Airsoft Summer Camp?????

Hey MLE,


I've been at this since 2006, and only turned 18 in march, so I'm just past what you'd call a young gun. I started the young guns day thing here, first at HRTA, then at Fingal, and now a repeat at Fingal this saturday.

The idea of a summer camp is something I've never thought of, and has its merits and issues. A summer camp is usually at least a week long, so we'll go on that pretense.

Transport: Most parents wont drive an hour each way twice a day to bring you. Some have a shorter commute but we're talking about the M50 on a monday morning here, not a pleasent experience. So, the only practical option really is to camp out there or live really close, that leads to my next point.

Accomodation + Supervision: If you were to have 30+ lads staying onsite, you'd need pretty hefty facilities. Pretty much the same requirements as a campsite and lots of chargers. Also, leaving a load of minors in a field by themselves...not a great plan. To have round the clock presence of adults is not gonna be cheap or easy.

Cost: this would have to be very well managed to keep costs down.

Breakdowns: Player X is 15 and has one M4, if it breaks on the 2nd day, what does he do?

Energy: Intense airsoft can be tiring, especially for the smaller lads, that full metal AEG is a lot heavier for them.

Think thats all the bad....oh yeah, child protection law could also be an issue.

On the good side though:

Exercise: No childhood obesity for you.

Comradery: Great co-operation skills taught(these would be usefull for parental persuasion)

Keep you outta trouble: Shouldnt be necesary but applies anyways.

Lots of fun:

Not as intimidating as heading to something like the UK events or any of the gatherings(not that there's anything to worry about, just the zimmerframe brigade:p)

Great way to get new players into the sport.

Training: Tactics, fire discipline, handsignals, hostage rescue, stealth, suppresive fire, gun repair and maintanance, technical tips....and so on.



Basically, I think the only prectical way to do this would be as follows;

Take one site op, rent a location in the city centre that everyone can get to by bus/luas and that is an area that parents wont have concerns over. The site would only be needed for 1-2 weeks, but would have to be fully enclosed. The site op would then need to get a new short term policy for that event and location. Then sign up marshals and players(who have played before and have on kit, radios would be good, just cheap ones). Game on at 10 every morning.

Its most likely too much hassle for anyone to want to take on.

/rant

Sounds like a great idea.

I know Dave from Rathbeggan has a water pistol thing on the go for the younger siblings of brothers/sisters playing on his site.

The idea of maybe having a summer camp for younger players is a good idea, but obviously has alot of things that would need to be ironed out.

(Not being sarcastic) Ozcam would be able to greatly contribute to the issues that you wouldnt think are required but definitely would be, running a camp for effectively minors.

But I think it would be an aright idea.

If it even taught youngsters about gun safety and responsability with items that look like guns ( even with water pistols) it would be a success.