Frequently Asked Questions About Advance Camp.
FAQs
What should I bring to AdvanceCamp?
A Scout is Prepared! Please make sure you bring your printed Merit Badge Worksheet(s) with you to camp! These are a tool for your success. You are encouraged to use merit badge worksheets available at usscouts.org. It is highly recommended that you print out the worksheets for each merit badge you plan to work on and bring them along with you to camp.
Special Requirements: Many Merit Badges require that the scout have permission slips, special clothes or shoes, extra clothes, etc. Please check the details of every Merit Badge and make sure that your scouts are prepared to work on that badge.
Don't Forget: While AdvanceCamp is a single night and a single day event, it is important to Be Prepared. Make sure to bring:
- Scouts should come prepared with their blue cards signed by their scoutmaster.
- Water Bottle - We will have refill stations on site!
- Hand Sanitizer
- Face mask (recommended but optional)
- Proper Footwear (especially if taking Welding, Plumbing, or Search and Rescue!)
- T-shirt or short sleeved shirt
- Brimmed Hat
- Watch
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Pen or pencil
Check your badge and permission slips for any special attire that is needed for activities like Welding, Plumbing, Swimming, Lifesaving, and Search and Rescue.
Special Requirements: Many Merit Badges require that the scout have permission slips, special clothes or shoes, extra clothes, etc. Please check the details of every Merit Badge and make sure that your scouts are prepared to work on that badge.
Don't Forget: While AdvanceCamp is a single night and a single day event, it is important to Be Prepared. Make sure to bring:
- Scouts should come prepared with their blue cards signed by their scoutmaster.
- Water Bottle - We will have refill stations on site!
- Hand Sanitizer
- Face mask (recommended but optional)
- Proper Footwear (especially if taking Welding, Plumbing, or Search and Rescue!)
- T-shirt or short sleeved shirt
- Brimmed Hat
- Watch
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Pen or pencil
Check your badge and permission slips for any special attire that is needed for activities like Welding, Plumbing, Swimming, Lifesaving, and Search and Rescue.
What are the health and safety guidelines at AdvanceCamp?
The health and safety of all participants and volunteers is our priority. In line with the guidelines of the BSA, AdvanceCamp requires that all attendees fill out the Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist to determine if you are healthy enough to attend AdvanceCamp. Participants who are symptomatic or ill should not attend.
Do not participate if you or anyone you live with has recently tested positive for COVID-19 or does not have test results back. If you have a positive COVID-19 test, follow the CDC guidance for isolation and your personal health care provider’s treatment recommendations.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea.
Resources:
Pre-Event Medical Screening
CDC COVID-19 Updates
Do not participate if you or anyone you live with has recently tested positive for COVID-19 or does not have test results back. If you have a positive COVID-19 test, follow the CDC guidance for isolation and your personal health care provider’s treatment recommendations.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, New loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea.
Resources:
Pre-Event Medical Screening
CDC COVID-19 Updates
What are the fees and special activities at AdvanceCamp?
Archery, Basketry, Climbing, Indian Lore, Lifesaving, Plumbing, Programming, Search and Rescue, Robotics, Swimming, and Welding will carry an additional $30 fee. Partial Archery is $15.00.
AVIATION MERIT BADGE has a different fee of $75 because scouts will be flying as a part of the badge work that day.
Go for the NOVA Award! The Boy Scouts of America's NOVA Awards program incorporates learning with cool activities and exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. AdvanceCamp offers many merit badges required for the NOVA Award.
Swimming Note: THIS IS NOT AN INSTRUCTIONAL SWIMMING COURSE. This class will verify your swimming skills and knowledge of the merit badge skills. Be sure to bring a change of clothes for some of the requirements. Register only if you are taking the Merit Badge for Swimming or Lifesaving. Trailhead swim is NOT offered.
AVIATION MERIT BADGE has a different fee of $75 because scouts will be flying as a part of the badge work that day.
Go for the NOVA Award! The Boy Scouts of America's NOVA Awards program incorporates learning with cool activities and exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. AdvanceCamp offers many merit badges required for the NOVA Award.
Swimming Note: THIS IS NOT AN INSTRUCTIONAL SWIMMING COURSE. This class will verify your swimming skills and knowledge of the merit badge skills. Be sure to bring a change of clothes for some of the requirements. Register only if you are taking the Merit Badge for Swimming or Lifesaving. Trailhead swim is NOT offered.
How does the Partial Merit Badge Booth work at AdvanceCamp?
We will be offering a Partial Merit Badge Booth from 8:30am until 4:30pm for items that you have completed and just need to be verified and checked off. No appointment necessary. The longest wait times will be 11:30am-1:00pm and 2:30pm-4:30pm. This is a drop-in, first come first served opportunity on the Expo Lawn West.
Please be prepared with the following items: Partial Blue Card, Merit Badge worksheet completed, Merit Badge booklet and any other completed work needed to demonstrate a requirement. If an activity is needed, please complete the Activity Verification Form.
Please be prepared with the following items: Partial Blue Card, Merit Badge worksheet completed, Merit Badge booklet and any other completed work needed to demonstrate a requirement. If an activity is needed, please complete the Activity Verification Form.
What are the camping area rules at AdvanceCamp?
MALE SCOUTS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE FEMALE CAMPING AREA AND VICE-VERSA. NO EXCEPTIONS! NOT ABIDING BY THE RULES IS GROUNDS FOR IMMEDIATE EXPULSION FROM CAMP, NO EXCEPTIONS!
How can I volunteer at AdvanceCamp?
AdvanceCamp is run by volunteers who serve without compensation. 100% of all funds collected goes towards the program. Merit Badge Counselors and Camp Staff Volunteers for the day receive free lunch, camp patch, Friday night camping, complimentary t-shirt, and free breakfast Saturday morning.
- Merit Badge Counselors: For Merit Badges that we offer and we are always looking to add new Merit Badges as we get volunteers. AdvanceCamp has always paid for any merit badge supplies used by counselors at Camp, and paid for by themselves. To be a Merit Badge Counselor Volunteer email Steven Hoagland at: advancecampstaff@gmail.com
- Trailhead Volunteers: Ready to help younger scouts progress to First Class? We will have hundreds of Scouts at this important area and need all the volunteers we can get. Any Eagle Scouts that are looking to help, this is the perfect area for you. You do not have to be 18 to help. To be a Trailhead Volunteer email RICHARD BYLE at: gryphon97@gmail.com
- Camp Staff: Lots to be done from helping in the kitchen, making sure that each building has water in it and that the scouts and counselors have everything they need, bus stop monitors and general running errands around camp. To be a Camp Staff Volunteer for the day email DEBORAH LONG at: diveboy01@comcast.net
- Merit Badge Counselors: For Merit Badges that we offer and we are always looking to add new Merit Badges as we get volunteers. AdvanceCamp has always paid for any merit badge supplies used by counselors at Camp, and paid for by themselves. To be a Merit Badge Counselor Volunteer email Steven Hoagland at: advancecampstaff@gmail.com
- Trailhead Volunteers: Ready to help younger scouts progress to First Class? We will have hundreds of Scouts at this important area and need all the volunteers we can get. Any Eagle Scouts that are looking to help, this is the perfect area for you. You do not have to be 18 to help. To be a Trailhead Volunteer email RICHARD BYLE at: gryphon97@gmail.com
- Camp Staff: Lots to be done from helping in the kitchen, making sure that each building has water in it and that the scouts and counselors have everything they need, bus stop monitors and general running errands around camp. To be a Camp Staff Volunteer for the day email DEBORAH LONG at: diveboy01@comcast.net
What is available at the Trailhead at AdvanceCamp?
Trailhead Volunteers: Ready to help younger scouts progress to First Class? We will have hundreds of Scouts at this important area and need all the volunteers we can get. Any Eagle Scouts that are looking to help, this is the perfect area for you. You do not have to be 18 to help.
The following Trailhead advancement is available:
- Scout: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 4a, 4b, 5
- Tenderfoot: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 4a, 4b, 5b, 7a, 8
- Second Class: 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2f, 2g, 3a, 3d, 4, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 8b
- First Class: 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5a, 6a, 6e, 7a, 7b, 7c, 9a
The most heavily attended station will be KNOTS AND LASHINGS, which will cover two Tenderfoot requirements and four First Class requirements. The FIRST AID station will cover two Tenderfoot requirements, three Second Class requirements, and three First Class requirements.
Trailhead Volunteers will teach the skills and provide a spreadsheet of the taught skills related to requirements, but troop leadership is responsible for signing off the accomplishment in the Scout's handbook. Scoutmasters are requested to be available for Scoutmaster conferences for their Scouts, either during the camp or as soon as possible after camp.
The following Trailhead advancement is available:
- Scout: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 4a, 4b, 5
- Tenderfoot: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 4a, 4b, 5b, 7a, 8
- Second Class: 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2f, 2g, 3a, 3d, 4, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 8b
- First Class: 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5a, 6a, 6e, 7a, 7b, 7c, 9a
The most heavily attended station will be KNOTS AND LASHINGS, which will cover two Tenderfoot requirements and four First Class requirements. The FIRST AID station will cover two Tenderfoot requirements, three Second Class requirements, and three First Class requirements.
Trailhead Volunteers will teach the skills and provide a spreadsheet of the taught skills related to requirements, but troop leadership is responsible for signing off the accomplishment in the Scout's handbook. Scoutmasters are requested to be available for Scoutmaster conferences for their Scouts, either during the camp or as soon as possible after camp.