Camping

The Order of the Arrow used to be know as the Brotherhood of Honor Campers. In the old guidelines, it stated that fellow campers voted in those worthy of membership. Note that it does not say fellow Scouts, it says fellow campers. The Order of the Arrow has evolved to become much more than a society of campers, but the roots of the organization are undeniable. All that being said, this discussion is not about the Order of the Arrow but about its roots, that is -camping.

Camping is now and always has been a large part of Scouting. The so called Urban Scouting emphasis of the early to mid 1970's nearly killed Scouting. It wasn't until the BSA got back to basics with camping, hiking and the outdoors that the numbers turned and growth began again. Scouting can not exist without camping. It is a tool or from training terminology, a method of Scouting. Scouting uses camping to teach leadership, organization and planning. These skills can then be transfered to many other life skills areas. Camping also allows all the "back to nature skills" such as ecology, conservation, plant, bird and animal studies, cooking and self-reliance.

So here is the question, beyond first class, what are you as a Scout or Scouter doing to promote camping? In your unit, do you promote a campout a month? Or is your camping experience limited to camporees and summer camp? When you are planning your calendar, are the campouts planned first or last. If you are planning your campouts as a afterthought, please re-read the second paragraph. Camping is not an end in itself, but a door that opens many other doors.