Scouting, Volume 28, Number 4, April 1940 Page: 8
34, [2] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Camporee-ing with the Troop
CAMPING is the major in-
gredient in the Scouting Pro-
gram. It is an experience of
living in the out-of-doors with
others, in tents, or cabins, or huts,
or improvised shelters or in the
open without shelter away from
the conveniences of home.
Scouting considers camping as a
major activity of the Troop Pro-
gram functioning by Patrols and
Troops. To the boy it is adven-
turous joyful living in the open
and should be planned so as to
give practice in self-reliance, in-
itiative, resourcefulness, helpful
cooperation, and should result in
love and appreciation of the out-
of-doors. Camping is at its best
when the Troop and its Patrols
enjoy the out-of-doors under their
own leaders — Scoutmaster, As-
sistant Scoutmasters, and Patrol
Leaders. Every Scoutmaster of a
good camping Troop recognizes the
value of the short and long-term
camps in giving boys the outdoor
adventure, for which boys have
joined the Troop.
The Camporee as
the Climax
In recent years the Camporee
has grown to be the climax of the
short-term camping experience of
Troops. District and Council Cam-
porees have grown in participation
in proportion to the emphasis on
camping in the Patrols of the
Troop.
The Troop Camporee
The Troop Camporee is a pro-
gram of over-night camping of the
Patrols of the Troop under Troop
and Patrol leadership in which
two or more Patrols participate,
and by means of which Scouts
demonstrate their ability to camp
and take part in outdoor Scouting
projects under their boy leaders.
Its real values are found in the
extent to which the Troop is able
through Patrol participation to de-
velop the basic skills of the pro-
gram of camping. It is the Troop's
check-up on its own ability to live
DR. LORNE W. BARCLAY
National Director of Camping
and Activities
in the open, and to enjoy the ro-
mance and adventure of camping
"under the blue." When Patrols
are properly prepared for the
Camporee they are also ready to
go camping as a Troop, for the
Camporee preparation in short is
training in the elements of good
camping.
A Standard of Proficiency
for Scoring
Generally, in the first few Troop
Camporees it is very advantageous
for purposes of training to use a
standard of proficiency for scoring
or rating each Patrol in the details
of camping practices of the Patrols.
As the Patrols of the Troop im-
prove in their ability as campers
and camping practices, there is de-
creasing need for the detailed scor-
ing. Also the standard makes it
possible for all Patrols to meet the
standard rather than the scoring
of the Patrols on the basis of first,
second, and third Patrols. By this
method the camping ability of all
the Patrols of the Troop is rated.
Scoring on the point basis makes
a good beginning in the Troop
Camporee. A possible 1,000 is set
up as a perfect score with certain
values attached to perfect per-
formance in a number of differ-
ent categories, such as use of camp
site, equipment, feeding, safety
and sanitation, program and activi-
ties, and Patrol organization and
leadership. After all the Patrols
have been scored they are then
rated A, B, or C depending on the
number of points they scored. For
Example, a Patrol rating 850 to
1,000 might be classed as "A," a
Patrol with 700 to 850 would be a
Class "B" Patrol, etc.
Another plan of setting a stand-
ard for rating is accomplished by
establishing several different divi-
sions relating to the Troop Camp-
oree operation, such as appearance,
campcraft, Scoutcraft, equipment,
sportsmanship, etc. In this method
of rating a number of standard
statements are made and the
Patrol measures itself against this
standard. For instance, there may
be a certain standard for minimum
equipment required, such as shelter
and cooking gear. The Patrol pos-
sessing this equipment may then
receive recognition in the equip-
ment classification. It is desirable,
by the way, to keep your equip-
ment requirements low.
The Self-Rating Scheme
Another plan is the self-rating
scheme in which each Patrol is
given a check list of statements
describing desirable practices—for
example, adequate shelter against
bad weather, weight of packs 25
pounds or less, pack frames or
haversacks for every Scout. In
this case it is up to the Patrol
to determine what is adequate and
that calls for rating themselves,
and they turn their score sheet
over to the Scoutmaster or Troop
Camporee Leader. Many who use
this plan find that Scouts rate
themselves very conscientiously
and often more closely than adults
would rate them.
The "Camping Troop'*
After the Patrols of the Troop
have developed adequate efficient
camping skills many Troops do not
use any scoring system whatever.
The Troop Camporee then becomes
purely an experience for sharing
information and having a good
time for the Troop. Some claim
this to be highly successful and
that there are no notable deficien-
cies in effort and accomplishment.
When a Troop, by Patrols, is able
to conduct a successful Camporee
on this basis, it may be given the
designation in the Local Council
as a "Camping Troop."
In the early days of the Camp-
oree it was entirely on a Patrol
basis with Scoutmasters, Assist-
(Continued on page 27)
Page Eight
Remember that a "Going Troop" is a Growing Troop
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 28, Number 4, April 1940, periodical, April 1940; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth313059/m1/8/?rotate=270: accessed May 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.