I once asked a Scoutmaster why his troop wasn’t signed up for camp. His answer was, “I asked the Scouts if they wanted to go to summer camp and they said they weren’t interested.” Wrong question!
That’s like asking a football team if they want to have a training camp or asking your school’s marching band if they want to have a band camp this summer. It’s not optional, it’s a fundamental part of building a successful team or band.
The question the Scoutmaster asked should have been, “WHICH summer camp do you want to go to this year?” An authentic Boy Scout troop ALWAYS goes to summer camp! 
A real Cub Scout pack always goes to day camp and family camp. The question for a Cub Scout pack is, “WHICH day camp and family camp do we want to promote to our families and which location do we want to try (Camp Champlin, Camp Aquapaug, or Camp Norse)?”
If your son is unable to go the week that your pack or troop is going to summer camp, no problem! Cub Scouts can attend individually, as a den or as a pack at day camp and family camp. There are several outstanding options for Boy Scouts and Venturers to attend camp individually at Camp Yawgoog and at Camp Cachalot. For Scouts and Venturers 15 years old or older, serving on camp staff at one of our camps is an awesome option.
Boys join Scouting for adventure and camping. Summer camp is a fundamental part of the Scouting experience. One week of summer camp is more Scouting than a year’s worth of pack or troop meetings.
Learn about all the options for your pack or troop to deliver the “real thing” this summer by attending our council’s Camping Kickoff on Thursday, January 5th, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. in Seekonk. Learn more and register here: Camping Kickoff.
Be real! Go to camp! Be sure your pack or troop is represented at the Camping Kickoff on January 5th! That will make your pack or troop wicked awesome!