Welcome to... Planning and Conducting a Duty to God Encampment

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John Lyon Atlanta Area Council Council Religious Emblem Coordinator Religious Relations Committee Chair

Planning and Conducting a Duty to God Encampment

The Big Idea – Religious Emblems Demystified Make sure They know what Religious Emblems are.... Have bullet training sessions (5-10 minutes) about Religious Emblems (REs) before the event (more on this later) Talk to faith-based organization leaders Reach out specifically to Chartered Organization faith based organizations.

Fun with a Purpose – Duty to God style Study various RE curriculum for potential activities. (Many have multiple activity suggestions). Make certain that whatever the length of the event, fun activities make up 70% of available time. Put in wide game concepts.Search out dynamic speakers for worship services.Minimize any classroom style sessions.

Design / Build 1.Decide the RE event duration 2.Plan your program to fit the theme 3.Logistics & Promotion

Duty to God Encampment Weekend camporee format Saturday morning – Religious Emblems classes Orientation for parents & Scouts Quick Start for the emblems – Scouts begin one or 2 requirements Continuing support for all religious emblems – thru faith group reps.

Duty to God Encampment Saturday afternoon - Games with a purpose Faith Groups Areas Religious Emblem Displays Worship services Campfire Closing Assembly on Sunday

Design / Build Decide RE event duration 1 st time out – survey whether folks want a day long event, overnight, traditional 2 night-2 day Consider duration when calendaring event. Could this be a Cubs 1 st campout? Do we want Cub, Boy, & Venture units in one event? Select venue based on Council available resources

Design / Build Decide RE event duration Decide RE event duration –Start off with short introductory classes, then build on it. –Setup brief introductions to faith group religious emblems –Canvass local council/district faith groups –Search out Scouting contacts for the major faith groups in the area –Secure knowledgeable instructors for major faith groups –Plan Cub Scout/Boy Scout introductions to religious emblems

Design / Build Plan your program to fit the theme Select the event theme, such as: A Scout is Reverent Service to God & Country Seek God, Serve Others Faith of Our Fathers

Design / Build Plan your program to fit the theme Need to have religious emblems introduction: &.... A plan to get them started! Link activities to the theme (i.e. Theme of Following Gods Path involve an age appropriate hike with learning stations. Service to Others include an age appropriate service project).

Design / Build– Plan your program to fit the theme Major afternoon activity Cub Scouts - Short discovery walks/hikes. Activity stations Letterboxes Boy Scouts Round Robin Stations Orienteering Course(s), Score Orienteering

Design / Build– Plan your program to fit the theme Using the introductory sessions for the 1 st hour, find some other activity for both Cub & Boy Scout groups to carry to lunch time. These can include Introduction to Geocacheing, Map&Compass/Orienteering refresher, Faith Group displays, etc. – Cub Scout RE intro should combine 5 minute intro/45 minute game activity – Parents join others for longer presentation/Q&A/RE quick start –Boy Scout RE intro should combine 15 minute intro/15 minute discussion of getting started

Design / Build– Plan your program to fit the theme Develop Draft Activity Schedule EARLY- Very Generic Opening, followed by BRIEF Religious Emblems 101 for kids 1 st Activity Lunch 2 nd Activity Supper Religious Services (variable times according to faith) Campfire Closing

Design / Build– Plan your program to fit the theme Worship services –Plan multiple worship services thru Saturday at appropriate times – faith group specific. –If acceptable and participatory to all faith groups, Interfaith Worship Service for Sunday morning.

Design / Build– Logistics and Promotion Logistics: Time/Date/Duration Carefully District/Council/Religious Calendars 2 or 3 day (arrive Friday evening or Saturday early am, leave Sunday) –Look at the potential number of participants –Plan your staff numbers for success ( Registration, Games, etc) –Think about service unit(s)

Design / Build– Logistics and Promotion Logistics (cont.) Site - Based on the expected attendance, what facilities do we need? Campsite Capacity – local Council facilities/fees Physical sheltered locations for different sessions. (i.e. Displays, RE 101, Faith & Beliefs Area,) Registration/Budget/Patches/Pins [you get the idea]. Design a one-of-a-kind patch that includes ALL faith groups, perhaps w/participation pin. Order Patches NOT LATER THAN 60 days prior to the event. Develop Event Timeline

Design / Build– Logistics and Promotion Promotion Put on Council/District calendar 12 months ahead. Save the Date flyer published 6-8 months ahead. Visit RoundTables and any other gathering of Scouters to begin talking up the event. Find faith based chartered organizations and promote to staff and Scouts.

Friday night leader Cracker Barrel Full day of activities Saturday Separate events for Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts Saturday night campfire Sunday Interfaith Service A full weekend of excitement! OCTOBER 15-17, 2010 Bert Adams Scout Reservation

Design / Build– Logistics and Promotion Promotion Flyer out 3 months ahead, using , website, RT distribution. Detailed packet w/registration process, schedule, special instructions, location map, etc. If your council uses online registration, post all information there, too.

Planning and Conducting a Duty to God Encampment I.The Big Idea – Religious Emblems Demystified II.Fun with a Purpose – Duty to God style III.Design / Build A.Decide the RE emphasis duration B.Plan your program to fit the theme C. Logistics & Promotion

Planning and Conducting a Duty to God Encampment Questions?!?! John Lyon