” the victim. First Aid supplies for this will be provided.

Saturday Supper:

Potluck Dutch-oven cooking. Each troop should make a Dutch-oven dish sufficient to serve their unit, and bring the dish and any condiments to go with it to a central gathering point for all scouts and staff to share a meal, potluck-style.

Campfire:

The campfire will include songs, skits, stories, awards, and a flag retirement. Each unit is encouraged to offer to lead a song, put on a skit, or tell a funny or solemn story. Units should sign up for their presentations for the campfire at headquarters.

The Order of the Arrow Callout will be held at the close of the campfire.

Scout’s Own:

Scout’s Own services are one way to offer an opportunity to all. Therefore we encourage all units to participate. Scouts are encouraged to wear their full field uniform. Camporee offers a non-denominational, simple religious service. Units are invited to conduct their own services should they need special content. If any unit will not participate in a Scout’s Own, we request that they remain in their camp and maintain quiet so as not to disturb others. Troop Chaplains or anyone interested may help run the Scout’s Own. Please bring this up at the cracker-barrel leader meeting.

Check-Out

Since units may have diverse scheduling constraints due to family schedule coordination or religious obligations, units may check out on Saturday evening or Sunday morning. See the general schedule. When ready to depart, the unit must ensure that the campsite is properly cleaned up and all participants, equipment, and trash are taken out. To check out, an adult or youth leader must take the campsite check-out checklist and the two evaluation forms to the Check-Out tent. Upon receipt of the paperwork, the unit will receive its patches, participation ribbon, etc. and may depart.

Camporee Activities and General Schedule (subject to change)

You can do as much or as little at camporee as you wish. There will be times for challenges, times for fun and games, times for ceremonies, and time for just relaxing. Here is the general schedule showing the major activities. Final details will be provided at Friday’s Leader Meeting and Saturday’s Opening Ceremony.  

Friday, May 3, 2019

• 4:30-8:30 pm Arrival and Check-In

• 9:00 pm Leader Meeting and Cracker-Barrel

• 10:00 pm Quiet time

Saturday, May 4, 2019

• 6:30-8:30am Breakfast and Cleanup

• 8:30-9:00 am Colors, Opening Ceremony, and Announcements

• 9:00am-12:00pm Round Robin activities as described in “Program,” above

• 12:00-1:30pm Lunch and Break

• 1:30-5:30pm Completion of Round Robin activities; completion of camp gadgets to be submitted for judging

• 5:30-7:30pm Dinner and Break (Camp gadgets judged at 6:00)

• 8:15-8:30pm Colors and Closing Ceremony

• 8:30-9:30pm Awards, Campfire, and Order of the Arrow Induction Callout

• 10:00 Quiet Time

Sunday, May 5, 2019

• 6:30-8:30am Breakfast and Cleanup

• 8:30-8:45am Colors, Announcements, and Closing Ceremony

• 8:45-9:15am Scout’s Own Service

• 9:15-11:00am Clean up and Pack up Check-Out and Departure

All units should be departed no later than 11 a.m.