The GVA Spring Challenge Camp takes place annually at Camp Barnard, and is widely recognised as one of the major Scouting events of the year. Where as Fall Skills Camp focuses on learning and practice a wide variety of Scouting skills, Spring Challenge Camp is a time for Scouts Troops to demonstrate their skills in a series of challenges over a three day period.

Volunteers Needed! (See bottom of page)

 

Theme

This year our theme is Medieval Times, encompassing medieval history from all over the world. Several challenges will be available for Scout Troops to participate in, such as the Catapult Challenge, the Campsite Gate Challenge, the Cooking Challenge, and more.

Awards and prizes will be handed out during the camp closing, to not only recognise expertise and success, but also camaraderie, teamwork and selflessness. 

 

Arriving at camp

Campers will arrive on Friday around 1830 hrs, and will hike into camp. All Scouts must hike in their personal gear. Campsites for Scout Troops are available at Yukon and McKenzie, with Venturer and Rover volunteers camping at Columbia. 

Due to limited parking, only two vehicles per Troop will be allocated parking in Fraser Field. 

At 2000 hrs on Friday, an information meeting for scouters will take place in Skeena shelter. 

 

Please Bring:

To contribute to the pantry for the cooking challenge, all Troops are requested to bring non perishable food items such as canned beans, canned vegetables, or others. All remaining non perishable food items will be donated to charity following the conclusion of the camp. 

You will need:

• 1st Aid kit

• 5-6 staves

• Non perishable food item for the cooking challenge

• Twine and rope

• Something to hold projectiles on catapult (like a colander)

On Saturday night a magic campfire will take place in the opening circle next to Skeena. Here Scouts Troops may be called upon to conduct a song, skit or cheer.

For questions regarding GVA Spring Challenge Camp 2023, please contact the Camp Chief Paul Nicholson (paulh2006@icloud.com) or the Deputy Camp Chief James Petersen (petersenjames248@gmail.com).

Stay safe and be prepared!

 

Station Overview: 

Stations will be run by Venturer and Rover volunteers, promoting friendly competition and performance. Seven stations will take place on Saturday, encompassing several essential Scouting skills. Stations will be located throughout the back of Camp Barnard. Scouts will be scored based on their performance and team spirit at the station (see scoring explanation below). Scouts will use tickets they earn based on their score at each station to buy ingredients for the cooking challenge (details below). On the final morning of camp the Scouts will compete in the catapult building challenge (more details below). Scouters cannot help Scouts at stations.

 

Stations

Station 1: Temporary Shelter (insert medieval name) Building Station (1st Cedar Hill Rovers)

Station 2: Knot Tying Activity   

Station 3: Fire Building (1st Cedar Hill Ventures)

Station 4: Plant Identification: Mount Bluff Hike

Station 5: First Aid 

Station 6: Archery (14th Juan de Fuca)

Station 7: Medieval World Trivia/Tree Planting

 

Spring Challenge Station Scoring

Each scout group will be marked on their performance at the station, the total time elapsed during the station, and their scouting spirit. Additionally, bribing the station leaders could earn the group more points. 

 

Performance

Performance refers to a scout group’s ability to complete a station, to the standard outlined by the station leaders. A scout group’s performance at a station shall be marked out of 15, with a 1 for minimal performance, and a 15 for maximum. If a group fails to complete the station, they shall receive a 0. 

 

Scouting Spirit

Scouting Spirit refers to a scout group’s ability to work together as a team, while maintaining good morale and enthusiasm. A scout group’s scouting spirit at a station, shall be marked out of 10, with a 1 for minimal teamwork and enthusiasm, and a 10 for maximum. If a group fails to complete the station due to lack of teamwork, they shall receive a 0. 

 

Time

Time refers to the total time taken for a scout group to complete a station. 

A scout group’s time at a station, shall be recorded when they officially begin the station, and when they officially conclude. If a Scout group exceeds any time limitations, they shall be marked Overtime. Station leaders need only record time started and time ended. Scouring for time shall be conducted by the camp officiants. 

 

Bribes

Bribes refer to foods or other small gifts given to the station leaders by the scout group. They are not required to complete a station, but if considered, may result in extra points. A scout group’s bribes, shall be marked out of 5. If a scout group does not offer bribes, they shall receive a 0. 

Note: Time scoring shall be calculated by total time elapsed from all groups at stations. For example, if there are 10 groups, then the group that finishes a station the quickest, shall receive 10 points, and the group that finishes the station the slowest shall receive 1 point. Any groups marked Overtime, shall receive 0 points.  

 

Cooking challenge: 

Scouts will use the tickets that they have collected from stations during the day, which they will use to buy food from the store. Ventures will then go around and will test the food and will score Scouts groups. 

The scouts will also have their campsite gate judged at this time 

 

Catapult: 

Scouts will build a catapult with materials that they have brought with them to camp (staves, twine, etc). They will be scored based on how far the catapult can fire and the build quality. 

 

Schedule

Friday May 5, 2023: 

1830 - Intake

2100 - Admin meeting led by Camp Chief

 

Saturday May 6, 2023: 

0700 - Wake up call

0900 - Opening horseshoe 

1000 - Stations begin 

1200 - Lunch break 

1300 - Stations resume after lunch break 

1600 - Stations end and free time begins  

1700 - Cooking challenge starts 

1800 - Cooking challenge ends and dinner time/free time begins  

2100 - Camp Fire 

2300 - Quiet time begins

 

Sunday May 7, 2023 

0700 - Wake up call 

0900 - Catapult challenge instructions

0930 - Catapult challenge begins 

1130 - Closing horseshoe and prize winners ETC:

1230 - Exhaust 

 

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Volunteers needed:

The Spring Challenge Camp Chief is asking for volunteers to run stations for the 2023 Spring Challenge Camp. The initial plan is for seven stations, but if we have more volunteers, then additional stations will be considered. 

Venturer Companies or Rover Crews that would like to run a station are advised to contact the Camp Chief, Paul Nicholson, before Friday, April 21st. 

If your group volunteers to run a station, you will be responsible for formulating how that station will run, marking scout participants at your station, and organising your team to run the station. Please note that the theme for the 2023 Spring Challenge Camp is Medieval Times.