An Unparalleled Experience:
The Association of African Methodist Episcopal Scouts Virtual Camporee
By Rev. Dr. Missiouri L McPhee, 11th Episcopal District
For the better half of a Quadrennium the Association of African Methodist Episcopal Scouts (AAMES) had faithfully been planning its Quadrennial Camporee to be held ahead of the 2020 General Conference at Camp LaNoChe, in Paisley, Florida (just outside Orlando). The Quadrennial Camporee has been a tradition of AAMES since its inception in July 4-7, 1996, in Louisville, Kentucky (with the invaluable support of retired Presiding Elder. Robert E. Keesee, then pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church in Louisville, Kentucky). Unfortunately, the world, as we knew it, came to a screeching halt with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 51st Session of the General Conference was postponed as was the camporee. As the pandemic raged on and a swift return to normal seemed all but lost, an executive decision was made to hold the camporee utilizing a virtual format with programing modifications. To that end, on June 25-27, 2021, AAMES held its first ever virtual camporee to include Episcopal Districts 1 through 20. A virtual camporee during the challenging times of COVID-19 not only engaged our youth from across the connection in intergenerational learning interventions but also enabled all of them to share best practices of the scouting ministry.
Our three-day virtual camporee offered programming for both youth and adults. It served as an opportunity to introduce scouts, scouters, and parents to the programs of AAMES as well as to teach leadership and practical skills to the scouts and youths alike. Presentations were made to showcase the programs and partnerships of AAMES as well as the accomplishments our Youth. The virtual camporee organized informational sessions on topics such as financial education, personal finance, inclusion & diversity in S.T.E.M., journalism, climate control, emergency preparedness, curriculum development, the road to Eagle and Gold, as well as higher educational and military opportunities. These sessions were led by experts in the field to include: Morry C. Davis (VP of Investment Banking | Redtail Capital Markets); Dwana Franklin-Davis (CEO | Reboot Representation); the Rev. Miriam Burnett, MD (Chair of AMEC Health Commission); Mr. James B. Wilson, III (Chief Technical Architect | Our Health Community); and Deborrah D. Douglas (author of US Civil Rights Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to the People, Places and Events that Made the Movement). The camporee also featured worship experiences wherein Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in consultation with the AAMES Chaplain, the Reverend Linda Brown-Saffore, helped to plan and participated in the worship experience that included both live and pre-recorded videos.
AAMES also took this opportunity to showcase Boy Scouts who attained the rank of Eagle (2020-2021) and Girl Scouts who attained the rank of Gold (2020-2021). Information provided to AAMES by these scouts regarding their respective Eagle and Gold projects was shared at the camporee. Girl Scouts Daisy/Brownie Troop #5416 of Pearl Street AME Church, Jackson, Mississippi (Alana Moore, Kimberlee Funchess, Macie Woodland, Zoel Bowen, Shelbi Williams, Rayne Phillips, and Rhylleigh Manzie) received a special recognition as they are the first youth group to complete the requirements for any of the Episcopal Patches. They completed the requirements for the Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie patch. A lone Girl Scout in Ambassador Troop #5149, Ralicia B. Thomas, (Pearl Street AME Church, Jackson, Mississippi), completed the requirements to earn the Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr. patch. These Girl Scouts are also the first-place winners of the AAMES Gardening Contest! The leaders of these highly active and accomplished troops are sisters Sybil Anderson, Hazel Gaines, Peggy King-James, and Cassandra Stovall. AAMES extends our congratulations to the AME youth who have attained the rank of Eagle and Gold as well as to the Girl Scout Troops of Pearl Street AME Church on a job well done.
AAMES is forever grateful for the support of the Rev. Garland F. Pierce, Executive Director, and Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr., Commission Chair of the Christian Education Department for lending their support in making our first- ever virtual camporee a success. It presented us with the opportunity, through technology, to connect with scouts, scouters, and parents from across the connection despite the limitations caused by the pandemic.
