Who has the best and least political Encampment?? Give your justification.
Quote from: momma_bear on March 27, 2015, 01:01:43 PM
Who has the best and least political Encampment?? Give your justification.
Define your criteria for best and least political.
That is a pretty subjective question as what I find to be the best may not be what you consider the best and most definitely is not what an overly-protective parent would consider.
Quote from: momma_bear on March 27, 2015, 01:01:43 PM
Who has the best and least political Encampment?? Give your justification.
If you look through the Encampments and NCSAs section, you will find numerous discussions on just about every encampment nationwide. As to which one is best, likely the one that is closest to you.
Quote from: jeders on March 27, 2015, 01:37:51 PM
Quote from: momma_bear on March 27, 2015, 01:01:43 PM
Who has the best and least political Encampment?? Give your justification.
If you look through the Encampments and NCSAs section, you will find numerous discussions on just about every encampment nationwide. As to which one is best, likely the one that is closest to you.
^+1
Best Encampment is the one you can get yourself to.
I'm going to my 8th one in a few weeks. All 8 at the same place, with the "same" staff, and same facilities. 5 as a cadet, 3rd as a Senior. IIRC, there's only 2 "spring" and "type B" encampments left. We're one of them, and being on an active duty traning Navy base sure makes it a special treat.
New South Delaware Wing. Best, hands down...
They all have a political element. If you get 3 people in a room, there will be politicking. As for the best, I agree with the above comments. They're what you make of them. If you go with a lousy attitude, you'll have a lousy encampment.
On top of what everyone else said, we are now implementing the new regulations for all encampments which will ensure no hazing, equal opportunities and an overall better encampment than previous years. You will never know if you like it unless you try it.
Need to define "political". As in liberal vs. conservative, Democrat vs Republican, Wing X vs. Wing Y?
Y-wing by far! It's got an ion cannon!
Too bad they're junk against TIE fighters.
I've been to three encampments in three different wings, in three different decades. They were all different, both in form, and in my level of participation (1 cadet, 2 SM). As long as the event meets the requirements, and follows the rules, it's hard to define a "best". There is a tremendous variation in facilities and capabilities, so the kool things vary a lot.
As for politics, that's a really broad term. What's your definition?
Unless one has been to "every" encampment in a particular year, this is an impossible question.
..and then if so, the answer wouldn't matter anyway. Because next time is always not like last time.
In general, I always preferred the encampments that emphasized cadet basic training, as opposed to the ones that emphasized new and creative elective activities and tried to stretch those into fitting the traditional requirements. I know that concerns over hazing have led a lot of people to look for nontraditional ways to implement the curriculum, but I still think that attempting to emulate kosher basic training is the best way to go.
Quote from: TexasBEAST on March 28, 2015, 04:02:25 AM
In general, I always preferred the encampments that emphasized cadet basic training, as opposed to the ones that emphasized new and creative elective activities and tried to stretch those into fitting the traditional requirements. I know that concerns over hazing have led a lot of people to look for nontraditional ways to implement the curriculum, but I still think that attempting to emulate kosher basic training is the best way to go.
Encampment is not supposed to be "cadet basic training" in the sense that I think you are referring to it in. The purpose of encampment is to provide a well-rounded introduction of CAP to cadets so they have a solid foundation to be able to take skills and experience back to their home units. It also provides cadets with other skills that they can use for a life-time, some of which include team work, attention to detail, problem solving, etc. While there are definitely standards that cadets need to meet, this is not basic training. The new Required Staff Training materials have helped to make this even more clear than it was before by giving more guidance on training intensity levels.
Forget RST, the whole program has been revamped and makes it more than clear.
Quote from: argentip on March 30, 2015, 05:22:25 PM
Quote from: TexasBEAST on March 28, 2015, 04:02:25 AM
In general, I always preferred the encampments that emphasized cadet basic training, as opposed to the ones that emphasized new and creative elective activities and tried to stretch those into fitting the traditional requirements. I know that concerns over hazing have led a lot of people to look for nontraditional ways to implement the curriculum, but I still think that attempting to emulate kosher basic training is the best way to go.
Encampment is not supposed to be "cadet basic training" in the sense that I think you are referring to it in. The purpose of encampment is to provide a well-rounded introduction of CAP to cadets so they have a solid foundation to be able to take skills and experience back to their home units. It also provides cadets with other skills that they can use for a life-time, some of which include team work, attention to detail, problem solving, etc. While there are definitely standards that cadets need to meet, this is not basic training. The new Required Staff Training materials have helped to make this even more clear than it was before by giving more guidance on training intensity levels.
A well-rounded introduction is precisely what I mean by cadet basic training. Encampments should go out of their way to emphasize all the basics, in a meaningful relatable context, even if a lot of the longtime cadets (and the staff/cadre/whatever they're called these days) think that that stuff is old hat and obvious and boring.
I'm not talking about being mean and abusive. There has never been any call for that in any CAP activity.
But I am talking about a curriculum and schedule that specifically addresses all of the basic topics of cadet life, and in a regulatorily correct manner, whether people like it or find it fun or not. Encampments should drive home the basics, in a strict, precise fashion.
When I hear of encampments that try to bring in all sorts of other electives and then reinterpret them as satisfying the traditional requirements, I just cringe. When the focus is on "exciting and new", instead of tried and true, it sounds like the purpose and vision of encampment has been lost. Those new electives need to all be brought back around to the basic, classic topics of cadet life. They should not be offered simply because they're fun or because they diverge away from the familiar basics of cadet life.
Quote from: Salty on March 27, 2015, 09:43:26 PM
Too bad they're junk against TIE fighters.
Are you kidding? TIE fighters don't even have hyperdrives :P
Quote from: CadetSnuffy on April 02, 2015, 03:56:47 PM
Quote from: Salty on March 27, 2015, 09:43:26 PM
Too bad they're junk against TIE fighters.
Are you kidding? TIE fighters don't even have hyperdrives :P
Or deflector shields.
Don't need all those things when you're shooting from behind the target.
Quote from: Salty on April 03, 2015, 01:54:36 AM
Don't need all those things when you're shooting from behind the target.
Who was it that said, "The best defense is a good offense"?
Quote from: TexasBEAST on April 03, 2015, 06:19:01 AM
Quote from: Salty on April 03, 2015, 01:54:36 AM
Don't need all those things when you're shooting from behind the target.
Who was it that said, "The best defense is a good offense"?
Murphy, of Murphy's Laws of Combat fame. >:D
Back to the topic...
I think my favorite was the IllinoisWing Flying Encampment - Balloon 1985. Early mornings, late nights and lots of time during the day. Not as much book work as the powered or glider sections.Preflight report checking - weather, esp. winds aloft, corn and soybean prices and futures. How to recognize power lines from 500'. Map reading - road, not sectionals. Complete and total right of way in the air.
Quote from: TexasBEAST on April 03, 2015, 06:19:01 AMWho was it that said, "The best defense is a good offense"?
Mel, the cook on Alice ;)
Quote from: a2capt on April 05, 2015, 06:20:46 AM
Quote from: TexasBEAST on April 03, 2015, 06:19:01 AMWho was it that said, "The best defense is a good offense"?
Mel, the cook on Alice ;)
"I got me the fancy pajamas!"
Nin, now that you are on National Staff you need to get Mess Dress Pajamas
Quote from: THRAWN on March 27, 2015, 02:57:11 PM
New South Delaware Wing. Best, hands down...
They all have a political element. If you get 3 people in a room, there will be politicking. As for the best, I agree with the above comments. They're what you make of them. If you go with a lousy attitude, you'll have a lousy encampment.
Love it and agree with the 3 people in one room!
Quote from: LSThiker on March 27, 2015, 01:10:15 PM
Quote from: momma_bear on March 27, 2015, 01:01:43 PM
Who has the best and least political Encampment?? Give your justification.
Define your criteria for best and least political.
That is a pretty subjective question as what I find to be the best may not be what you consider the best and most definitely is not what an overly-protective parent would consider.
I agree it could be subjective. Best would mean favorable after action reports and exemplary safety report. Least political: little to no drama at the command level.
I had a terrible experience at a winter encampment that I attended as senior staff. I just don't want to go through that again.
It's not subjective at all. The best encampment and least political is the one you make the best and least political by volunteering to be staff or cadre.
QuoteI had a terrible experience at a winter encampment that I attended as senior staff. I just don't want to go through that again.
Just saw this - sorry about your experience. On a serious note, I appreciate everyone who helps out at encampments. I think the senior staff team probably varies from year to year and wing to wing. I'm commanding Virginia Wing's 2015 Encampment, I have amazing seniors on staff, an impressive cadre, and we all have meshed well on our training days so I'm confident we're going to have a great experience. But I'm aware that not everyone is so fortunate.