THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 28, 1996 TAG: 9606270153
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 56 lines
It takes a lot of forethought and organization to entertain 223 kids for a week.
But, that's exactly what the Tidewater Council of Boy Scouts of America PAVAB District did recently.
With the help of about 20 parent volunteers, the group hosted its annual weeklong camp for Cub Scouts at Princess Anne Park.
This year's theme was ``Under the Big Top.'' Activities were geared toward the goals of Scouting. Crafts, sports, games and nature lessons were intended to help the Scouts earn badges.
``I like coming out here,'' said 7-year-old Alex McDougall, while checking over the arrow points and paw prints he had earned.
Joseph Becker, also 7, added: ``My favorite thing was the boomerang. I learned how to tie two knots already. The overhand knot and square knot.''
May Crace, mother of six, grandmother of six, Scout master and camp program director, said: ``We're not open for a general drop-off baby-sitting service. There are also national standards we must meet.''
Standards include an on-site nurse for health care, one CPR trained volunteer for every 40 boys and Scout-oriented activities, to name a few.
On a recent weekday, Crace's camp was inspected by Joseph Gilmore, a member of the Boy Scouts of America, the national organization. ``Out of the 60 requirements, 47 of which are mandatory, the camp passed every single one,'' said Gilmore, after his inspection.
Scouts are invited to participate in three camps - Webelo, Wolf and Bear - from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. under the park's two main shelters nestled among the park's huge pine trees.
Each activity area is manned by a ``station leader'' and each group has several parent chaperones. And, naturally, there is a station manned by a volunteer called the ``lion's den.'' The den is a temporary time-out area for kids who had ``cooperation'' problems.
``Scouting fulfills a real need,'' said Crace. ``A child needs someone to give them a positive step in life.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MORT FRYMAN
ABOVE: Cub Scout Master Robert Jonnet gives Christopher Kitchen a
few tips on casting.
LEFT: Michael Conroy, 7, leads his troop into Princess Anne Park for
the two-week camp.
ABOVE: Den leader Bob Lawson, also known as Big Foot for the
purposes of camp spirit, signals for volunteers to pay attention.
RIGHT: Matthew Vaughn gets help with a chin-up during exercises at
the two-week Cub Scout camp at Princess Anne Park. by CNB