This frigid winter is the perfect time to go ice skating, but at Camp Yawgoog, summertime is also great. This past summer, the Narragansett Council camp welcomed Scouts to an off-site program that allowed them to get on the ice.
The council partnered with the University of Rhode Island, a 25-minute drive from the camp, and for the first time, offered ice skating during summer camp.
“It’s a little too warm to have ice on the pond,” says Jonathan DiLuglio, Camp Yawgoog director.
So each Friday, Scouts were bused to the Boss Ice Arena on the university campus where they worked on the Skating merit badge. Scouts in the class got nearly three hours per week on the ice under the tutelage of an instructor from the university.
“One of the coolest things they get to do is skate backwards and learn how to stop,” DiLuglio says. “They loved it. They thought it was so cool to do something new that you don’t often do at summer camp.”
Skating in summer
The ice skating program was Camp Yawgoog’s first off-site program since 2016. Many council camps provide off-site programs, like going to a nearby airport to work on the Aviation merit badge or to a local fire department to study Fire Safety.
The connection between Camp Yawgoog and the University of Rhode Island stemmed from the camp’s annual Holiday Fun Day event. Since the university had an ice rink, the camp asked the university for ice shavings to help provide real snow to make its holiday event more festive.
The University of Rhode Island offers public skating events as well as a “learn to skate” program. Working with the university, the camp organized a day at the rink last April to serve as a test run for summer camp.
Skating was added to the camp’s lineup of about 45 merit badges.
More than 270 Scouts enjoyed the ice skating program over the eight weeks of camp. The program time corresponded with a free period, so more Scouts could attend and even adults could watch too.
“We allowed adult leaders to tag along, take pictures and cheer the Scouts on,” DiLuglio says. “I think that really enhanced the experience.”
When you skate
The camp will provide ice skating again this summer. Camp Yawgoog accommodates up to 900 Scouts each week, providing inclusive facilities for linked units. Scouts have the opportunity at camp to drive an all-terrain vehicle, conquer a high-ropes course, and learn many songs and cheers during the family-style meals, which include a Scout favorite: chicken patties.
If you’re interested in taking your Scouts ice skating, make sure to review winter sports rules, which call for adult supervision and proper equipment. As detailed in the Skating merit badge, you should review possible first-aid issues that could arise from the activity.
Read the Guide to Safe Scouting, which details safety tips, including watching where you skate, skating within one’s ability and skating on a well-maintained surface.
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