Cowboy wrote:......Sad to say, few of our boys are allowed to count any of the Summer Camp stay toward this MB. Most of the sites at our camp have permenant "bunks". Not much more than a steel roof, wood floor, and screen walls, but NOT a tent. Makes me wonder how many Scouts get this MB without actually meeting the 20 day/night requirement.......
As an MBC for the Camping Merit Badge, if I was presented a Scout that had your camp listed and he was asking to have his summer camp week there counted, I would count it.
While it is part of the program that Troops should be out every month camping, not all units are so inclined. Not all units are lucky enough, equiped etc.....to go camping every month or much at all.
My personal view of camps that provide these "Hooches" for summer is that they had money to do so and felt these were a better option for their camp over traditional BSA wall tents. I would not hold this business choice againt a Scout and I would count his week.
These Hooches are not his normal sleeping quarters and as long as he is sleeping in tents or under the stars for the rest fo the 20 nights, a Hooch seems an appropriate substitute.
Just my two cents on the issue. It's not set in stone. If anyone can produce a BSA policy letter that clarifies the status of these Hooches, I will gladly accept that as the "law of the land."