FAQ
FAQ
Q. What is the "Unit display activity showcase" or "Scouting Station"
A. Units (Pack/Troop/Ship/Crew) are asked to set up a Scouting booth for during the day on Saturday.
Each unit will select a Scouting skill or activity to show in their booth.
Email: scoutingthezoo@sewisscouting.org with your selection so we can verify that it is appropriate for the Zoo and not being done by another unit. First come priority.
Some past ones have included Dutch oven cooking, first aid skills, knot games, box ovens, animal tracks, wilderness survival, bird feeders, monkey bridge, etc.
Can make a food item, but cannot share out to people.
Dismantling of displays and exhibits shall not take place earlier than 4:45p on Saturday.
Zoo opens to the public at 9a. Please plan to actively display until the close of the zoo to the general public at 5:00p
We ask that scouts be available to help at the station from 9a to 11a and 1:30p to 3:30p, otherwise adults can help as needed, if not enough scouts in the group.
More information ... (shared document)
Q. What if I my unit wants to camp but is not able to do a booth?
A. With no booth, please select "Zone 6" as your #1 in the camping request form and 2 other preferences. Indicate in the comments that you are not ale to do a booth.
Q. Where can I find the most up to date information on the event
A. The Volunteered managed website - https://sites.google.com/sewisscouting.org/scoutingthe-zoo/home
AND The Council managed website - https://threeharborsscouting.doubleknot.com/scouting-the-zoo-2024/76166
Q. What does Registration mean
A. There are 2 kinds of registration: BSA-Registration and Event-Registration
BSA-Registration: Registered with a unit, district, council as a BSA participant. Only these can register for the event.
Event-Registration: Registered to attend the Scouting the Zoo Event. A ticket is provided for entry at the Zoo front gate.
Q. What is SAFE
A. Scouts and their parents expect all Boy Scouts of America activities to be conducted safely.
To ensure the safety of participants, the Boy Scouts of America expects leaders to use the four points of SAFE when delivering the Scouting program. https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safe/
Q. What does it mean to be registered as an adult leader in the Boy Scouts of America?
A. Being a registered adult leader indicates that you have been selected and approved to serve in your unit, or in a district or council position.
Unit level registration shows that your chartering organization has approved you to work with their youth in support of a specific unit.
Registering ensures that a criminal background check has been performed, and that a check against the volunteer screening database has taken place.
Q. Who can camp for the weekend?
A. Any BSA registered scout/leader may camp overnight with the unit they are BSA-registered with.
Follow all BSA rules for camping.
Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts are permitted to camp with a participating troop if the troop invites them, but no other Cub Scouts or siblings are allowed to camp overnight with a troop.
Other district and council leaders and lone merit badge counselors, who are not BSA-registered with a unit, must email scoutingthezoo@sewisscouting.org for overnight camping.
Each unit must have a Baloo trained leader.
NOTE: Effective Sept. 1, 2023, all adults staying overnight in connection with a Scouting activity must be registered as an adult volunteer or an adult program participant. Cub Scout parents or legal guardians taking part in an overnight Cub Scout program with their own child or legal ward are not required to register as leaders. This is called the Cub Scout overnight exception. An unregistered parent or legal guardian must be accompanied by a registered leader any time they are with youth members other than their own child or ward. Any other adult that wishes to camp at a BSA event — no matter the age of the youth at the event — must register as a member of the BSA.
With a weekend ticket participants can camp either 1 or 2 nights.
Q. Is an “Annual Health and Medical Record” form required?
A. Form A/B is required for anyone camping overnight.
Applies to ALL participants—in basic Scouting activities such as local tours and weekend camping trips less than 72 hours in duration.
Includes cub scouts and any parents or leaders staying with them overnight.
Includes Scouts, BSA and all leaders staying with them overnight.
Anyone staying at the event outside of Zoo opening hours should have a form A/B with them at all times.
Q. Can merit badge counselors camp with a unit
A. If the merit badge counselor is registered as an adult leader with the specific unit, then YES.
For anyone registered only as a counselor, the BSA registration as a merit badge counselor does not meet the overnight registration requirement
Q. I’m a Cub Scout leader, can my pack camp overnight?
A: Yes. If there is room, Packs can camp for 2 nights.
Due to the display activity showcase purpose of the event, we are allowing (but limiting locations for) Cub Scout packs to camp.
We will be offering camping to packs in the same method as Scouts BSA troops and Venturing crews if they agree to present a Scout skill activity with youth present for the entire program on Saturday.
If a display activity can’t be committed to, then a Pack will be placed in a low-traffic area or outside the main entrance along the parking lot.
Please submit a campsite request.
Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts are permitted to camp with a participating troop if the troop invites them, but no other Cub Scouts or siblings are allowed to camp overnight with a troop.
Q. Can cub scouts camp both nights or is it just Saturday night for Cubs?
A. Yes, per BSA rules. Health Form A/B required at check-in.
Q. Can siblings of Cub scouts attend camping? Sibling is not a registered cub scout yet
A. No, Cannot camp overnight, but can purchase a Sat Only Ticket and do the program activities.
Q. Where do families sleep? tents? building?
A. Scouts are expected to camp as a Pack Unit or SBSA Unit (Troop, Ship, Crew). Units will be assigned a camping area for tent camping only - no buildings.
Q. How do I register for Merit badges?
A. The sign up will be a "Sign-up Genius" sheet and shared here and at the top of page (button)
It is based on an individual and not a troop.
Units are asked to make sure they have enough scouts for the Unit Display/Activity and advising scouts on merit badge attendance.
Scouts are expected to respect the advise of the unit leaders.
Scouts may sign-up for only 1 merit badge. Scouts must have an event ticket to attend the Merit badge Clinics.
Q. Can I add people past the registration deadlines?
A. There are some circumstances where this will be ok. Depends on the availability.
E-mail scoutingthezoo@sewisscouting.org to request the additions before paying for them so that we can record accurate additions if allowed.
Q. Is there a campsite lottery?
A. No use the camping request to request a zone for camping. Please submit a campsite request.
Q. We’ve registered for the event, when will I get my tickets and wristbands?
A. We will provide a printed ticket for each event attendee based on event registration. Wristbands will be handed out at the Friday night leader’s meeting (camping units) or during check-in on Saturday (day units).
Q. Are we allowed campfires at our sites?
A. Yes, but they must be in an elevated fire pit. Additionally, a wooden board must be placed under the fire pit to avoid scorching of the grass. All fires must be attended at all times and water buckets must be available.
Q. If someone does not select a food package, is there a place to grill out, or is it just cold food?
A. Some specific camping areas will be available for cooking (Campfire Rules apply). However, depending on the weather, the zoo may say "NO fires".
Q. I wake my unit up early for clean-up on Sunday, why can’t I bring my trailer in before 6:45 a.m.?
A. Due to national standards we are required to schedule and honor eight hours of uninterrupted “quiet” time for our event. While your unit may be early risers, we ask that you respect the quiet time of your neighbors, and follow the requests that no vehicles enter the zoo before 6:45 a.m.
Q. Why can’t I leave my car or trailer near my site?
A. To protect the grass at the zoo we aren’t allowing cars or trailers to be parked in campsites and many of the paths/roads around the zoo are too narrow for activities and are needed for public walkways and zoo vehicles. Since every campsite can’t have a trailer, it is only right that none of our units have trailers as part of their areas. This is front country camping and units should plan on only using trailers for unloading and loading during appropriate times.
Q Would you know what areas we can have cooking at?
A. Each Zone may have a cooking space. This is not guaranteed. Depending on the weather, the Zoo may declare a "Black Day" for no fires.
Q What type of activities are Friday for Cub Scouts?
A. Friday evening will be an ice cream social and yard games. Other activities TBD based on volunteers.
Q. Where can I find more info?
A. There are resources available if more information is needed. You can follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/ScoutingTheZoo), visit our webpage (www.ThreeHarborsScouting.org/ScoutingTheZoo)
Q. I have questions that aren’t answered here, who do I talk to?
A. Please e-mail scoutingthezoo@sewisscouting.org with your questions. Several members of the leadership team monitor that e-mail and will respond to you and your question. Please allow for 24-36 hours for responses as we are volunteers as well. Of course, we will do our best to respond within a few hours, or sooner, as much as possible.