Boy Scout Uniform Right Side National Camp School

(A description of the BSA's National Camping AWARD emblems and certificate are on a separate page.)

Mareen wrote and asked on Scouts-L:

Please excuse my ignorance, but what are camp schools? Who goes? A basic description of purpose and program would be appreciated.

The BSA has an annual National Camp School program which certifies key volunteers and professionals working at their national or local Council camps since the early 30s. The purpose of the BSA's National Camping School is to provide adults with a learning experience and training related to the operation of council camp. The key staff members will, in turn, train and supervise other staff personnel in your Council camping program.

The aim is to provide a great deal of consistancy in camping and outdoor program operations and to share "best practices" among the various camps. In 1979, the BSA expanded their Camping Schools to add schools for Cub Scout Day Camp staff members; and in 1988, the BSA added special National Aquatics Schools for specialized instruction and leadership among those camps with large or expanded aquatics program. The BSA requires that key camp staffers hold National Camp School certification as part of the overall certification of each summer camp or national Outdoor/High Adventure base the BSA operates.

Mark Paul Amatrucola adds this additional information:

National Camping School is an institution under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America. Its purpose is to train the Scouters who will serve in the leadership roles in Summer Camps around the nation. All Senior Camp Staff Members must attend NCS in order to gain their certification in their field and enable their camp to gain its accreditation. The Camp Director, Program Director, Program Commissioner, Aquatics Director, COPE Director, Shooting Sports Director, and a couple others are all mandatory positions and require the NCS training in that Section. Other sections include: Scoutcraft, Conservation/Ecology, Voyageur, Chaplain,Ranger, Family Camping, and possibly some others.

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National Camp School emblem. This is worn by graduates centered on the right pocket of any field uniform. There is also a large jacket emblem which may be purchased and worn centered on the back of any BSA jac-shirt or lighter-weight jacket.

NCS is run through each of the BSA's Region and about 5 (sessions) are run per region per year.

The basic idea is that the home council of each camp sends its staff members to one of these schools and they are put in a section with others being trained for the same position. They are trained by a staff of Scouters who already hold the certification and have been invited back to be an instructor at National Camping School. These people usually serve or have served on a Camp Staff for this position as well. At the end of the week, provided that they have completed all the requirements satisfactorily,they will graduate and receive their certification."

Certification is good for five years after initial training and graduates are encouraged to return and receive additional training to better qualify individuals and to provide continuing education. Additionally, online continuing education training is also available.

National Camp School Staff emblem. This is worn by staff members coaching or serving as staff members of National Camp School sessions. It is worn centered on the right pocket of any field uniform.

The BSA's official National Camp School resources site has many resources for camp directors and other camp school graduates; as well as a link to the BSA's official ScoutStuff/Supply Group website for the purchase of various Camp School items.

Other items, including a staff neckerchief, neckerchief slide, hat, bolo tie, and belt buckle, are available for National Camp School graduates and staff members.

Because the National Camp School has been around for a while, there are several version/variations of the Camp School emblem. As I find them, I will post images of each below. The most important element however, is that all graduates and staff members of the BSA's National Camp School (to include the Cub Scout Day Camp School and the BSA Aquatics School) wear the emblem as a *temporary emblem* centered on the right pocket of any version of the field uniform. Women wearing the earlier Cub Scout or Boy Scout tunics would wear the Camp School emblem above the "Boy Scouts of America" or "Cub Scouts - BSA" strip as if they were wearing any other temporary insignia piece.

National Camping School Emblem Meaning
Jay wrote and asked on LinkedIn(tm): "When I attended a National Camping School session many moons ago, an explanation of the NCS emblem's meaning/symbolism was presented. I would like to refresh my memory on this, can someone share information on this topic?"

Mark Stinnett found the answer:

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• The elk antlers refer to the great outdoors and the conservation of wildlife.
• The 13 points on the antlers indicate the 12 points of the Scout Law and the duty to God.
• The red outer circle represents the aquatic program, which holds the number one interest for boys in the camp program.
• The teepee stands for the tent camper, the shelter a real camper sets up for himself. The three teepee poles represent the three fingers of the Scout sign.
• The green inner circle stands for the green of all growing things in the out-of-doors.
• Though you can't see him through the teepee door, there is a boy in the teepee looking for the great adventure of real camping in the Boy Scouts of America. Our job is to fulfill and even surpass his high expectations.

Thanks to Curt Warner and Jennifer Bevis at the national office for locating this for me to respond.

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