Summer Camp. It’s the event that thousands of Scouts in the Greater St. Louis Area Council anticipate and prepare for, all year long. Of the 52 weeks each year brings, one week proves extra-special for these Scouts.
As a founding member of Troop 603, my troop’s first summer camp at S-F Scout Ranch in 2003 would be our first “real” Scouting experience. Boy, did I have a blast! Never before had I been so far away from home for an entire week, nor learn how to kayak and canoe, or learn firsthand what the “Patrol Method” was. Our troop of a mere 7 Scouts had the time of our lives swimming in a 270-acre lake, earning a few merit badges, and cooking all of our meals on our campsite.
A few summer camps later, I enjoyed the summer camp experience so much that I was inspired to serve on summer camp staff. As of today, I’ve had the privilege to serve 6 summers at S-F. Forever I will cherish the memories I’ve made at camp, and I hope to have many more in the future.
Before The Season Begins…
Have you ever wondered what sort of experience the camp staff undergoes to prepare the camp for Scouts? What happens “behind the scenes” before nearly 1,000 campers arrive at the S-F Scout Ranch for the first week of summer camp? To find out, read on!
Pre-Camp
Camp staffers who are at least 18 years old are eligible to apply for an experience known as “pre-camp.” Simply put, pre-camp is typically a 3-week term of employment in which camp staffers complete a variety of tasks to prepare the S-F Scout Ranch for another season of summer camp. Such an experience is offered in addition to the applicant’s 6 or 7-week summer camp staff contract. The pre-camp crew, therefore, arrives at S-F 3 weeks prior to the arrival of the remaining seasonal camp staff members, or about 4 weeks prior to the first round of campers.
What We Do
Ask any former pre-camp worker and you will soon discover the wide variety of tasks the pre-camp crew may be asked to do. Here’s a simplified list of some typical jobs:
- Set-up tent canvas on each camp’s staff row.
- Deliver sailboats, paddleboards, and kayaks to their respective camps.
- Move program area equipment (canvas, program boxes, etc.) to their respective locations.
- Install floating, stationary, and fishing docks at each camp’s lakefront.
- Install the mile swim line in the Boy Scout camps’ coves.
- Weed-eat & mow program areas, campsites, fields, along roads, etc.
- Complete a preliminary truck run of equipment to campsites.
- Set-up each camp’s commissary, trading post, staff lounge, and program hall.
- Install buddy boards at each lakefront.
- Caulk and wax the water slides at Huck’s Cove.
- Ensure utilities are up and running: electricity, water, telephones.
What Does a Typical Day Look Like?
After waking-up for breakfast and receiving morning assignments from the pre-camp foreman at 8 AM, the crew rides to the maintenance building to pick-up supplies. Often times, this means grabbing weed eaters! From there, we head-out to our project site and work until lunchtime. After lunch, we re-group and receive our afternoon assignments. The work day ends around 5 PM, at which time we have some flexibility in how we spend our evening. Many days, this means showering and enjoying a relaxing dinner back at our cabins. A few times, the crew brought together what food they had for a delicious pot-luck barbecue. Other days, we choose to go into town and have dinner at a restaurant. Either way, going to bed early is a common occurrence at pre-camp; most days are physically demanding, especially in hot weather.
What About Weekends?
Here’s one of my favorite parts of pre-camp: On the weekends, the crew virtually has the entire ranch at their disposal. Swimming, kayaking, hiking, trying-out the new stand-up paddleboards – it’s up to you. Exploring the ranch is incredibly fun when you have the whole weekend to spare. It’s a nice reward after working hard all week.
Why We Love Pre-Camp
The more work we can accomplish during pre-camp, the more time the entire camp staff has to focus on training and development during “Training Week” – the week before campers arrive. With this goal in mind, the pre-camp crew works hard to accomplish as many items as possible.
Timeline
Anticipating this very blog post, I attempted to record our progress at pre-camp this past summer. Here’s a timeline of my Twitter posts and photographs, arranged from the beginning of pre-camp to its conclusion and arrival of the entire camp staff. Enjoy!
The day I've been waiting for has finally arrived... I'm going to CAMP today! S-F Scout Ranch and Knob Lick, Missouri... here I come!
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 14, 2012
A very productive day! We installed the keels on the new stand-up paddleboards, and delivered them to their respective camps. #precamp
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 16, 2012
The stationary docks are now in place at Camp Gamble, Famous Eagle, and Swift Base! #sunburn #precamp
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 16, 2012
Scraped paint off the Maintenance Building in preparation to be re-painted, and weedeated! Still having a blast at camp! #blisters #precamp
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 17, 2012
I Believe we have located the iceberg... #precamp http://t.co/hMUQajxl
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 18, 2012
After a long day, preliminary truck runs at TG and FE are complete. We moved over 300 cots! Excited for May Meeting this weekend! #precamp
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 19, 2012
After an awesome May Meeting, what better way to spend an afternoon back at S-F than with paddleboards! #precamp http://t.co/gzbY8Bd1
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 20, 2012
Lots of weedeating today; Family Camp looks great! The icebergs will be installed in the Boy Scout camp coves tomorrow! #precamp
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 22, 2012
A beautiful day at Nims Lake Overlook! #precamp http://t.co/MH9z4MIF
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 22, 2012
Day 3 of weedeating. Here we go! #precamp http://t.co/p8fPuSoG
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 23, 2012
The Precamp Crew weedeated the remainder of Rand Circle, as well as the entire S-F entrance road today! The Ranch is looking great! #precamp
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 23, 2012
Moved canvas to program areas, emptied the trading posts, and cleaned cabins at Family Camp! Only 5 workdays of #precamp left.
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 25, 2012
Warmest day at #precamp so far. The entire Camporee Field is weedeated and cut - and looks beautiful. We also began weedeating in the camps!
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 26, 2012
First meal at Astro, and the Rand staff arrived today! More weedeating in the camps this afternoon. #precamp
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 29, 2012
The Swift Trading Post is clean and ready to receive merchandise! Getting closer to a great summer. #precamp http://t.co/qb0hUqNQ
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) May 31, 2012
Only one more day of #precamp left. The entire camp staff arrives tomorrow to kick-off Training Week! See everyone soon!
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) June 01, 2012
#Precamp has officially come to a close, and the S-F Scout Ranch looks great! In less than 2 hours, I will be a Swiftie. Ready for camp ...
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) June 01, 2012
The 2012 Camp Staff at S-F was presented their neckerchiefs tonight by Scout Executive Ron Green. http://t.co/CfDvCqIm
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) June 09, 2012
A beautiful sunset at Swift Base tonight. Camp is awesome. http://t.co/am4gzbS8
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Ben Luedloff (@BenLuedloff) June 12, 2012