Question: What is the difference between a "Jr. Volunteer" and a "Redshirt?"
National BSA standards for Day Camps changed this year and forced us to make a few changes with our youth volunteers. "Junior Volunteers" are those youth who have graduated from 5th grade and who would like to help us deliver an outstanding Day Camp experience to our Cub Scouts. A Junior Volunteer age 10-11 must stay with his or her parent or guardian and assist with the den or with the station activities if his/her parent/guardian is Station Staff. Junior Volunteers age 12-13 will be assigned to work at one of the stations assisting the Station Staff in delivering the program to the boys. Redshirts are registered Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Venture Scouts or Varsity Scouts. These youth volunteers will be assigned by the Camp Director to jobs throughout camp including, but not limited to, setting up and shutting down stations, distributing water jugs and popsicles, working on the range, teaching Scout skills, etc.
Question: I want a clarification to make sure I’m reading the paperwork right. The junior staff can also be girls, right? They don't have to be boy scouts?
Answer: Right! They could also be older boys who are not registered scouts. If they are under 14, they will be "Jr. Volunteers," not "Redshirts" (which implies a different level of responsibility and independence, and gets a real "red" shirt to mark them as junior staff).
Question: Also, if her parent is going around with a pack, can a female junior volunteer work in the Lil' Scout Buddy area? It says on the form "with parental permission." Where does a parent give that permission?
Answer: In the past, we've just called the girl's parent and asked. If the parent is station staff, it's often preferable for the young lady to help mom or dad. However, tagging along with a den of boys as a "den chief" is not fun or a good use of a young girl's talents. If your daughter would like to work wtih our LSBs, please write a note on her registration form to that effect.
Question: Also, junior volunteers do not have to pay for camp, except their shirts, correct?
Answer: Right! They may choose to PURCHASE a hat as well, if they wish. Junior Volunteers will be working, not playing - they don't get to make the crafts or play the games with the scouts unless specifically asked by an adult volunteer.
Junior Volunteers and Redshirts are vital to our delivery of a quality program for our Scouts. Please encourage your older youth to join us in camp. We know they will have a great time!