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You will notice that many merit badges fall under flexible
scheduling (Noted by the word "Open" on the Tentative
Schedule). This is designed to meet
the needs of individual Scouts by eliminating large classes and concentrating
on more personal instruction. Scouts
will be able to work at their own pace without the constraints of block
schedules and the individual needs of many other Scouts. After all, your boys just spent nine months
in classes at school. Camp is and
should be more than just a series of lectures. A few program areas (such as aquatics) have
retained a more rigid schedule. This
is primarily due to safety concerns and limited resources.
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If your troop has never encountered flexible scheduling, it
may seem strange for the first day or two.
Give it a chance. By the end of
the week, you'll be an expert and wonder why high schools don't use this
method.
Scouts may come to work on a badge at any time
during the open period - just walk in and talk to the instructor. For future
sessions, Scouts should come back at a time mutually agreeable with the
instructor or the same time each day.
Usually, Scouts will find themselves working in
small groups, rather than in large classes.
Scouts will be able to join sessions in progress, and then catch up on
what they missed prior to arrival after others leave.
Session length will vary and depend on the
subject and the Scout's knowledge of the subject. In planning individual Scout's schedules, you
may want to allow 45 minutes to an hour for each badge.
Requirements that Scouts are very familiar with
will be completed very quickly. Scouts
will receive additional instruction in those areas of a badge where they are
struggling or have little knowledge.
Scouts may begin work on additional badges
mid-week if they find they have extra time.
Scouts will receive credit only for the
requirements that they actually complete at camp. Counselors will be happy to review
requirements completed before camp to help a Scout finish a badge.
Scouts will no longer have to worry about rushing
all the way across camp from one class to the next. Because very few badges begin at a particular
time, Scouts should be able to plan their journey across camp more accordingly.
If a particular session or area is very busy,
ask the instructor if there is a better time to try to come back.
Flexible scheduling exists to accommodate those
Scouts who work best at their own pace.
It also accommodates those Scouts who need more structure in a camp
schedule by allowing you to develop a schedule for them.
Make enough copies of the Camp Schedule for each
Scout, each patrol, and each troop leader.
Using the Camp Schedule, block out times for troop wide activities. This is your Troop Schedule. Next have patrols block out time for
activities the patrol members are going to do together. This is their Patrol Schedule. The open blocks (the free time) remaining on
a Scout’s schedule defines the time that he has to pursue his personal camp
goals and activities. This is the
Scout’s Schedule.
If a Scout finds a conflict between a Troop or
Patrol program obligation and his personal schedule, he should ask the camp
staff member he is working with on his personal program for possible
solutions. The camp staff is usually flexible
and accommodating.
