Camp Bugler

Boy Scouts is where I got my start with bugling. While serving as the bugler for my troop in Elmira, NY, I also had another opportunity.  Our council had a summer camp on Seneca Lake in the finger lakes aptly entitled Camp Seneca.  Every week throughout the summer they would cycle troops from the council through the camp where they would work on merit badges.  During the two summers between 7th and 8th grade and 8th and 9th grade, I served on staff as the camp bugler for the entire summer each year.

It was a busy day for me all day every day.  It was Reveille at 0600, accountability formation at the flagpole at 0700 with To the Color, Mess Call shortly after that, then Assembly every hour on the hour at 0900, 1000 and 1100 for the scouts to rotate to their next merit badge class.  Then it was Mess Call for lunch at 1200 followed by Assembly every hour on the hour at 1400, 1500 and 1600.  At 1700 there was another formation at the flagpole with Retreat and To the Color followed by Mess Call for dinner. At 2200 Hours it was Taps.  It was the same thing every day of every week for June, July and August.  My parents would come up and pick me up on Saturday morning, I'd go home for the weekend, my Mom would wash my clothes and I would be back up to camp by Sunday evening.  It definitely kept me busy.

In addition to a lot of bugling, I think I also learned to always be on time for every bugle call.  The entire camp depended on my bugle calls.  I think I learned a lot about timeliness.

Taps For Veterans Bugler Rick Barnes

Camp times and calls must be adjusted to the camp schedule. The Senior Patrol Leader or Scoutmaster should inform the Camp Director that they have a Troop Bugler and want to have their Bugler sound the appropriate calls in the Troop camp site. Because few Troops or Scout Camps have a Bugler, it is not unusual for a Troop Bugler to be asked to also serve as or with the Staff Camp Bugler.

TIME BUGLE CALL

6:30 Reveille

7:15 First Call

7:20 Assembly

7:30 To the Color (if colors are not raised at Reveille)

7:50 Mess Call

8:30 Drill

10:00 Recall

12:00 Fatigue Call

12:15 Mess Call

13:00 Assembly

13:15 Swimming Call

17:00 Officers Call (Patrol Leaders Council meeting)

17:30 First Call

17:35 Assembly

17:40 Retreat

17:45 To the Color (if colors are present)

18:00 Mess Call

19:40 Recall

20:35 First Call

20:40 Assembly

21:00 Fire (beginning of Campfire)

22:30 Tattoo (or end of Campfire)

22:45 Call to Quarters

23:00 Taps