Scouting America created the short-term NCAP program to ensure all council- organized overnight camping activities, not just long-term camps, meet national standards for quality and safety. The program helps councils improve their short- term camps by providing comprehensive guidelines and a framework for administrators to manage programs and facilities, while also ensuring the well- being of youth members. This helps elevate the camper experience, ensures continuous improvement, and maintains a high level of safety across all Scouting camping programs.
Ensures consistent safety: The program provides clear, applicable short-term standards to help ensure that health, safety, and sanitation provisions are met for all council-organized overnight events.
Promotes continuous improvement: NCAP encourages councils to regularly review and assess their camps, leading to improvements in both the quality of programs and the condition of facilities.
Standardizes all council-run camps: The short-term camp standards were extended to a broader range of activities, ensuring that any council-organized overnight camping event, regardless of length, adheres to the same high standards for quality and safety.
Provides training and resources: The program includes training for short-term camp administrators to equip them with the skills needed to manage these camps effectively, covering areas like risk management, program planning, and facility Oversight.
What is a Short-Term Camp?
A short-term camp is any council-organized overnight camping program, whether one-time or continuing, that is one, two or three nights in length where the council or its agents (districts) provide the staffing and may provide program and food services, and includes camps conducted off council properties. National training courses are subject to the short-term camp requirements, regardless of format or duration.
Dennis Camp, a trained Short-Term NCAP Administrator, has agreed to work with Chris Axford, our Council NCAP lead, to establish the program within the Virginia Headwaters Council. If you have any questions on the Short-Term NCAP program please feel free to reach out to Dennis at 7bczoo@gmail.com or 757-478-7027.
