Camporee Program in a Nutshell
By Scouterdoug
This page contains the program structure needed to run the Camporee
DESIGNING PATCHES:
At the Challenge Trophy Camporee, we decided to develop the best set of patches that we could afford within the budget. We started in a humble manner with only one at the 1st CTC. Today the camporees runs with 6 subcamps and now have 14 patches.
Main CTC patch
Program Excellence patch
6 Subcamp patches
Demolition Drag Derby patch
Outdoor and Nature Skills patch
Perfect Campsite Inspection Score patch
Staff - Trained patch
Subcamp Chariot Race Team patch
New in 2005 - Teamwork patch
The registration fee includes the Main patch, 1 or 2 subcamp patches, and the patrols can earn "any or all" of the 6 program patches. There are no additional costs or fees. Take the free Staff Training program and we do not charge for the Trained patch. Isn't this great!
Click below to see how we develop and design ours.
How to Design Patches by Scouterdoug's Method
STAFF FLOW CHART FOR THE CAMPOREE
Please note that this is also part of the Training page.
Click below to download the info.
Staff Role Flowchart in a Nutshell and Adult's Role
REGISTRATION PAMPHLET
Registration Literature to be distributed
CAMPOREE SCHEDULE
The example is one given to an attending troop. Staff will get a more detailed schedule that provides extra information to keep the youth leaders on schedule. Note that at the Challenge Trophy Camporee, the schedule moves forward unannounced. We are rarely 10 minute off schedule using this method.
Click below to download a schedule example.
6th Challenge Trophy Schedule
Below is the guidelines used by the Youth Camporee Chiefs to conduct their role. It is a great training tool.
Youth Camporee Chief's Role - Guideline
SUBCAMPS AND EVENT AREAS
The Camporee operates with 6 to 8 Subcamps with assigned Event Areas to make the program a manageable size for the youth to run. For example,
200 to 400 attendees – 4 Subcamps & 4 Event Areas
400 to 1400 attendees – 6 Subcamps & 6 Event Areas
1400 to 2000 attendees – 8 Subcamps & 8 Event Areas
We started with under 200 participants at the 1st CTC in 1999. The largest attendance was ~1550 at the 4th CTC, when Council sponsored the Camporee. The experienced youth staff were able to perform their leadership roles easliy at the higher attending number. Therefore at this time, we can safely say that youth can manage a Camporee up to 1500 people. My feeling is that this can be expanded to 3000 without any issues, but we currently have a great base of youth staff. Building the Camporee slowly consistently over time is easier than starting a youth run camporee with 3,000 attendees. Note that in our case, the program we offer (210 events) can support over 3,000 scouts now! Therefore, we only need to add several subcamps (say 12 to 16 total), and have subcamps share an event area. Each subcamp would have less than 10 troops, so the size is quite manageable for the youth. The only limiting factor will be the size of the camp grounds in your area.
These would be the limited factors when deciding if youth can manage the size of an existing Camporee.
SUBCAMP – FLAGS for Subcamps and Event Areas
The Subcamps are named for colors - red, blue, green, orange, brown, yellow, purple, gray, white, etc. Should your camporee have a fall date, then the fall tree colors may be perfect for your Camporee. Subcamp names, flags or symbol are common practice for large camporees. Other Camporees named their Subcamps after birds, mammals, etc. Depending on how you organize your program, any Subcamp name will do, but in our case, it is color is the best option.
Flag colors have been in use for nearly 50 years at annual camporees. Wadiscoca Fall Camporee near Wallaceburg, ON, Ontario, Canada, just across the border from Michigan is running the 50th Fall Camporee in Sept 2005 and has a great traditional subcamp method - colored subcamp flags.
At the Challenge Trophy Camporee, we choose to continue in that old scouting tradition. As the CTC grew, it turned out to be a wise decision from an operational point of view. The color code system for Subcamp flags is necessary for the organization of the Challenge Trophy Camporee program. The function of the flags at the CTC is now part of the entire program structure and is present for or at the following,
At the Subcamp HQ. to help arriving troops find their assigned subcamp.
At the opening to identify the Youth Leaders for each Subcamp.
At the Event Areas for the Volunteers who run events.
At the Subcamp Chariot Race to show who is racing and at which gate.
At the closing to show youth Leadership team and ID Subcamp awards as they are handed out.
As you can see, the Subcamp Flag is an important part of the organization of the CTC program. It is simple but effective traditional method.
Refer to the Subcamp Manual attached below for additional info. The overview of the events is also part of the Subcamp Manual but additional info is available on the Events page of this web site.
THE SUBCAMP MANUAL - Youth Staff
The SC manual is the guide that brings the program together for the youth leaders.
The SC manual is an essential tool for the youth to run Subcamps. It describes how each part of the program is to perform. Coupled with training (and experience) the youth leaders will perform this function well, develop confidence, and build self-esteem. Contents includes,
INTRODUCTION
Schedule, Camporee Map, Event card examples, etc.
A) STAFF GUIDELINES
1) Pre-camp Work That is Required
2) Troop Arrival & Traffic Control
3) Registration (Responsibilities for subcamp staff)
4) Authority Guidelines
5) Program Overview for Subcamp Staff
5.1) Events / Display score card
5.2) Subcamp Scout’s Own
5.3) Subcamp Campfires
5.4) Subcamp Chariot Relay Race
5.6) Troop Participation Points
6) Communication
7) PL / SPL Meeting Agenda
8) Adult Leader Meeting Agenda
B) EVENTS & DISPLAYS – For your subcamp
C) CAMPSITE INSPECTION – Instructions, criteria
D) SCOUT’S OWN MATERIAL
E) FORMS & ATTACHMENTS
F) EVENT SIGN UP SHEETS – For your subcamp
The version used for the 5th CTC in 2003 is the example attached.
Click below to download the file.
5th CTC Subcamp Manual
FORM #3: Troop Score Summary Sheet
Form #3 brings the scores together for each attending troop. Youth Staff fills in the scores and determines the award winners in each category. Note that there are two spreadsheets on the excel file below. One is the form and the other is the procedure for the form.
5th CTC Form #3 used in 2003
LEADERSHIP PACKAGE – Mailed out to troops that register
The Leadership package is an extremely important tool to prepare attending troops for the camporee. It includes parking lot and subcamp assignment, team building drills to set up the campsite, camporee rules, subcamp quiz to prepare the youth and adults, Summary score card so each troop is informed in advanced of what they are graded on, etc, etc.
The actual "leadership package" mail to troops can be opened below for further detail.
Teamwork Drill for Arriving Troops
Cards to be give to each driver to indicate their parking lot at the camp
Camporee Quiz – to be done before the Camporee.
MAP - Subcamps and Event Areas from the 2003 - 5th CTC
Camporee Rules
Other items to be included in the Leadership Package are the Schedule, Form #3, and other pertinent info.
EVENTS:
Patrol of 5 to 9 youth may do any event they wish to at the CTC. The average completed is ~25. Some patrols have done as many as 40. We offer over 200 events. Troops can literally return for 4 straight years and if they choose to, they will never do the same event a second time. Of course, the choice is theirs to make.
A complete list of events (~300) is available on the Event page. See below.
OTHER PAGES AT THIS SITE ARE…..
Thanks for visiting the Youth Run Camporee Resource Website
Scouterdoug
