Virginia Headwaters Council, BSA - CampCast

CampCast S3 E 3 - Living the Scouting Spirit - Baden-Powell's Vision and Gratitude

Welcome back - a message about Scouting from our founder. Thanks for hanging with the podcast as we stumble to get this running smoothly. Take time to nominate a scouter in the Virginia Headwaters Council for the Silver Beaver Award [https://www.virginiaheadwaters.org/resources/adult-recognition/]. Nominations are due November 30th and can be sent to: silverbeaver@virginiaheadwaters.org [silverbeaver@virginiaheadwaters.org]

CampCast S3 Epi2 - What do kids get from summer camp?

I very short dive into the literature about what youth get from attending summer camp. 📚 Research & Studies on Camp Benefits 1. Wilson & Sibthorp (2018) – Youth learning outcomes at summer camps [https://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/181301FA05] Youths develop independence, perseverance, responsibility, confidence, emotion regulation, teamwork, and more 2. American Camp Association National Camp Impact Study (2023 [https://www.acacamps.org/resources/national-camp-impact-stud]) High-quality camp experiences promote youth independence, social awareness, belonging, and deeper connections 3. American Camp Association Press Release (2023) [https://www.acacamps.org/news/press-release/breakthrough-study-outlines-benefits-camp-experience] Highlights lasting mental health benefits, resilience, and confidence among youth after camp 4. ACA “Directions” Research (2001–2004) [https://www.acacamps.org/resources/directions-youth-development-outcomes-camp-experience] Found sustained increases in self-esteem, independence, leadership, friendship skills, social comfort, spiritual growth, and more across 80 camps 5. Shafer (2016) – Harvard Graduate School of Education [https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/16/07/lessons-camp] A 2005 study of 80 camps showed significant growth in social-emotional skills—self-awareness, relationship skills, social comfort, decision-making 6. SeriousFun & Yale Child Study Center Report (2012) [https://www.acacamps.org/article/parents/life-lessons-learned-camp] Children with serious illness who attend SeriousFun camps show improved confidence, self-esteem, independence, reduced stress, and stronger social skills 7. ACA Article (2022) – Holistic benefits [https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/how-make-world-better-place-taking-advantage-opportunities-summer-camp] Explores self-confidence, self-reliance, leadership, friendship skills, and environmental awareness gains through camp experiences 8. CAMExperst Overview (2016) [https://www.campexperts.com/blog/the-psychological-benefits-of-overnight-summer-camp] General summary: overnight camp fosters physical, emotional, intellectual, moral, and social growth 9. ACA “Summer Residential Camps” (2009) [https://www.acacamps.org/article/camping-magazine/summer-residential-camps-promoting-social-interaction-self-efficacy-among-young-adults-special] Residential camps foster positive identity, social skills, values/spiritual growth, and physical/thinking skills 10. Templeton Foundation (April 2025) [https://www.templeton.org/news/the-value-and-virtues-of-summer-camp)] Emphasizes development of moral virtues, perseverance, compassion, gratitude, and civic collaboration at camp

CampCast S3 Epi1 - Welcome Back

Welcome Back to Camp Cast! Season 3 is live, and while this was temporarily published via a different platform are back on Spotify and Apple Podcasts under our old banner.

CampCast S2 Epi9 - Join Scouting Nights

In this episode, we sit down with Audrey Storm to talk about the importance of youth and adults membership. This is a delayed release due to multiple technical issues, but still full of useful information even if you have already hosted a Join Scouting Night or have your program year underway. BSA Resources [https://www.scouting.org/recruitment/]

CampCast S2Epi8 - Woodbadge

"Back to Gillwell, happy land ..." Time to sit down with a cup of Gillwell Joe [https://roastedprovisions.com/products/gilwell-joe?variant=44378986283287] and learn about this year's WoodBadge Course. Adam sits down with this year's course director, Tracey Stakem, to give you the inside scoop on WoodBadge. It's not too late to sign up [https://www.vahcbsa.org/woodbadge]; we promise you a Mountain Top experience.