Webelos Overnight Summer Camp is taking Shape

Rising Fourth and Fifth Graders are Invited to Attend a Webelos Only Overnight Summer Camp Experience

Pack 285 congratulates it's Bear and Webelos 1 Dens on the progress made this year!

With the rank advancement of these scouts in May, they will be officially either a Webelos 1 or Webelos 2 scouts. Dens at this rank work hard to achieve more proficiency in their outdoor skills as well as a greater level of comfort with camping.

To assist these dens in maximizing their learning opportunities, this year Pack 285 is encouraging rising Webelos 1 and 2 Dens to attend the 2016 Summer Overnight Residential Camp.  This camp is located at Bert Adams Scout Reservation, the same location as the Spooky Ree and Spring Fling camp-outs.

Let's Start a Conversation!

Our goal is to start the conversation with you and your scout about attending camp. Because this is not a "drop-off" camp, attendance will require the participation of one or more adults. If we can get a general understanding of family interest, it will be easier to predict the number of adult volunteers required.

Youth Protection Ratios:

1 Scout :   1 Parent 

2-8 Scouts :   2 Leaders 

9-12 Scouts :   3 Leaders 

More than 12:   4:1 Ratio 

When: July 11-16th is Webelos only (no siblings or younger scouts). 

Cost: $280/Webelos1, $290/Webelos2 and $100/adult 

Please read the description of the program below and let Pack 285 know if you have an interest in your scout attending.  An informational call will be held with interested parents to discuss further.
Description of Webelos-Only Camp Experience:

The goal of this week is to prepare your Scouts for their transition into Boy Scouting by closing any skill gaps that might exist as well as expanding their comfort level with camping. Your scout will accomplish many of his required Adventures for rank advancement while at camp. This frees up time during the school for less intensive scouting activities as well as more time for athletics, academics and family.

Accommodations are two man canvas-side tents with cots. No electricity is available at these sites. If you have a medical need for electricity, power packs can be rented.

Together your campers will register online in April for classes that meet their combined interests. Think of this as similar to registering for college courses!  This is a fun opportunity for the boys to collaborate and determine a workable group schedule.

You may subdivide your campers into as many small groups as you have adult volunteers and in this way meet multiple interests for your campers.  For example, Group A might consist of three scouts and an adult who are interested in taking a Wilderness First Aid class while Group B might consist of three scouts and an adult who are interested in taking a First Time Zip Line Course. These courses are divided into Webelos Tracks.

Besides these group courses, our campers will have two other types of events to schedule: free time and pack/den activities such as bouldering or mountain biking. These are also selected online as a group in April. Free time activities can include: traditional RR at the campsite, free swim and aquatic activities, mega slip and slide, human foosball, and slacklining among others.

Webelos 1 will have four days to schedule into Webelos Tracks in the various Program Areas.   
Webelos 2 will have two days to schedule into Webelos Tracks with the other two days being for the NEW! Outback Adventure Program. 
 
Webelos Week will definitely prepare your Webelos for his Boy Scout Summer Camp experiences and will challenge them with many fun learning experiences.   On Friday afternoon, a camp wide Scout competition will be held just for the Webelos Week attendees.  Packs may enter a group of Scouts to compete in this whirlwind group of activities to the finish that includes many Scouting skills that they will have learned this week at Camp.  Further details will be coordinated with the Adults while at Camp.

What's New this Year for Incoming Webelos 2?

The Atlanta Area Council has listened to feedback from Webelos parents. The result was the creation of an Outback Adventure Program just for entering Fifth Graders.

The Outback Adventure program has been designed to give second year Webelos Scouts the   greatest opportunity to learn basic Boy Scouting skills and stay excited about Scouting.  This     program requires some independence and maturity.  Scouts are divided into Patrols and taught the Patrol Method. The Patrol Method is the basis for Boy Scouting where young men are divided less by age and grade than by accomplishments.

The Outback Adventure includes the following elements:

• Shakedown– Scouts and leaders will meet on the first night of camp before campfire for a review of needed equipment, schedule, and leadership elements.  Rules and policies will also be reviewed at this time and an introduction of the instructors.  
• Canoeing- Scouts will canoe across Bert Adams Lake from Camp Gorman to Camp Jamison as their first activity.  In order to participate in the canoeing, Scouts must have passed the BSA swim test; a hike to Camp Jamison will be conducted for those that cannot canoe.  Scouts return to Camp Gorman on the second morning of camp by canoe.  
• Outdoor Skills– The first full day of program (Monday or Thursday, depending on session) will be spent in Camp Jamison learning basic outdoor skills with an Australian Outback theme.  These activities will include: 
• The Patrol Method through Team Building Games 
• Knot Tying 
• Fire-building 
• Survival Skills 
• Outdoor cooking (Scouts will prepare a breakfast, lunch, and dinner while in Camp Jamison) 
• Tent care and set-up 
• Wood Yard  
• Orienteering 
• Leave No Trace etiquette 
• Campfire - A special campfire program is held at night in Camp Jamison    
• Rappelling– After returning to Camp Gorman on the second day of program (Tuesday or Friday), participants will complete a 30’ rappel  
• Free Swim–The Outback Adventure ends with a free swim   

Adult Chaperons of Outback Adventure Participants: Special Note!!

Every Pack that has a Scout in the Outback Adventure program is required to register at least 1 adult to support. This means that one of our volunteer adults will be specifically assigned to Webelos 2 scouts.  This adult will spend the first day at camp in special training to be able to assist their scouts in completing the program.

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