[NO. 672 \u2013 20TH YEAR OF HELPING SCOUTS, SCOUTERS, & PARENTS]<\/p>\n
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, \u201cWhen should ‘Eagle Scout’ come off a guy’s resume?” Their immediate, unanimous answer– NEVER!<\/em> I liked your answer to the commissioner who found himself cut out of the new district alignment decision-making process, but I\u2019d like to add this about Scout troops and \u201cfeeder\u201d Cub Scout packs: Nobody decides what troop a graduating Cub is going to join except him or her and their family. The idea that \u201chigher-ups\u201d on the Scouting \u201ctotem pole\u201d are going to unilaterally decide that certain packs are or are not “feeders” for specific troops is bogus.<\/strong><\/p>\n 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 \u201copen\u201d and that no troop is \u201ccut\u201d from any made-up \u201clist.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2014sometimes a brother or sister; sometimes a friend or classmate. At the age for joining a Scouts BSA troop, kids don\u2019t care about the stuff their parents think is important\u2014they 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\u2014and, although there can be exceptions\u2014like my own son\u2014Webelos Scouts almost always like to go together into a troop, so they can now form their own patrol! (Cheers, CCR)<\/strong> As a still-learning Scoutmaster, I have a few random questions\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n – Who is \u201cauthorized\u201d 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\u2019s some questioning going on among the adults and parents in our troop.)<\/strong><\/p>\n – Two merit badges\u2014Cooking MB and Camping\u2014have 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\u2019t just boxes of M-and-C). I\u2019m inclined to give him a \u201ccompleted\u201d on these, but I\u2019m not sure what the expectations are, such as do these meals have to be from \u201cscratch.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n – What is our responsibility as Scouting volunteers if a Scout confides that he\u2019s being bullied at school (by a classmate that isn\u2019t a Scout)? Of course, as his Scoutmaster, I\u2019d 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)<\/strong><\/p>\n Thanks for raising these points\u2014they\u2019re all good ones. Here we go\u2026<\/p>\n – The troop (specifically, the Patrol Leaders Council) decides, with guidance from their Scoutmaster, who is responsible to the troop\u2019s committee chair and sponsor. You\u2019ll find more details on this in the TROOP LEADER GUIDEBOOK.<\/p>\n – 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 \u201cautomatically\u201d a merit badge counselor for either of these or any other merit badges.<\/p>\n – I don\u2019t 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\u2014Youth 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.<\/p>\n (BTW, You need to start raising questions like these at your district’s Roundtables! I\u2019m almost certain there are monthly \u201cZoom\u201d-type meetings.) I know you’ve addressed the issue of butane lighters before and stated that they are prohibited by the BSA, but I\u2019m confused.<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.”<\/strong><\/p>\n 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?<\/strong><\/p>\n Further, the BSA\u2019s \u201cBoys’ Life\u201d (now called \u201cScout Life\u201d) 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\u2019s the link: https:\/\/boyslife.org\/outdoors\/outdoorarticles\/6976\/scout-outdoor-essentials-checklist\/<\/strong><\/p>\n 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?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m 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\u2019t intend or interpret that prohibition to apply to using a lighter.<\/strong><\/p>\n Accordingly, our Troop allows Scouts who have their \u201cFirem’n Chit\u201d 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)<\/strong><\/p>\n Having been writing these columns for 20 years, I\u2019d 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\u2026<\/em>)<\/p>\n 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\u2014so long as they’re not inside tents.<\/p>\n Well, surprise! I just found what I think you must have read… Issue 265 from July 28, 2011. Here\u2019s what I said ten years ago\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cHi Andy, Our troop will be going on a week-long camping trip soon. I\u2019ve earned my Firem\u2019n Chit, so I\u2019m curious if it\u2019s okay for me to bring a Zippo lighter with me.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cZippo 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\u2026is prohibited” and “No flames in tents.” Now take a look at the Firem\u2019n Chit\u2019s statement: “This certification grants a Scout the right to carry matches and build campfires” (underline by me).\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Bottom line: I erred by falling short of a complete answer because I didn\u2019t 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\u2019m embarrassed that I didn\u2019t check further. Thanks for letting me know about this discrepancy.<\/p>\n Thank you for your kind response and clarification, and for all you do for the Scouting community. We\u2019re lucky to have you as a resource. (Gil)<\/strong> 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\u2019t have \u201cmiddle\u201d schools then).<\/p>\n 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\u2014pretty much the same as today\u2014was to repeat the Scout Law and tell in my own words what each point meant to me.<\/p>\n My \u201creviewers\u201d 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\u2026<\/p>\n That\u2019s as far as I got. I was told I\u2019m doing it all wrong.<\/p>\n “In THIS troop,” they said, “we expect you to memorize exactly what your handbook says about each point of the Law.”<\/p>\n “But my handbook says I\u2019m supposed to describe in my own words, and that’s what I was doing,” I said, puzzled and embarrassed.<\/p>\n “Well not in THIS troop,” they said. “In THIS troop, we have a HIGHER standard. And you just FAILED.”<\/p>\n I was crushed. I nearly cried in front of these two men. But I didn\u2019t. I went home after the troop meeting determined to complete my first rank, and something else.<\/p>\n By the time the next weekly meeting, I\u2019d 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\u2014without missing a word\u2014recited all twelve definitions, exactly.<\/p>\n “Good. Now you’ve passed. Here’s your Tenderfoot badge,” that Scoutmaster said.<\/p>\n I said thanks and put the pin in my pocket. Then I walked out of that troop meeting and went home.<\/p>\n I came pretty close to walking away permanently, but I didn\u2019t. With my father\u2019s help I found a new troop\u2014one that got it right. Four years later, I\u2019d earned my Eagle rank and stayed active in Scouting for another half-century.<\/p>\n Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay positive!<\/strong><\/em><\/span> [No. 672 3\/30\/2021 Copyright \u00a9 2021 Andy McCommish]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [NO. 672 \u2013 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. 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\nHi Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\nHi Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\nI\u2019m not in the habit of telling personal \u201cwar stories.\u201d This is one of the few in captivity. I\u2019m sharing it for anyone who believes they\u2019re being held back by some self-important adult martinet\u2014whether in or out of Scouting\u2014who\u2019s making up their own rules.<\/p>\n
\nHappy Scouting!<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\nAndy<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\nI answer every message I receive. When writing, please include your name & council. If you want to be anonymous\u2014if published\u2014just tell me and I\u2019ll honor that. Although these columns are copyrighted, you have my okay to quote or reproduce any column or part, so long as it\u2019s attributed: \u201cAsk Andy\u201d by Andy McCommish.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n