Policies and Procedures
Transportation
Transportation to and from camp is the responsibility of the unit. We suggest drivers be selected well ahead of your departure. Cars should not be overloaded and must be adequately insured. The Boy Scouts of America requires the following conditions be met in transporting scouts:
- Insurance Coverage: $50,000/$100,000 public liability
- $5,000 property damage
- All passengers must have and wear an individual seat belt
- No one is permitted to ride in the beds of pick-up trucks
- All drivers must be over the age of 18, mature, capable, and insured to the standards above.
All units coming to camp should file a Local Tour Permit (see appendix) with the Council Service Center. For Units outside the Green Mountain Council, you must file a Tour Permit with your local Council.
Checking In
There is a procedure that will allow your troop to do the swim test before you arrive at camp using the “Pre-Test” form. The swim classification procedures and form used for pre-testing are in the appendix.
On the average Sunday afternoon at Mt. Norris Scout Reservation, we will check in between 10 and 12 units with an average of 120 scouts. To make this process run as seamlessly as possible, the following procedures have been developed.
Upon arriving in camp you will meet with the Camp Commissioner and he will assign you’re site guide. The Camp Leader must turn in a handwritten Camp Roster, review the troop’s account, and verify each scout’s attendance at the Camp Office. Please verify the emergency contact person and number for each scout. Your staff guide will accompany your troop to your campsite. Each scout and leader staying in camp must have a current physical form, with a signature dated for this camp season. You must have all medical forms and prescription drugs in the original labeled pharmacy containers when you report for the medical check.
Units should plan on arriving no earlier than 1 pm, Sunday afternoon. Please try to arrive as a troop. A staff member who will guide you through the check-in process and assist with any immediate needs will meet your unit.
After the gear is dropped off at the site, scouts should change into their swim trunks for swim checks. The staff guide will lead them on the camp tour. A campsite inventory will also be completed and approved by your unit leader to check the condition of the tents and site tools.
Vehicles In Camp
All vehicles must be parked in the parking lot for the week. For safety reasons, and in accordance with National policy, only camp vehicles may be operated on camp roads. You may drive to your camp site to drop off equipment. Please drive a 5 MPH
Firearms & Ammunition
Ample equipment is available for all shooting sports programs offered as part of the camp program. Scouts and leaders may not bring private firearms or ammunition from home for use at summer camp.
Physical Examinations
Everyone in camp, scout or adult, must have a physical signed by a physician. This applies to all scouts, adults and camp staff.
Youth and adults under the age of 40 must have a physical at least every three years. Use the Class I & II Personal Health and Medical Record. The physician must sign the Class II Medical Record or he/she may attach a signed copy of his/her examination form. This signature must be within the last three years for the entire term at which the scout or adult will be in camp. The Class I health history must be updated and signed on a yearly basis by a parent or guardian for scouts under the age of 18.
Adults over the age of 40 and youth participating in high adventure programs must have a physical every year. Use the Class III Personal Health and Medical Record provided in the appendix. A physician must sign section V within the past year for the entire term at which the adult will be in camp.
The National Council of the Boy Scouts of America sets the above guidelines on physicals. They are designed for the safety of all Scouts and leaders in camp. We must adhere to them strictly in order to ensure the safety of all participants. Blank copies of all physical forms are located in the appendix of this Leaders’ Guide.
Drugs & Medications
The Camp Health Officer must review all medications during check-in. Prescribed, self-administered medications for severe allergies, heart conditions, etc. must be reported to the Camp Health Officer. They will be locked in the Health Lodge. Please advise us in writing a few weeks in advance of camp if you have any unusual medical requirements. Epi pins may be carried with Medics knowledge. Parents, camp is not a time to start experimenting with your child’s medications
Camp Health Officer
All First Aid emergencies must be reported to the Camp Health Officer immediately. He/she has been specially trained in first aid and OSHA Blood-borne Pathogens procedures and has developed a rapport with the agencies that provide emergency services to the camp. In an emergency, the Camp Health Officer will assume responsibility for the scene and will be the person in charge of any and all scenes until the arrival of Emergency Medical Services. We always appreciate any assistance provided in these situations; however, the legal responsibility for treatment and treatment decisions lies with the Camp Health Officer.
Friday Evening Program
The closing ceremony on Friday begins at 5:30 pm with the awards ceremony, followed by the bar-b-cue.
A closing campfire begins at 8 pm and is usually over by 9 pm. Parents are encouraged to attend the closing ceremony, bar-b-cue and campfire. Prior to leaving, you must check with your staff guide who will go through your campsite inventory to account for all equipment. Bar-b-cue cost is: Adults $8.00, under 12 $5.00
Scout EARLY Release
To ensure boys leave camp with the proper, approved guardian, a Scout Release Request form must be filled out and signed by the unit leader, parent, and camp administration. Any boys leaving camp after the Friday
bar-b-que is expected to leave as a group with their unit and does not need a Scout Release Request form. Unit leadership is responsible for keeping track of who is and who is not supposed to transport the scout to and from camp. We recommend that all units use the caravan style of travel.
Alcohol, Drugs & Tobacco
Alcohol and illegal drugs are not permitted on scout property. Adults found in possession or under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs will be escorted out of camp. According to Youth Protection Guidelines, such instances will be reported to the Scout Executive for appropriate action. Scouts found in possession or under the influence will face similar consequences after a conference between the Unit Leader, Camp Director, and the scout’s parent or guardian.
It is the policy of the Boy Scouts of America and the Green Mountain Council that no one under the age of 18 years old may possess or use tobacco products. This includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, and chewing tobacco. The Unit Leader in such instances should take appropriate disciplinary action. There should be no smoking within the campsite or in sight of youth. All cigarettes must be field stripped and thrown away in the trash bags, not left in the campfire rings.
Liquid Fuels
Liquid fuel policies of the Green Mountain Council and the Boy Scouts of America permit the use of white gas and pressurized fuels for camp stoves, lanterns, etc. All uses of fuel must be under the direct supervision of an adult and bulk quantities of liquid fuels (greater than a backpacking MSR bottle) must be stored in a secure flammable storage facility. See the Camp Ranger with any questions.
Valuables
We strongly suggest that units lock all valuables in your campsite or a leader’s vehicle, or better yet, leave them at home. Although theft is uncommon, camps are not immune. Valuables should never be left in the shower house. The best policy is to limit the amount of valuables brought to camp. Mt. Norris Scout Reservation and the Green Mountain Council are not responsible for any damage to or loss of personal or unit equipment.
Taps
All Scouts should be in their own campsite and quieted down by 9:30 pm each night unless participating in a program activity. It is recommended that each unit set a specific time for Scouts to be in their tents and to have lights out.
Any Scout or Camp Leader who wants to bugle, whether it’s Taps, Reveille, or during Color Guard, should let the Program Director know so he can find a time for everyone.