By: Gabriel Martinez
Many sections uphold the tradition of hosting Conclaves at universities rather than at Scout camps. Section leaders have discovered that holding events at colleges assists with facilities management as well as attendance.
Kiondaga Lodge hosted C-6A Section Conclave this May at Vincennes University, located in Vincennes, Indiana. Kiondaga Lodge Chief Ben Young said, “We needed more space indoors to host a variety of activities.” Ben noted that the section’s council of chiefs recognized the need since certain program elements were difficult to accommodate at traditional Scout camps.
Ben explained that universities can accommodate larger populations easier than camp and can set up ideal training areas. Another factor that led the section to transition to campuses is that many Arrowmen have aspirations of attending college. Therefore, Conclaves held at universities are excellent opportunities to expose Scouts to a higher education setting.
Additionally, the university seemed to breed a "better attitude," according to Ben. He noted that the centralized learning centers, as well as dining halls and dorms, provided for a better and easier way to navigate Conclave. Vincennes University also boasted indoor pools, rock walls, a state of the art theater stage for shows, and a bowling alley.
The transition wasn’t without hiccups. Some noticeable concerns mentioned where that prices for the weekend increased slightly to cover overhead costs associated with the university, as well as having to work with the university’s third party scheduling service. Organizers said the extra steps were well worth the astounding increase in available activities.
The results from this Conclave showed that participants enjoyed the accommodations provided by the university and did not mind the overhead costs. This also led to higher participant happiness on evaluations and a better, more innovative Conclave experience.