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7. The Boy Scouts of America believes that national agencies with established standards equivalent to those ultimately developed by H.E.W. be permitted to conduct their own inspections in lieu of state inspections and the agency to file a copy of the inspection with the state.

8. That special attention be given to coverage of all types of programs, making clear definitions in order to preclude any contest of possible ambiguities.

A. Refer page 9, section 8A-"Secretary responsible for the enforcement of youth camp safety standards" :-That specific emphasis be given to methods, trained personnel, and specifics as to how this will be done.

B. Refer page 13, section 12-Variations:-Concern here is for qualification, knowledge, and training of "field inspector."

C. Refer page 14, section 15-Advisory Council on Youth Camp Safety :That this body should include as members, representatives of public and private organizations directly involved in youth camp operation.

D. Refer page 13, section 13-Travel Camps :-A clear definition of a "travel camp" is needed. The Boy Scouts of America through its tour permit system monitors thousands of local and troop tours in a year. If the Secretary were to require registration of these troop tours from all agencies operating this type of program, it would be extremely cumbersome.

It is our feeling that these qualified agencies should be permitted to continue the registration and regulation of this type of camp.

On January 17 and 18, 1964, the Boy Scouts of America representatives met with representatives of many camping organizations including the American Camping Association. These people then met with the representatives of Congressman Daniels and Senator Ribicoff on January 18. The testimony presented here, to a great extent, reflects the joint thinking of these organizations.

COMMITMENT

The Boy Scouts of America offers the services of its skilled staff, national and local, in the establishment of standards, training, and procedures.

COMMENTS

Federal legislation should provide flexibility to meet the varied program needs of a wide variety of camping.

This bill's intent to provide a safe, fulfilling camp experience for all youth is commendable and necessary. For its effective implementation, however, it will require the advice and counsel of competent representatives at Federal and state levels.

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

Council

CAMPING AND ENGINEERING SERVICE

NATIONAL STANDARD CAMP RATING 1974 INFORMATION AND SCORE SHEET

Scout executive

Camp name

Total acreage

(Use this form to report and forward rating scores from the Camp Inspection Worksheet, No. 20-113)

Total boy capacity per period this week

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total periods expected this summer

used for Scouter training?
dining hall

How many camps are used?
equipped for winter camping?
What feeding methods are used?
Is there a full-time resident ranger?
Are storage facilities adequate?

used for Cub Scout day camp?
other (identify)

patrol cooking
Are there suitable picnic and visitors' facilities?
Has this camp a satisfactory overnight group campsite?

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Note for Inspectors: This is a scoresheet only. Use the National Standards for Scout Camps of the Boy Scouts of America, No. 20-111, as your reference.

PART 1 MANDATORY STANDARDS *Failure to comply could be cause to close the camp.

Circle items that do not comply-Example: (5

1 2 3 4 5' 6' 7' 8' 9' 10° 11 12' 13* 14. 15. 16" 17' 18 19' 20' 21' 22' 23 24 25 26 Comments and recommendations

Troop site:

PART 2 - FACILITIES AND OPERATING STANDARDS *Required for National Standard.
Circle items that do not qualify-Example: (5)

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Food service:

Health:
Safety:
Camp staff:

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48* 49' 50* 51

52 53 54 55 56 Catholic

Program:

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72° 73° 74 75° 76 77 78 79 80 81° 82 83 84 85 86 87' 88' 89 90' 91* 92 93' 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101* 102 103 104

105* 106* 107' 108* 109' 110° 111* 112° 113° 114 115 116 117

Excused items: Record number and reason

Attach any additional comments and recommendations on a separate sheet.

1974 NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR

SCOUT CAMPS OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

This booklet includes procedures and standards along with explanatory information. The scoresheet is separate and is to be used in making the report to the council. Inspectors' recommendations are to be attached to the scoresheet. Items needing follow-up are to be recorded.

PURPOSE

These standards are established to encourage each council to take an honest look at its facilities, equipment, staff services, and program. There is no crime in being rated less than perfect. The real crime is to be so anxious for a perfect rating that weak spots are glossed over. Face up to the needs; if the answer is doubtful, rate a "no" score and take steps to correct the deficiency so there can be no doubt.

As a result of this analysis and rating the council should be able to:

⚫ make an objective review of its camping operation, covering adequacy of present facilities and need for expansion, as well as a complete appraisal of staff and program

⚫ discuss the year-round camping program and the camp as a year-round training area for units and leaders

⚫ establish a written report for executive board action, complete with recommendations that can be used as a guide to measure future progress

NOTE: If this is a multiple-camp reservation, complete this rating for each camp. When the reservation provides certain central facilities for all camps, rate them and apply same rating to each camp.

HOW TO GO ABOUT IT:

Part 1

Certification of Mandatory Standards and Precamp Inspection should be completed 30 to 60 days before summer camp opens, inspection party to include the council camping chairman, health and safety chairman, camp director, Scout executive, plus other committee members and staff as needed. Compliance with the first 26 items is to be certified by the council representatives and sent to the regional office at least 30 days before camp opens. The regional rating representative will review the Mandatory Standards at the time of rating Facilities and Operating Standards while the summer camp is operating. The regional representative should have a copy of the precamp certification filed by the council.

Part II Facilities and Operating Standards-To be reviewed and appraised during camp operation.

1. Secure a representative committee (including chairmen and members of the camping and health and safety committees, the council president, the Scout executive, the camp director, and the regional representative) to make up the appraisal team.

2. Documents, maps, and plans listed here are to be gathered at camp in advance of the summer program analysis and reviewed by the appraisal team before touring the camp.

• Development plan for this camp-board adopted (camp should have a copy on display or work copy available for use of camp director)

• Conservation plan-as prepared by a government agency or qualified technician (this is a working plan from which is drawn projects for boys)

• Job specifications, staff manual, or copies of letters of employment in which jobs are specified

• Camp operating budget

• Inventories of all equipment

• Trading post records required in camp

• Camp control map or maps-showing locations of all facilities, utilities, roads, trails, etc.

⚫ Letter of agreement with local hospital

• Letter of agreement with fire department or other related agency

• Record of water tests

• Certification of Mandatory Standards and Precamp Inspection (regional office to provide copy of the council's certification)

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3. Make a tour of the camp facilities, using this form as a guide. Maintain high standards. Take time to do a good job. Insist on immediate action to correct critical items affecting the health and safety of campers and staff.

4. Observe the use of equipment, methods of instruction, use of personnel, and any obvious indications of Scout ideals in action. Talk with leaders and boys on the tour. Discuss program with the program director and staff members.

5. It is recommended that a conference be held with a representative group of Scouts and Scouters to comply with item 117.

6. Meet with the local committee and make out a final analysis and rating for the camp. including recommendations and comments. Complete the scoresheet.

7. Chairmen of camping (and activities) and health and safety committees should make a report to the council executive board-preferably at camp in connection with this camp appraisal.

8. Regional representative sends scoresheet and rating with recommendations to the council with copies for the regional management center and Camping and Engineering Service.

RESPONSIBILITY

Assigning responsibility is not neat and clear-most often it is a team job. In almost all instances the Scout executive with the camping committee must be held accountable to see that standards are maintained.

Part I - The camping committee and Scout executive have the responsibility to ensure that all mandatory items are or will be in effect as camp opens. We identify this in the columns to the right of each standard. In some instances, the camp director must administer the operating part of the standard.

Part II The same principle of assigned responsibility is applied to the items in Part II.

MANDATORY STANDARDS

Standards required before a camp opens are Mandatory Standards. They include such items as tested drinking water, milk supply, refrigeration, physical exams, medical inspections, health log. latrines, waste disposal, state and local permits or licenses, precamp health, safety, and sanitation inspections.

All items marked with an asterisk (*) must be met. Failure to meet any one item will be cause to take action to close the camp.

The local council camping committee with the Scout executive is to provide for meeting these standards before a camp is opened. Mandatory items should be checked during the precamp inspection conducted by council camping and health and safety committees prior to the opening of camp. These Mandatory Standards are also to be reviewed by the regional appraisal team during the annual inspection.

H

Exceptions: Any exceptions to these first 26 Mandatory Standards must be identified in writing when the Precamp Inspection and Certification to Mandatory Standards is filed 30 days prior to camp open

ing.

Precamp inspection by the council health and safety committee with the camping committee is designed to help identify facilities and equipment that need to be brought up to standard before camp opens. Those camps that are weather-bound should file the precamp inspection as requested and indicate when precamp inspection will be completed. Ideally, camps that are weather-bound until late spring should do the precamp inspection in the fall and carry out essential corrective action before weather closes the site.

RATINGS AND RECOGNITIONS

"A"-NATIONAL STANDARD CAMP FLAG

Meets all Mandatory Standards (only exceptions are legitimately excused items)

Meets all of the standards identified with an asterisk (*) in Part II

Meets 85 percent of all standards in Part II (at least 77 of the 91 including the items marked with an asterisk).

"B"-NATIONAL INSPECTED CAMP CERTIFICATE

Meets all Mandatory Standards (only exceptions are legitimately excused items)

Meets 85 percent of the items in Part II

"C"-LETTER OF INSPECTION

Meets all Mandatory Standards (only exceptions are legitimately excused items)

Meets less than 85 percent of the items in Part II

Region sends a letter identifying the areas needing correction. This is really an unsatisfactory rating. The camp is meeting the minimum standards. Every effort must be made to improve by next year.

EXCUSED ITEMS

Items may be excused only when conditions beyond control of the council prevent compliance. Examples:

a. Local regulations prohibit use of rifles: Mandatory Standard 23 would be marked "E" for excused. Same for Part II, items 97, 98, 99, and 100. These items would be counted as "yes" in final tally.

b. In a high mountain camp where swimming is not feasible those items related to aquatics would be marked "E" for excused. Mandatory items 11, 12, and 25 and Part II items 59, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95 would be “E” and excused in final rating.

SCORING

The Camp Inspection Worksheet, No. 113, is used for scoring in conjunction with the inspection guide National Standards for Scout Camps of the Boy Scouts of America, No. 20-111, while inspecting a Scout camp. This field worksheet should be used to record the results of the inspection while the inspection is in progress. Once the inspection is over, the results on this scoresheet should be transferred to the National Standard Rating 1974 Information and Scoresheet, No. 20-112, for the official report to the Camping and Engineering Service, Boy Scouts of America, North Brunswick, N.J. 08902.

PRECAMP CERTIFICATION OF MANDATORY STANDARDS

This statement properly signed is to be filed in the regional office at least 30 days prior to opening of the camp. It is the council's commitment to operate a safe camp under qualified leadership, and is signed by the council president, camping and health and safety chairmen, and the Scout executive.

Exceptions, if any, are to be documented when certification is filed. This covers the first 26 items. Items marked "E" for excused must be documented. Failure to meet Mandatory Standards, minimum to safe camp operation, requires corrective action.

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