Welcome to . . .
Planning and Conducting a
Duty to God Encampment
Sample SCREEN SHOT ONLY
Sample SCREEN SHOT ONLY
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
Representatives @ 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
1st 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 Cub’s 1st
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 God’s 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 1st 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
1st Activity
Lunch
2nd 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 look @ 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
Encampment Planner
Timeline
Place date
on
Council/
District
calendars
12 months
ahead
Recruit
Core
Staff
Facility
walkthru/reserve
campsites
6-8 months
ahead
Save the
Date Flyer
Out,
Recruit
Full Staff
RT visits
for
Religious
Emblems
RT Visits for
RE Event
Detailed Flier
including
schedule out
60 days
before
90 days before
Pick
Theme,
Activities,
DRAFT
Schedule
Email Blast,
w/ ecopies of
all
information/
patch design
All Staff
meeting
Last
Date to
Order
Patches
Develop
Participation
Estimate,
review
location
2 weeks
before
Track
Registration
RE Event
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.
OCTOBER 15-17, 2010
Bert Adams
Scout Reservation
•Friday night leader Cracker Barrel
•Full day of activities Saturday
•Separate events for Boy Scouts and
Cub Scouts
•Saturday night campfire
•Sunday Interfaith Service
Design / Build–
Logistics and Promotion
• Promotion
 Flyer out 3 months ahead, using
email, 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
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
I.
Planning and Conducting a
Duty to God Encampment
Questions?!?!
John Lyon
twobigcats@bellsouth.net