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Rangers, Is It More Than Camping?
By Mike Laliberty
The answer to the above question is a big, "YES!" Royal Rangers is much more than camping. Historically, camping has been a big part of Royal Rangers. It remains an important part of Rangers today because boys love the out-of-doors and the sense of adventure it brings.
However, on occasion, we have heard the critique that "Rangers will not work in our church." "Our potential leaders don't camp." "We just don't have a budget for camping, so it is best not to even try Rangers." These conditions are not show-stoppers for Royal Rangers in any church. Rangers is not "just camping." This is especially true with today's updated Royal Rangers program. In fact, it is possible for a church to have a successful Rangers program without overnight camping at all. Let's take a look at the flexibility of today's program.
Ranger Kids - Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grades
This program was specifically designed as non-camping. In fact the recommendation from the national office is to limit activities away from the church to day camping, picnics, and field trips.
Discovery Rangers - 3rd through 5th Grades
Although this program allows for the introduction of overnight camping to Discovery-aged boys, there is NO requirement to do so. Not a single requirement contained in the 20 red and 30 blue merits designed for this age group needs to be completed in an overnight camping environment. If your church is new to Royal Rangers, lacks camping equipment, or prefers to be a non-camping church, then the Discovery boys in your Royal Rangers outpost can still earn all of their advancement awards including the Gold Falcon, Hawk, and Eagle. "But what about all of those Trail of the Grizzly merits," you ask? Isn't there a requirement to complete the "grizzly paw" red merits on campouts? NO!!
The red "grizzly paw" merits certainly fall into the category of traditional campcraft skill merits but they are also life-skill merits that all boys need to learn. The requirements for these merits may be completed on day camps, field trips, or in the back lot of the church. The flexibility of the merit requirements allows for many options at the local church whether it is non-camping, a staged introduction to camping, or a full-blown camping program. The key is that the boys are able to successfully complete their advancement work no matter what option the church chooses to implement.
Adventure Rangers - 6th through 8th Grades
Can a start-up Ranger program or non-camping church successfully operate the Adventure Rangers age group? The answer is definitely "YES." Once again the flexibility provided in the new merit-driven advancement system allows the Adventure Rangers to complete all of their advancement awards, except the Gold Medal of Achievement, without an overnight requirement. Of the 21 gold merits and 51 green merits provided with the Adventure program, only the Camping merit (gold) and the Backpacking merit (green) require overnight activity. Of these two merits, only the Camping merit is required for the Gold Medal of Achievement. Even with the Camping merit, there is a degree of flexibility concerning the overnight requirements. These requirements can be satisfied not only with overnight out-of-doors camping but also with overnight trips in a foreign or home mission's environment. For example, home missions' trips with overnighters in a church fellowship hall or tent camping on church grounds meet the merit requirements. These options allow churches to operate their Royal Rangers' program with a great deal of flexibility so that even a boy from a non-camping church can earn the Gold Medal of Achievement.
Expedition Rangers - 9th through 12th Grades
Can a start-up Ranger program or non-camping church successfully operate the Expedition Rangers age group? Once again, the answer is definitely "YES." Only 6 out of the 77 generally available silver merits require overnight activities. This provides Expedition Rangers numerous opportunities to successfully earn merits during their entire Expedition Rangers experience. There are also numerous specialty merits in the Air, Sea, and Trail Ranger programs that do not require overnight activities. The Achievement (Air and Sea Ranger options), Activity, and Service medals can all be earned without overnight out-of-doors camping.
So.Royal Rangers, it's more than camping!!
I believe the following statement can be made:
"Royal Rangers: Something for every boy, something for every church."
Today's new Royal Rangers ministry, like never before, provides every church many ways to "Reach, Teach, and Keep Boys for Christ." |
