The Phil-list Apr_2007: [philmont] canister disposal/ White Gas

From: Craig Winney <cswinney@mindspring.com>
Date: Wed Apr 04 2007 - 21:17:47 CDT

This line was actually used at a Troop Open House:
"Welcome to Scouting, an organization that freely promotes the use of matches and knives by youth."
When everyone recovered, the SM passed around a copy of the Guide to Safe Scouting, and remarked, "Within the bounds of common sense, of course."
Almost every boy present that night joined.
We don't talk much about another group of youth who took that first line to heart. They missed the second part. They tried to burn down a teepee. One of them sliced his thumb open at summer camp. (6 stitches to close the wound.) Another one took 7 pocketknives on a backpacking trip. (On the trail, after shakedown, we couldn't figure out why he rattled when he walked.)
Sometimes you can teach common sense. Sometimes its instinctive. Sometimes its non-existent.
Know your Scouts. Know their (and your) limitations. Take the occasional calculated risk. Never pass up an opportunity to use a honest mistake as an example of what not to do. Above all, make sure the boys have fun and learn by doing. Thats what itsall about.

Craig Winney
Unit Commissioner
New Horizons District
GSALC

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: MARK ZOLLER
  To: philmont List Member
  Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 4:16 PM
  Subject: [philmont] canister disposal/ White Gas "Risk"

OTOH, you can't imagine what an "ingenious" Scout can do with matches and a 20# tank of propane. Makes a very impressive flame thrower!!! Unattended Scouts can be dangerous with any flammable; some Scouts more than others. The Councils that ban liquid fuels need to re-read and follow the G2SS (Guide to Safe Scouting).

  Mark Zoller
  District Commissioner
  Arapahoe District
  Denver Area Council
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Mike Wegenka
    To: philmont List Member
    Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2007 11:54 AM
    Subject: [philmont] canister disposal/ White Gas "Risk"

Banning liquid stoves would seem to be a "risk management/ avoidance" concern for the BSA.

Yes, an unsupervised scout with matches and white gas can be an accident waiting to happen in many cases. We keep our stoves and white gas locked in a troop trailer compartment with the key in the possession of the main adult leader throughout the camping event. No incidents in the 10+ years we have done this. If white gas is needed, it is used appropriately with supervision. How do you learn without doing? We like to have the boys try to use white gas during winter campouts so they then can learn how to light the stoves in less than ideal conditions. Bottom Line: White gas safety is not a youth problem, it's an adult leadership issue.

You can (and should) expose the scouts to many experiences that are potentially dangerous, you need to make sure they learn the safe way is the only way. They want the thrill (and, honestly, so do the adult leaders). Anybody canoe or whitewater raft without a PFD and no leaders knowledgeable in Safety Afloat? Rock Climbing without someone on the bottom on belay?

By teaching safety, you may even get to the point where you can avoid the three most dangerous words an older scout says to a younger scout: "Now Watch This..." ;=)

Mike Wegenka

CC T48 Onalaska, WI

    ----- Original Message ----
    From: "bill55@comcast.net" <bill55@comcast.net>
    To: philmont List Member <philmont@troop47.com>
    Sent: Wednesday, April 4, 2007 7:24:54 AM
    Subject: [philmont] canister disposal

Picking up on a small bit of what Jim had to say, I have encountered Scout camps that will not allow liquid fuel stoves....

...It is widespread and, I think, in need of re-examiniation.

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Received on Wed Apr 4 21:24:49 2007

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