Camp+Babcock%2dHovey+is+a+merit+badge+factory%2c+and+I+don%27t+mean+that+as+a+good+thing%2e++They+practically+hand+out+the+badges%2e++For+example%2c+the+Nature+merit+badge+cannot+be+completed+in+camp+because+of+the+1+month+requirement%2c+yet+a+Scout+in+our+Troop+walked+away+from+B%2dH+with+a+signed+blue+card%21++There+are+other+similar+examples%2c+but+I+think+you+get+the+point%2e++B%2dH+needs+to+take+a+hard+look+at+the+quality+of+their+program%2e%0d%0a

As+a+scouter%2cwith+my+troop%3b+who+has+attended+Camp+Babcock%2dHovey+summer+camp+for+many+years%2cthere+are+years+when+we+have+our+problems+with+merit+badge+instruction%2eWhen+we+bring+problem+to+camp+directors+attention+is+has+been+resolved%2e+Our+troop+leaders+monitor+all+instruction+and+offer+a+helping+hand%2e+%0d%0a

Camp+Babcock+Hovey+is+offering+a+science+and+technology+camp+in+2007%2e++The+camp+named+%22SciTek+Quest%22+offers+three+different+tracks+of+instruction%3b+engineering%2c+aerospace+and+environmental+which+are+based+on+related+merit+badges%2e++The+program+instructors+are+teachers+and+industry+qualified+adults+who+are+interested+in+exposing+campers+to+the+technology+fields%2e++Using+hands%2don+projects+and+informative+field+trips+they+hope+to+set+in++motion+a+desire+for+youth+to+consider+these+fields+as+a+possible+career+choice%2e++The+program+is+open+to+boys+and+girls+14+to+18+years+old%2e%0d%0a

On+June+15%2c+2009%2c+the+voting+members+of+Finger+Lakes+Council+and+Otetiana+Council+voted+to+merge%2e+On+September+5%2c+2009%2c+the+new+name%2c+Seneca+Waterways+Council%2c+was+approved%2e+For+info+on+Babcock+Hovey+see%3a+http%3a%2f%2fwww%2esenecawaterways%2eorg%2fbh%2f%0d%0a

Babcock+%2d+Hovey+has+a+great+program%2e+Their+key+directors+%28Camp%2c+Program%2c+Aquatics%2c+Shooting+Sports%29+have+been+together+for+a+long+time+now%2e+Like+all+camps+they+may+have+had+problems+in+the+past+when+the+council+didn%27t+know+if+they+were+going+to+keep+the+camp%2c+but+my+troop+has+been+going+there+since+the+mid+2000%27s+and+we+have+been+really+impressed+with+them%2e++You+should+disregard+the+2003+comment%2c+it+isn%27t+like+that+at+all+now%2e+%0d%0a

The+camp+address+is+actually+7294+County+Road+132%2c+Ovid%2c+NY+and+the+lat+and+long+for+the+enterance+is+42%2e6702557%2c+%2d76%2e8567547%0d%0a

Seneca+Waterways+Council+has+proven+that+they+are+not+interested+in+closing+the+camp+anytime+soon+with+the+investment+of+an+improved+shower+house+and+a+large+fishing+pond%2e+The+Sci%2dTech+program+expanded+this+last+year+into+a+permanent+program+area+for+Boy+Scouts+during+summer+camp+that+included+the+Robotics+Merit+Badge%2e+The+shooting+sports+staff+is+top+of+the+line+and+even+offers+a+paint+ball+course+%28no+shooting+allowed+at+each+other%29%2e+The+%93Outdoor+Skills%94+or+%93Scoutcraft%94+area+has+much+more+to+offer+than+other+area+camps+with+the+likes+of+bullwhipping+and+tomahawk+throwing+mixed+in+with+one+of+the+better+pioneering+instructors+I+have+seen+recently%2e+The+C%2eO%2eP%2eE%2e+tower+was+an+added+bonus%2e+Hovey+offers+a+wonderful+lakefront+and+has+many+activities+including+water+tubing+and+snorkeling%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aOur+Scout+Troop+stayed+in+Tuscarora+Lean%2dto+site+%28It+had+2+tents+this+year+as+well%29%2c+that+is+right+on+the+bluffs+over+looking+Seneca+Lake%2e+Not+only+did+the+site+have+a+permanent+shelter+%2810x20ish%29+but+it+also+had+a+storage+shed+that+we+could+store+gear+and+food+in+during+the+week%2e+It+was+awesome+waking+up+every+morning+and+opening+the+flap+on+my+tent+and+just+laying+in+bed+watching+the+waves+roll+in+on+the+lake%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aFrom+what+I+was+told%2c+during+the+2003+period+the+camp+was+struggling+to+keep+a+consistent+camp+director+and+program+director+along+with+other+various+key+staff%2e+This+has+improved+greatly+over+the+last+few+years+and+the+current+camp+director+and+program+director+have+been+together+for+over+five+years%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0a

Seneca+Waterways+Council+has+proven+that+they+are+not+interested+in+closing+the+camp+anytime+soon+with+the+investment+of+an+improved+shower+house+and+a+large+fishing+pond%2e+The+Sci%2dTech+program+expanded+this+last+year+into+a+permanent+program+area+for+Boy+Scouts+during+summer+camp+that+included+the+Robotics+Merit+Badge%2e+The+shooting+sports+staff+is+top+of+the+line+and+even+offers+a+paint+ball+course+%28no+shooting+allowed+at+each+other%29%2e+The+%93Outdoor+Skills%94+or+%93Scoutcraft%94+area+has+much+more+to+offer+than+other+area+camps+with+the+likes+of+bullwhipping+and+tomahawk+throwing+mixed+in+with+one+of+the+better+pioneering+instructors+I+have+seen+recently%2e+The+C%2eO%2eP%2eE%2e+tower+was+an+added+bonus%2e+Hovey+offers+a+wonderful+lakefront+and+has+many+activities+including+water+tubing+and+snorkeling%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aOur+Scout+Troop+stayed+in+Tuscarora+Lean%2dto+site+%28It+had+2+tents+this+year+as+well%29%2c+that+is+right+on+the+bluffs+over+looking+Seneca+Lake%2e+Not+only+did+the+site+have+a+permanent+shelter+%2810x20ish%29+but+it+also+had+a+storage+shed+that+we+could+store+gear+and+food+in+during+the+week%2e+It+was+awesome+waking+up+every+morning+and+opening+the+flap+on+my+tent+and+just+laying+in+bed+watching+the+waves+roll+in+on+the+lake%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aFrom+what+I+was+told%2c+during+the+2003+period+the+camp+was+struggling+to+keep+a+consistent+camp+director+and+program+director+along+with+other+various+key+staff%2e+This+has+improved+greatly+over+the+last+few+years+and+the+current+camp+director+and+program+director+have+been+together+for+over+five+years%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0a