and Satisfaction with Treasure Mountain Scout Camp

By: Austin Jones, Andy Sewell, Ella Knecht, Kenady Neal,

Sam Solesbee, and Steve Tate

Abstract
The research project that was conducted dealt with the
satisfaction of members of the Boy Scouts of America
that attended the Treasure Mountain camping facility in
Driggs, Idaho. In order to improve the Scouts experience
at Treasure Mountain and increase camp revenue, research
was conducted to find the pros and cons of the Scout leaders
previous experiences there. In order to get accurate results, a
survey was sent out to a variety of leaders of the Boy Scouts
program. The survey was sent to Scoutmasters, Cub Scout
Leaders, Troop Committee Officers, and a number of other
representatives. Out of the 700 surveys emailed out, there
were 58 responses.

From the survey responses, there were five main
findings from the research. The first finding was that overall
people feel that Treasure Mountain Scout Camp should
be opened to the public and outside groups. The second
finding was that generally people felt that a dining hall
would be a nice amenity but was not necessary for the camp.
Many would rather have other amenities, such as, a rock
wall, rappelling, ropes course, and additional pavilions.
The third finding was that survey participants felt that
toilet and sanitation services for the scout camp must are
unsatisfactory. The fourth finding is that survey participants
reported that they were not satisfied with the conduct of
the Youth Merit Badge Counselors for the Merit Badge
Experience. The fifth finding was that survey participants
felt that overall Treasure Mountain Scout Camp was a good
experience for participants.

This research is designed to find information that
would be useful in enhancing Treasure Mountain Scout
camping experience. This research has demonstrated that
there are specific aspects that need to be improved.

Background

reasure Mountains first season was 1936. It features

beautiful views of the Grand Tetons, Table Rock, Teton
Creek and Big Medicine Falls. The camp is located east of
Alta, Wyoming, and has many amenities to offer. Hikes
such as Table Rock bring you within a stones throw of the
Grand Teton. Devils Staircase is a winding hike to a high-grass meadow
and lake. Mirror Lake hike takes you through the Alaska basin with
several glacier-formed lakes that are ice-cold and crystal-clear. The
Wind Caves hiking trail is close near by camp hike that offers great
views.

Treasure Mountain has more to offer than hikes, like the clear
lake which offers plenty of activities from swimming and canoeing, to
the Battle of the Tetons, a battle in which the scouts get into canoes and
try to sink the opposing scouts boats. The traditional summer camp
season is normally 5 weeks during the months of June and July.
Treasure Mountain is also filled with traditions and history. Each of the
28 campsites is named after Native American Chiefs, providing plenty
of legends and lore. Each campsite has a fire pits, benches and picnic
tables. Also found near each camp are the basic amenities needed for
camp comfort. Many of the scouts attending come from a long tradition
of scouting whose fathers and fathers fathers have attended as Boy
Scouts.

There are a variety of different merit badges that are offered,
ranging from archery to environmental science. The average day
consists of waking up for flag ceremonies and then a full day of merit
badges, which is the focus of scout camps. There are also activities held
in the evening, activities such as the Honor Hike, where scouts learn the
importance of scouting and service. Overall the camp provides young
scouters with an opportunity to learn and to grow in an environment
that is conducive with the scouting education. The scenery is one that
cannot be duplicated outside of Treasure Mountain thus making it
a must see destination for local scout troops and other scout troops
outside of the council.

Method
As stated in the introduction, the objective of this study was
to discover how current campers or scouters use Treasure
Mountain Scout Camp as well as their satisfaction with
campground facilities. The Grand Teton Council of the Boy
Scouts of America provided this study with the population
needed to complete this objective. The population consisted
of approximately 700 adults.
The pool of adults was made up of:
Scoutmasters
Grand Teton Council members
Volunteers of Scouting
Other adult leadership or staff within the Grand Teton
Council.

The survey was dispersed through email and
administered using Qualtrics. The email addresses used in
the study were provided by the Grand Teton Council. The
survey created was not sent to youth scouters in order to
comply with proper research guidelines as established by
Brigham Young University-Idaho. For a complete list of
questions used in the survey, visit Appendix A.

In addition to the data that would be received
through our list of questions, these additional questions were
asked to understand the demographics of the sample:
Relationship with scouting .
Which scout camps within the Grand Teton Council has
the participant attended and for what purpose, multi-day
or overnight camping.
The survey was conducted over a period of five weeks. Of the
700 adults emailed to participate in the survey, 58 completed
the survey regarding Treasure Mountain Scout Camp
(approximately 8%).Due to the limited number of responses,
partially completed surveys were also included within the
results.

Finding #1
Overall people feel that Treasure Mountain Scout Camp should
be opened to outside groups.

15%

Figure 1.
Strongly Agree

49%
Agree
24%
Indifferent

12%
Disagree

With the surroundings and the outdoor experience
that Treasure Mountain offers many of the past visitors of
the Treasure mountain camp enjoyed their experience there.
49% of participants felt that Treasure Mountain would be
considerable to camp out if it were open to outside groups
(Figure 1). 93% of survey participants reported that Treasure
Mountain Scout Camp said they would recommend camping
at Treasure Mountain Scout Camp to a friend. 93% of the
survey participants also said that the camp affected their
scouts in a positive way. This campground is a very basic
camp group with basic amenities. The majority of the survey
participants that took the survey enjoyed they mountains,
vistas, and outdoors activities that is provided at Treasure
Mountain Scout Camp. Treasure Mountain Scout Camp
provides campers with the opportunity to get up close and
work with nature and the other natural surroundings.

These are some things survey participants enjoyed
about the camp:
It was an opportunity to get out and be in nature and be
close to the boys and teach them lessons around the campfire
in a multi-day way.
Helped scouts to realize that they are in charge of their own
progression, provided opportunity for leadership growth,
gave them a fun week of activity that creates leadership roles
that they fulfilled.
They have always come away with a positive experience and
always ask to return.
I think most of our Scouts enjoyed the experience and
therefore would continue in their Scouting experience.

Finding #2
Generally people felt that a dining hall would be a nice
amenity but is not necessary for the camp. Many would rather
have other amenities such as a rock wall, rappelling, ropes
course, additional coverings (pavilions).

38%
Disagree

29%
Agree

33%
Indifferent

Figure 2.

Many of the people that took this survey enjoy the
outdoors and would rather have outdoor activities and
improve bathroom amenities over having a dining hall. Over
half of the survey participants said that they would not be
more likely to camp there if they had a dining hall (Figure
2). An overwhelming amount of survey participants said
that they would not be willing to pay more money if the
camp had a dining hall. One of the strong points of Treasure
Mountain Scout Camp is the outdoor scenery.

Some of the comments from survey participants
were:

The scenery. What a great place for a camp!

The location is amazing.

The high quality of campsites.

The mountain setting, the water, the hiking trails,
and the closeness to our locale.

The overall beauty of the camp--its location and
tradition standout the most.

The hikes.

The nature area

Survey participants said they would rather have
instead of a dinning hall were rappelling, more covered areas
for meetings, more toilets, and/or more frequent servicing of
these bathroom and shower facilities, trailer parking closer
to the campsites, and a heated swimming pool rather than a
dining hall.

Finding #3
The toilet and sanitation services for the Scout Camp must be
improved. (Showers, Toilets)

Figure 3.

62% or a
D-

The findings show that 54% of the survey participants
were not satisfied with the bathrooms at Camp Treasure
Mountain. On a scale used to rate their perentage of
sastifaction, the average value was 62.57 percent (Figure 3).
These are some of the comments that were received:

Toilet facilities had flies and nauseating smells.

High use portable toilets in the heat of summer need
to be serviced more than once a week! Telling the boys to
stir it with a stick when it starts to stink too badly seems to
border on endangering youth. The needs to either have more
blue rockets, or service them a time or two during the week.
Please!

Old and out dated and full of waste had not been
emptied recently.

Finding #4
Survey participants reported overall that they were not
satisfied with the conduct of the Youth Merit Badge Counselors
for the Merit Badge Experience.

Figure 4.

ST A F F B E H AV I O R
C+

Where most people were very happy with their
overall experience at treasure mountain, one of the few
complaints found was about the youth staff. The youth
leaders at Treasure Mountain are young, and the complaints
mostly seem to stem from their age and lack of focus on
the scouts, the merit badge progress of the scouts and the
means by which they get tasks done. The staff was described
as being impatient with the scouts. Others seemed bored,
arrogant, and even overbearing.

Another finding was that the staff was very easily
distracted and focused more on themselves than on the
scouts. One reason is thought to be because of the age of the
youth merit badge counselors and another survey response
says that proper training and more supervision would help
the youth merit badge counselors to be more focused on the
scouts as well as more patient. The staff also was described
as being spread too thin according to the responses and they,
being as busy as they are, seemed to have conflicting duties.
There just isnt enough staff to fully and effectively complete
all duties at the camp.

The youth staff also is described to be over eager to
yell and scream in order to motivate and produce excitement
when they should be more focused on respect and dignity.
The yelling is too loud and can be chaotic and disturbing.
Overall the youth staff has a few areas they need to improve
on, namely in their focus, attitude, patience, training and in
their tactics in motivating the campers.

Finding #5
95% of survey participants felt that Treasure Mountain Scout
Camp affected their Scouts behavior in a positive way.
Figure 5.
Influence of Treasure
Mountain Scout camp on
Scouters
Negative

Positive

19

Number of Responses

According to survey results, Treasure Mountain Scout
Camp has been a positive influence on Scouts. The survey
that was sent out asked, Have you seen Treasure Mountain
Scout Camp affect your Scouts behavior in a positive way?
Out of twenty responses, nineteen responded, yes to the
question (Figure 5). In a follow up question, You answered
that Treasure Mountain Scout Camp has affected your Scouts
behavior in a positive way. Please explain your reasoning in a
sentence or two, many participants had great things to say:
It was an opportunity to get out and be in nature and be
close to the boys and teach them lessons around the campfire
in a multi-day way.
The scouts still talk about some of the merit badges they
earned and about their hike up Table Mountain.
They have always come away with a positive experience and
always ask to return.
I do not have sons that are scouting age but I have seen
other scouts bond together at this camp facility.
There is no other scout camp like this one, its uniqueness
helps the boys get in touch with nature and them selves like
no other location I know of in this region.
Treasure Mountain Scout Camp has been a positive place for
boys to explore, learn, and grow for years.

Conclusion

The survey conducted for the Grand Teton Council regarding Treasure Mountain Boy scout
camp provided very useful information pertaining to ways that can improve the overall function
of the camp itself. The findings following the survey gave insight as to what campers believe were
weak points and could be changed in order to make their experience more comfortable and
enjoyable. Also included are ways the camp could be used outside of Boy Scouts.

The conclusions and recommendations outlined below are for the improvement of the
camp and if implemented could drastically change the camp for the better. For the most part
they are not drastic changes, moreover, they are small changes that could drastically change the
experience for campers.

First, the camp itself is only open for a short season in the summer time. There was a lot of
interest expressed in the camp being open outside of the regular Scout camp season. The campsites
are great and provide close proximity to some great hiking, and various other outdoor activities.
Like finding number one states, 60% of people who took the survey said that they would camp
at Treasure Mountain outside of scout camp season. Further, 93% of people that took the survey
stated that they would recommend the camp to a friend. Surely for a small fee, people would enjoy
the developed campgrounds and the security that they provide.

Although a lot of people really enjoyed the rugged nature of the camp, there were a few
amenities that seemed to be popular among those who took the survey. A dining hall was a
popular recommendation, but definitely not the most pertinent to the campers. Others wanted to
see more activities such as a rock wall, rappelling/ropes course. Additional coverings or huts for
meetings and easier trailer access to the campsites would be ideal as well. Overall, according to
those who took the survey, people want to have more to do at the camp. These added amenities
could be used outside of scouting to attract more visitors as well.

One of the most common complaints at the camp was the toilet facilities. Most survey
participants said that the facilities were old and outdated, disgusting, and even endangering to the
youth. More maintenance and cleaning of the facilities is highly recommended. Shower facilities
could also use an update and more frequent maintenance. Also regarding the showers, there
were comments stating that there are too few showers to accommodate the number of campers
each week. Overall the sanitation of the camp could use some attention by properly trained
professionals and not the scouts, and it could use more accommodations to satisfy the number of
campers that the camp holds.

A very interesting finding touches upon the staff of the camp, the youth staff in particular.
There were a lot of surveys that were happy with the overall leadership of the camp, however there
were also a number of surveys concerning the youth staff being easily distracted, bored, spread
too thin to accomplish the many tasks they had, arrogant, having a lack of attention to the young

Conclusion Cont.
scouters, and sometimes being overbearing. There was also a comment made concerning their
means of motivating the scouts as being too loud, chaotic and disturbing.

Recommendations include, proper training for the youth staff, hiring more staff if
possible and proper supervision of youth staff members. Proper training will benefit the campers
by giving them the focus they need in order to succeed at the camp with the many merit badges
offered. Hiring more staff would help get tasks done in a more timely fashion, and would help
the staff be more focused on the campers. Tighter supervision of the youth staff will help them
be more accountable and focused on campers, help staff keep on task and ultimately improve the
attitudes of the youth staff as the survey points out as being unsatisfactory.

The fifth finding was that survey participants felt that overall Treasure Mountain
Scout Camp was a good experience for scouts. Scouts overall benefited greatly from the many
merit badges offered at Treasure Mountain and as far as experience goes, most of those who
participated in the survey stated that they enjoyed the camp over all and that they would return
in the future.

Treasure Mountain as a whole has a few areas that could be improved. Most people
just want to see a few small changes in the camp, all of which could very likely have a positive
outcome on the camp, campers and even owners of the camp. Opening the camp to outsiders
for possible year round camping could generate a noticeable income to help the camp in making
some of these changes. Updating sanitation practices and even updating a few amenities the
camp has to offer might attract more people.

Improving the overall effectiveness and attitudes of the youth staff as well as improving
their ability to accomplish their many duties will change the experience for many campers as
was found in the survey. Adding different activities might also attract more people and add to
the many various and fun natural activities the camp already has to offer. People will continue
to enjoy the camp in the future; these few changes will help Treasure Mountain Scout Camp
magnify peoples experience.

Appendix A.