Join the CRM & ScoutLand CampMasters !!
What are the Campmasters ?
The Campmasters are a arm of the council camping committee made up from a group of volunteer scouter's that help out at our camps on select weekends when they can.
What does a Campmaster do ?
We help our camp rangers by basically becoming the ranger for a weekend giving them some needed time off. We check people into and out of camp. If a unit has reserved boats we open up the boathouse for them (they move the boats to the lake and bring them back in, we check them out and back in). You check the bathrooms and campsites they have reserved prior to their arrival to see what condition they are in and check them when they check out to be sure they left them in better shape than they were in when they arrived. You keep bathroom supplies in the bathrooms but cleaning them is the unit’s responsibility (we are not a maid service). We check the bathrooms at check out and the units have to clean them before leaving if they need it. At check in we inform the campers of the “no cars in camp national policy” and that they have one hour to unload and move their vehicles to the parking lot.
When do we work and who sets the schedule?
You work when you can fit it in your schedule. You sign up for weekends that work best for you and if a conflict comes up you can trade with another campmaster. We meet sign up for weekends and are contacted by the camp ranger a week or so out from your weekend to up date you on how many campers will be at camp on your weekend. If no units (or very few are signed up for your weekend) the ranger may tell you that you do not need to come. The idea is with enough people helping out as a campmaster no one should have to work more than 2 or 3 times a year at most. Some events do not need campmasters and with the summer filled with Cub activities and summer camp we do not work from mid May thru July.
Where do I stay and what about meals?
We stay in the admin trailer and have a bedroom and bathroom to ourselves. Most of the time you have the trailer to yourself but at times there may be folks staying in the other end of the trailer (some camporees etc). You bring your own food and can use the kitchen in the trailer to fix your meals.
Do I have to be in uniform?
While you don’t have to be in uniform we do encourage you to be in at least what is referred to as “class B”. We will provide you with a NEGA Campmaster’s hat after you have served twice as Campmaster.
When do I have to arrive and when do I leave?
You arrive on Friday as soon as you can get there after work (there is not a “have to be there by” time). Most units arrive between 6pm and 8pm since the leaders have real jobs like we do also. You usually leave around noon on Sunday since most units get up, eat, pack and leave on Sunday morning themselves. If something comes up and you have to leave early or in the middle of your weekend let the ranger know.
We hope this gives you an idea of what the campmaster program is about and encourage you to contact us if you are interested in helping out. The more help we have the less each has to do. We were having problems at Scoutland with our own units leaving the camp in worse shape when they left than it was in when they arrived. Everyone wanted to use the bathrooms but did not do their part to keep them clean and usable (unplugged). Since we have started the campmaster program at Scoutland this has greatly improved. Although this may sound like a lot of work I can tell you from having done it for the past three years you need to bring a book and a deck of cards or some work to do because most of your time will be “free” ( it’s nice to just sit on the front porch ). Again if you are interested in helping out you can contact me at efoster5@windstream.net (put campmaster in the subject line). We will have 2 meetings a year to keep everyone informed and discuss issues etc that may have come up.
If you know of anyone else that may be interested please send this to them.
Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have and to sign up to help as a campmaster.
Ed Foster
efoster5@windstream.net
