Life in Camp
There are as many as 1,200 campers plus 180 staff sharing Heritage Reservation with your unit during an average week of camp. It is essential that we all follow some basic guidelines, procedures and policies to make sure everyone has a great time while here. Our common Scouting bonds are the Scout Oath and Law.
Health Services
The primary function of Heritage Reservation Health Services is to render three types of medical care to campers and guests. Health Officers provide emergency care 24 hours a day, and coordinate with local EMS personnel if the situation warrants. They also evaluate and treat in-camp illness and injuries, referring patients to Uniontown Hospital as necessary. Third, camp First-Aiders are trained to treat minor injuries. The Reservation Health Officer also monitors the Reservation for health and safety concerns.
A Health Officer will visit each camp daily for the purpose of Sick Call. Sick Call is the best time for a non-urgent ill camper to be evaluated by a Health Officer. Sick Call occurs in your camp program hall at 9 a.m., Monday through Friday.
Annual Health and Medical Record
The National Council of the Boy Scouts of America introduced a new form to replace all other forms for BSA medical/physicals. This form will be mandatory for all events after January 1, 2010. For summer camp 2009 we recommend using this form, Annual Health and Medical Record (#34605), for all campers who need a new physical, competing sections A, B and C. Campers that have an unexpired Class III physical (3 years for under 40 and one year for 40+) can still use that physical for this summer if it is attached to the new Annual Health and Medical Record (#34605) with parts A and C completed. Those attending Camp Independence less than 72 hours, (3 days, 2 nights) should use the new form completing parts A and C.
Heritage Reservation Supplemental Medical Form
Each camper must also present a Heritage Reservation Supplemental Medical Screening Form at check-in. This form helps us meet several National Boy Scout standards, and comply with certain federal and state laws. This form also expedites the check-in process. A new supplemental form must be completed each summer, as close to the summer camp session as possible.
- PART I must be completed for all campers, listing his or her allergies, and any prescription medications to be taken at camp.
- PART II must be completed for campers under the age of 18 who are taking any prescription medications at camp. This part is to be signed by the Scout’s unit leader. With his or her signature, the unit leader takes responsibility for storing the medications securely, and administering the medications as prescribed.
- PART III must be completed for all campers under the age of 18. It allows the Scout’s parent or guardian to indicate those non-prescription medications that we may administer to their child if necessary.
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Patrol Cooking
The success of the patrol cooking method has stood the test of time and is well proven. Concern over the time it takes a patrol to cook has been addressed. The meal plan includes cooking for breakfast, limited cooking for lunch, and only cooking five dinners. This provides plenty of time to enjoy the camp programs and advancement opportunities.
Preparing meals in camp is as much a part of the program at Camp Liberty as swimming instruction. It is one of the best ways of implementing the patrol method. Encourage and direct your Scouts to follow the plan, taking turns at jobs, preparing the meals completely and cleaning up thoroughly after each meal.
Menus and Food Preparation
The menu for all meals to be served at camp has been thoroughly reviewed and field-tested. They are wholesome, plentiful and have boy appeal. The preparation instructions are written so that Scouts can easily follow them. Expert skill is not required to produce a satisfactory meal. By following the instructions as they are written, a fine meal will be enjoyed by all.
Camp menus will be posted in May on our website.
Recipes will be distributed to each patrol when the food is issued. Care must be taken to follow them exactly. This is critically important. Experimentation should not be allowed unless an adult leader is present. Your staff guides or commissioner will work with any of your patrols that require additional help. Spice jars are for sale in the Trading Post to enhance the flavor of your food.
Cooking Instructions
Scouts and Leaders need to bring their personal equipment to camp. It is recommended that Scouts and Leaders bring their own water bottle and eating utensils. These items will not be supplied by camp. Leaders should reproduce the enclosed personal equipment checklist and hand it out to all Scouts. Mark all personal equipment with your name and Troop number. Each year, there is a pile of items lost and unclaimed.
Dietary, Religious and Special Food Requests
The camp does its best to accommodate for dietary, religious or special foods, and can store any special foods brought to camp on a limited basis. Food service is contracted to provide all of Heritage Reservation’s food and menu needs. The menus are carefully prepared to meet as many needs as possible for all campers. Camp Menus will be posted in May on our website. Please review them and share and needs via the online Special Diet Request form.
Sunday Dinner and Saturday Breakfast
At Camp Liberty these meals will be served to the entire camp “buffet style” from the commissary building. This meal requires no preparation by the patrol.
Garbage and Trash Disposal
Garbage bags will be provided for transporting garbage to the dumpsters located in the parking lot. Garbage should be brought out of the Troop site after each dinner. Your staff guide will give you additional information about trash disposal, including paper and cans. Please burn all burnable trash, but not garbage.
Charcoal and Propane
A Troop may request to cook one meal on charcoal during the week. See your commissary director for a bag of charcoal. All 20-pound propane cylinders are filled each week and will provide more than enough fuel to cook all of your meals and heat dishwater during your week at camp. If a patrol, through wasteful use of propane, runs out of fuel, the Troop will be charged to refill the cylinder.
No other accessories, such as lanterns or additional stoves may be attached to the Heritage propane stoves. This practice is necessary to prevent propane leaks and in order to extend the lifetime of the fittings. If a patrol tampers with the fittings or regulator on their stove, it will be charged $20 for a new hose and fittings.
Set up stoves so that the windshields are facing into the prevailing breeze. Do not place the stove directly under the patrol tarp, this can damage the tarp and create a fire hazard. An adult leader must be present in the campsite and must supervise the lighting and use of propane stoves.
Food Pick Up
Food will be picked up at the commissary building by each patrol for each meal. For your evening meal, milk should only be picked up at 6:15 p.m. This will allow you to serve cold milk. For health reasons, remaining milk should never be put into a cooler, but rather discarded. The plastic containers used for food issue must be cleaned and returned to the commissary when picking up the next meal.
Dishwater Disposal
A sump box for dishwater disposal is available in each Troop site. All dishwater must be disposed of by using this box. Do not allow the Scouts to dispose of dishwater in any other manner. The funnel - strainer at the sump box must be cleaned daily. Your staff guide will instruct on proper use of this facility.
Dishwashing
Adult leaders are asked to give close attention to the thoroughness of patrol cleanup. Here are some procedures to maintain good health:
No washing of dishes in or near water stand and latrine.
Make sure wash water is hot and sanitizing water is hot.
Staple Issue
An initial supply of staple items such as salt, pepper, sugar, dish soap, oil, etc. will be made on Sunday afternoon when picking up each patrol’s pack baskets. These are to be kept throughout the week in the patrol cooking box. Reissuance of these items will be made on “as needed” basis. Unit leaders are asked to take the necessary precautions to insure the proper use (and not waste) of these items. Sanitation tablets will be issued daily.
Ice Coolers - Food Storage
The camp will attempt to provide one bag of ice per day to each patrol at lunch for cold drinks. Ice from this machine is not designed to keep unit coolers stocked. Additional ice may be purchased from the Trading Post. Heath regulations are very clear about the dangers of keeping milk, meats and other items in ice coolers. The proper temperature level cannot be maintained in coolers to store most foods safely. It is practical to only store drinks, but not milk.
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Campsite Amenities
- Campers stay in camp-provided canvas wall tents, with wooden floors to keep campers off the ground.
- Each unit will camp together, two boys to a tent and two adults to a tent.
- Campers are provided a cot to sleep on.
- Adults sleep in separate tents from Scouts.
- Male and female adults will sleep separately unless married.
- Each campsite has several picnic tables, dining flys, fire ring and garbage cans
- Each campsite has a water source with potable water (safe for drinking).
Showers and Latrines
- Several shower buildings are available in each camp. They are designated for youth male, youth female, adult male or adult female. Please respect the privacy of others.
- Each campsite has a latrine. Units are responsible to keep it clean.
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Camp-Wide Emergencies
- In the event of a camp-wide emergency, the camp siren may sound. At which time, all adults and Scouts are instructed to report to their campsites and do a roll call. A staff member will come to the camp site and account for everyone in each unit. Everyone is to remain in their campsites until the “all clear” signal, or other instruction is given.
- A camp-wide emergency situation will consist of any severe weather, wildfire, lost or missing campers, lost or missing swimmers and any possible severe medical emergency. Anyone who becomes aware of an emergency situation or danger should notify the nearest staff member who will contact the appropriate camp leadership.
- Any information in regards to a bomb threat, unauthorized visitor or dangerous animal should be reported to the Program Hall immediately.
Wristbands
All Scouts, leaders and guests must wear camp wristbands at all times. These bands are intended as a safety precaution to determine who should be in camp, where they should be and to signify that each participant wearing one has completed the proper camp check-in procedures. One is provided for every camp participant to the unit leader at check-in. Each additional wristband will cost one dollar. They are designed to last the week and this is our identification system so we know who belongs in camp. All guests will be given a wristband upon proper check-in at the Program Hall.
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Saturday Early Arrival
The Camping Committee will allow early check-in at Camp Liberty and Camp Freedom under the following guidelines:
- There are no camp services offered for early arrivals.
- We provide the camp staff 24 hours off between sessions. We hire weekend staff to take care of early arrival check-in as needed.
- All early arrivals must be preapproved by the Camping Director at least three weeks prior to your arrival to allow for proper staffing.
- You will not be able to arrive early if you miss the deadline.
Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders are the only members of a Troop that may arrive early. - Each unit must have two adult leaders to meet youth protection guidelines.
- A Troop traveling more than 200 miles will be allowed to check-in the entire unit.
- Arrival time is between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Please don’t arrive prior to this time!
- Upon arrival, go to the Program Hall. The weekend staff will meet you there.
- There will be no Health Service in camp until 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. You will be responsible for any medical needs.
- Use the courtesy phone at the Program Hall if emergency services are needed.
- The weekend staff will check you into your site and check all equipment at this time.
- You can re-arrange the tents in your site only. If you are sharing a site (the weekend staff will let you know) you may not under any circumstance take any gear from that part of the site. You also cannot take gear from another site. If something is missing that is needed prior to regular check-in on Sunday, let the weekend staff know.
- A Scout is Trustworthy and Courteous.
- All program areas are off limits! No swimming allowed. No program equipment or campsite equipment can be requested until 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
- Heritage vehicle access policy is enforced for all early arrivals.
- An equipment cart will be assigned to your unit by the weekend Ranger. Use this to haul your gear to your site on Saturday.
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