Background: Camp promotions are one of the primary purposes of the Order of the Arrow and its membership. Each chapter should plan and carry out a camp promotion visit to every unit within its district, requesting one via the members of the chapter. It is suggested that you conduct this training program following your summer camp experience and initiate your promotion in early fall throughout your district.

Meeting Resources: Use your normal meeting room. Train every member in your chapter to promote scout camping and supply them with the resources to get the job done. Having the appropriate electronic equipment to show your council and lodge camp promotion video is beneficial.

Meeting Content: Work closely with your lodge camp promotions chairperson and your council camping committee chairperson to develop a training syllabus. Discuss what message the council wants to get out to its troops. What do you like most about summer camp?

• Secure copies of your council or lodge camp promotions video for each member within your chapter
• Create subcommittees within your chapter to direct this project. Delegate members who can develop the format for presentation, set up troop visits, handle electronics, reproduce printed materials, and other tasks. Don’t forget to get the adults involved: They can drive!
• Be creative with your camp promotion presentation. Perhaps one of the Arrowmen can demonstrate a proper pack and its contents. Another can bring some personal pictures of camp. Maybe a third can tell a story about his camp experience. Make a “kid to kid” appeal—remember your audience! Have the chapter adults assist the scoutmasters with understanding the need to attend summer camp. Adults can also discuss finance strategy as parents begin to think about paying for summer camp.
• Present some form of recognition to each troop registered for your council’s summer camp before a certain date or to each troop with sixty percent of its scouts registered. Some recognition items can be baseball caps or Nalgene bottles with the camp logo. Outreach programs will inspire scouts to sign up.

With increased participation in the council camping program, your Lodge could set an excellent example for camping within your council. Will your chapter make a difference?