MARCH 30, 2021

[NO. 672 – 20TH YEAR OF HELPING SCOUTS, SCOUTERS, & PARENTS]

A while ago, I had the opportunity to chat informally with four highly successful high school principals, two of whom had also been award-winning football coaches of state- and regionally-titled teams. All had been Scouts. The highest rank among them was Life. As we were talking about Scouting, teens, high school, college, and careers, I asked, “When should ‘Eagle Scout’ come off a guy’s resume?” Their immediate, unanimous answer– NEVER!
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Hi Andy,

I liked your answer to the commissioner who found himself cut out of the new district alignment decision-making process, but I’d like to add this about Scout troops and “feeder” Cub Scout packs: Nobody decides what troop a graduating Cub is going to join except him or her and their family. The idea that “higher-ups” on the Scouting “totem pole” are going to unilaterally decide that certain packs are or are not “feeders” for specific troops is bogus.

Yes, you’re right that this relationship often gets taken for granted. This is why the adult leaders of all the packs and troops in question need to get together and work this out between themselves, with the plan that everything remains “open” and that no troop is “cut” from any made-up “list.”

In my experience as both a pack and troop leader, I saw that 99% of the decisions on what troop to join depends on the Webelos Scout already knowing somebody in that troop—sometimes a brother or sister; sometimes a friend or classmate. At the age for joining a Scouts BSA troop, kids don’t care about the stuff their parents think is important—they want friends to have fun with. If the Scouts themselves in a local troop take the time to get to know these almost-teens and their other Webelos Scout friends, then show them a good time and make them feel welcome, that troop will be top-of-the-heap when it comes to crossing over—and, although there can be exceptions—like my own son—Webelos Scouts almost always like to go together into a troop, so they can now form their own patrol! (Cheers, CCR)
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Hi Andy,

As a still-learning Scoutmaster, I have a few random questions…

– Who is “authorized” to sign off on rank requirements for Scout through Second Class? Can a First Class Scout do this? How about Assistant Scoutmasters? (I thought the answer was Yes for both, but there’s some questioning going on among the adults and parents in our troop.)

– Two merit badges—Cooking MB and Camping—have requirements for both planning and cooking meals on campouts. For these requirements, would you consider prepackaged trail dinners where you just add water a meal? In one case, the Scout did do more, like adding fruit, snacks, and so on, and he did put thought into the menus (they weren’t just boxes of M-and-C). I’m inclined to give him a “completed” on these, but I’m not sure what the expectations are, such as do these meals have to be from “scratch.”

– What is our responsibility as Scouting volunteers if a Scout confides that he’s being bullied at school (by a classmate that isn’t a Scout)? Of course, as his Scoutmaster, I’d find a way to quickly pass this on to a parent, but would I also be obliged to contact the school where this is happening? (Concerned SM)

Thanks for raising these points—they’re all good ones. Here we go…

– The troop (specifically, the Patrol Leaders Council) decides, with guidance from their Scoutmaster, who is responsible to the troop’s committee chair and sponsor. You’ll find more details on this in the TROOP LEADER GUIDEBOOK.

– Although I earned both of these merit badges on my way to Eagle well more than a half-century ago, I’ve never been a counselor for either Cooking or Camping. Your best resources will be fellow registered counselors. And, although the likelihood of this is slim, I should mention that no Scoutmaster is ever somehow “automatically” a merit badge counselor for either of these or any other merit badges.

– I don’t usually subscribe to “what if…” scenarios, but I’m making an exception here: If a troop’s youth member alleges abuse of any kind from his peers or any adult in a Scouting environment, the adult told this will immediately inform the council’s Scout Executive, who will know the correct procedure to follow (see GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING—Youth Protection/Membership Infraction-Incident Information Form No. 680-676). If, however, if the alleged abuse is reported to be taking place outside of Scouting (e.g., at school, whether or not by Scouts), then the wise adult will immediately contact that school’s principal, who will provide advice on next steps and by whom.

(BTW, You need to start raising questions like these at your district’s Roundtables! I’m almost certain there are monthly “Zoom”-type meetings.)
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Dear Andy,

I know you’ve addressed the issue of butane lighters before and stated that they are prohibited by the BSA, but I’m confused.

The Wilderness Survival merit badge pamphlet specifically discusses Scouts using lighters. It has a paragraph titled “Matches and Lighters” that says (in part): “If you have a butane lighter, guard it against moisture and cold by keeping it tucked inside a pocket close to your body. Bring it out only when your fire lay is complete and you are ready to ignite tinder.”

If the BSA prohibits Scouts from carrying and using lighters, why does this merit badge pamphlet teach Scouts how to carry them and how to use them to start a fire?

Further, the BSA’s “Boys’ Life” (now called “Scout Life”) web page on “The Scout Outdoor Essentials” lists lighters in “Matches & Fire Starters,” with the recommendation to “Store matches or lighters in resealable plastic bags.” Here’s the link: https://boyslife.org/outdoors/outdoorarticles/6976/scout-outdoor-essentials-checklist/

Why would the BSA include lighters on an official list of Outdoor Essentials for Scouts and even provide recommendations on how scouts should store them, if they are prohibited?

I’m familiar with the Guide to Safe Scouting prohibition on using “liquid fuels” to start fires. But based on the above, it appears to me that the BSA doesn’t intend or interpret that prohibition to apply to using a lighter.

Accordingly, our Troop allows Scouts who have their “Firem’n Chit” to carry and use butane lighters. But we of course want to make sure we are following official BSA policy. If there is an official BSA publication out there that specifically bans lighters that we’ve missed, we’d love to see it. (Gil Castro, ASM, Mt. Diablo Silverado Council, CA)

Having been writing these columns for 20 years, I’d have extreme difficulty finding precisely where I’ve stated that butane lighters are entirely prohibited by the BSA. (NOTE: More on this in a moment…)

Pages 13, 29, 30, and 31 of the Wilderness Survival merit badge pamphlet show or discuss butane lighters (i.e., Bic brand-style lighters) and the GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING tells us that these same lighters are on the BSA “recommended” list. So if your Scouts use these, it’s okay by the BSA—so long as they’re not inside tents.

Well, surprise! I just found what I think you must have read… Issue 265 from July 28, 2011. Here’s what I said ten years ago…

“Hi Andy, Our troop will be going on a week-long camping trip soon. I’ve earned my Firem’n Chit, so I’m curious if it’s okay for me to bring a Zippo lighter with me.”

“Zippo lighters contain flammable liquid…leave it home. The 2011 edition of the GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING says two things: “Using liquid fuels for starting any type of fire…is prohibited” and “No flames in tents.” Now take a look at the Firem’n Chit’s statement: “This certification grants a Scout the right to carry matches and build campfires” (underline by me).”

Bottom line: I erred by falling short of a complete answer because I didn’t check beyond the GTSS. Had I checked further, I hope I would have seen and pointed out the acceptance of Bic-type lighters. As a career researcher, I’m embarrassed that I didn’t check further. Thanks for letting me know about this discrepancy.

Thank you for your kind response and clarification, and for all you do for the Scouting community. We’re lucky to have you as a resource. (Gil)
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I’m not in the habit of telling personal “war stories.” This is one of the few in captivity. I’m sharing it for anyone who believes they’re being held back by some self-important adult martinet—whether in or out of Scouting—who’s making up their own rules.

I graduated from my Cub pack on my 11th birthday, as was done in those days, and joined a Scout troop that met at my grammar school (we didn’t have “middle” schools then).

In going for Tenderfoot rank, I was prepared to do what my handbook said. I completed almost all the requirements, with just one to go. This one—pretty much the same as today—was to repeat the Scout Law and tell in my own words what each point meant to me.

My “reviewers” were the Scoutmaster and the Committee Chair. Starting with Trustworthy, I started to describe how this meant being honest and always telling the truth, and…

That’s as far as I got. I was told I’m doing it all wrong.

“In THIS troop,” they said, “we expect you to memorize exactly what your handbook says about each point of the Law.”

“But my handbook says I’m supposed to describe in my own words, and that’s what I was doing,” I said, puzzled and embarrassed.

“Well not in THIS troop,” they said. “In THIS troop, we have a HIGHER standard. And you just FAILED.”

I was crushed. I nearly cried in front of these two men. But I didn’t. I went home after the troop meeting determined to complete my first rank, and something else.

By the time the next weekly meeting, I’d memorized all twelve definitions from my handbook. Standing at attention in front of these same two, I raised my hand in the Scout sign, repeated the Scout Law, and—without missing a word—recited all twelve definitions, exactly.

“Good. Now you’ve passed. Here’s your Tenderfoot badge,” that Scoutmaster said.

I said thanks and put the pin in my pocket. Then I walked out of that troop meeting and went home.

I came pretty close to walking away permanently, but I didn’t. With my father’s help I found a new troop—one that got it right. Four years later, I’d earned my Eagle rank and stayed active in Scouting for another half-century.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay positive!
Happy Scouting!
Andy
I answer every message I receive. When writing, please include your name & council. If you want to be anonymous—if published—just tell me and I’ll honor that. Although these columns are copyrighted, you have my okay to quote or reproduce any column or part, so long as it’s attributed: “Ask Andy” by Andy McCommish.

[No. 672 3/30/2021 Copyright © 2021 Andy McCommish]