Regarding age, state laws will come into play in at least some states (just like watercraft). Here in Michigan there is a whole booklet of ATV/ORV rules. (www.offroad-ed.com/mi)
In addition to the usual ATV "4-wheeler", it might be worthwhile to extend this to include go-carts as a camp program. This past summer I visited a very successful summer camp (non-BSA) that has had a really cool program of 8-10 go-carts operating on a circle track for many years. They had a couple towers in the center of this area (maybe 5 acres) so that staff could observe and control everything. This camp is ACA accredited and it appeared to be a very safe program.
Go-carts more often use common parts, many use off the shelf engines, and are relatively simple to maintain (within the realm of training someone for the summer). ATV's (being more expensive and capable off road) use OEM proprietary parts and are tightly packaged machines, making service challenging (who will do that service?).
While ATV's might be great for an excursion to an outpost on a large scout camp, their capabilities will be wasted on a smaller camp property. Comparatively little land would be required for a go-cart course.
This seems like another good pilot, and it will be interesting to learn how it is implemented and perceived.
This "turnover binder" is a great idea and worth implementing widely across the BSA. Even if it isn't mandated it would probably be a good step to see some guidelines that would explain what the basic content should be and recommend supplemental sections for different positions.
Given that many documents are created/filed electronically (especially Outlook contacts, calendars, etc.) a good part of the binder might go on a CD or memory stick with a sleeve in the binder to hold that info. Keeping the binder updated would also be a good backup tool.
If guidelines are created for this it should take into account the range of positions that would benefit from a check-out binder, and include position specific suggestions.
This sounds like a good idea, at least from the customer's perspective. A good model for this might be www.grainger.com (Grainger Industrial Supply). Although vastly larger than BSA supply, they are similar to BSA in that they also have branches in addition to national catalog distribution.
Doing what you're suggesting (a will-call order) is possible with Grainger, and is very easy and efficient. Their site has useful features like searches that return things not listed in the print catalog, and a item-number only bulk-order pad that save a lot of time and eliminate extra detail when you don't need it.
Of course they have real time inventory of stock at each branch. In this area there are several branches. When ordering online if something is out of stock at our default will-call branch it will recommend other local branches that have it in stock or give shipping times and options.
I'm not sure Scouters need quite this level of online shopping and local pickup for our purposes, but they would probably like it if they could get it.
A couple years ago at Wood Badge we were asked to address each of Scouting's programs, including Varsity. There was just a little information on what it really is; and not one person in the entire course had any experience with it. I remember occasionally seeing scout units wearing the orange loops at summer camp, but that was at least 10 years ago, and I can't recall ever seeing one since.
A while back I was flipping through some old Scouting magazines someone left here, and happened across an article about the origins of the Varsity Scouting program in the Western Region (it's on p. 24 of the Jan/Feb '84 Issue). It explains the purpose of retaining 14/15 year olds and common activities they do. Current info on Varsity (article in BSA Info) lists the same 5 "fields of emphasis" mentioned in the 1984 article, and puts emphais on high adventure teams and/or sports teams.
To me the word varsity is potentially misleading, because it helps to establish a connection between this program and varsity high school sports. Even if there is a connection to a sports team it's not a high school sports team, and sports isn't the intended entirety of the program.
There have to be good Varsity units in some locations, but they sure don't have a visible presence in this area. Perhaps there was more appeal for Varsity Scouting prior to the creation of Venturing from Exploring. Now if a 14/15 year old Scout isn't getting much out of his regular troop program the advantages of joining a Venture crew are likely more appealing than hunting down or creating a Varsity Scout team.
It will be interesting to see what, if anything, changes with regard to this. You're right, it isn't mentioned very often.
I agree, the numbering system is lacking. A better system is used by ACA for standards, which codes them by groups. Also, they have a very comprehensive guide book (accredidation process guide) to understand the standards and which require written documentation, which are mandatory, etc. When they make a change, you print a new page for your guide book that has the change, and insert it into the binder. Seems like a good system to me, and worth stealing some ideas from in order to improve our current system.
A fiscal year ending on June 30 would create challenges in the camping area. Consider trying to buy food and supplies (including inventory, yikes!) right in the middle of two years budgets. Or the effort required in the prior year trying to defer income somehow on the basis of sessions at camp for a season covering two years. It seems likely that any benefit having to do with accounting for popcorn sales would be shifted to a different season, but still exist, since camp generates a large amount of transactions and seasonal employees in the summertime.
Close