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Q. Dear Ray,
We have a Scout that is three nights short in meeting the two year, 15-night camping requirements. He is a volunteer fireman – is there anyway volunteer time can make up for the camping shortfall for eligibility to the OA?
Thank you.
Mike
A. Dear Mike,
Thank you for your question regarding the camping requirements necessary for OA membership. The Guide to Elections states the following regarding the camping requirement:
"The youth must have experienced 15 nights of Boy Scout camping while registered with a troop or team within the two years immediately prior to the election. The 15 nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. Only five nights of the long-term camp may be credited toward the 15-night camping requirement. The balance of the camping (10 nights) must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps of, at most, three nights each."
To reiterate, the camping requirements can only be met with actual camping experiences.
Ray