From: Johnlebl@aol.com
Date: Tue Jan 21 2003 - 00:49:45 CST
In a message dated 01/21/2003 12:24:10 AM Central Standard Time,
lmcgraw@sc.rr.com writes:
> Oh, they do mean it.
> We had a boy that was homesick in 2000 (we drove out and all that he could
> talk about the whole time was how he missed calling his friends, seeing his
>
> dog, his room, etc.), so when we got to Philmont he claimed that his asthma
>
> was acting up (first time on the whole trip) and he discharged most of his
> inhaler. The Dr. at the Health Lodge (the nicest bunch of folks you could
> ask for) tried to get him to get on the trail, and even replaced his
> inhaler, (Dr told me that he was certainly able to go) but the Scout
> refused to try. So they took him to Colo Springs and sent him home to
> mama. And his folks paid for the trip to Colo Springs (about $75) and the
> staffer that had to take him, plus the parents had to buy the one-way
> ticket back to SC. About $900. Turns out that the whole Philmont trip was
>
> always Mom's idea, and the Scout (who had a "too-cool for Scouting'
> attitude) was bribed by Grandma to attend (with a new car).
> PS, he got the car anyway when he got back home. He is still registered
> with the troop, but only because mama wants her Eagle rank. He turns 18
> next month, so it will be moot then. Too bad, really, because I really like
>
> the kid, even if no one else in the troop does.
>
> Boy, I really miss Philmont.
> I wanna go Back!
> Cheers
> Lorie McGraw
> Columbia SC
>
And that is a shame because it is not the kids fault, but the way he was
raised.......or attempted to be raised by well meaning but ignorant parents.
I say ignorant because there have been thousands of volumes written on the
psychology of child raising
While teaching school for 12 years, I ran across many like this.
In fact, as a new Scoutmaster, the very first kid that got Eagle was like
this. His mama earned it. I even sat down with my old Scoutmaster to talk
to him about this as I had never experienced it. I was young and new to the
game of adult leadership and I thought all Scouts wanted to be Scouts. That
just isn't so.
Some kids are just not Philmont material. Not at 14, not at 17, not at 55!.
And if not by 17 then, they probably never will be.
This is why it is really important to find out way ahead of time by having
sufficient shakedown hikes and camps. Not that you can talk them out of
going (you should point it out to the parents that they might want to wait)
but at least the leaders are a little more prepared.
The most important thing is to not let these cases drag down the other Scouts
who DO want to go and have a good time.
Another thing to consider is that even if they do get on the trail, sometimes
they resort to any means to get off the trail. There have been many cases
where similar persons actually inflicted injury to themselves to get to go
back to HQ immediately.
No Scout needs a "Billy Albatros" hanging around his neck on trek.
John LeBlanc
Eagle Class of 1959
Phirst Phil Ptrek 1959
PhilTrek 2002 630H2 Trek 16
My latest adventure was yesterday,
Today is not over yet!
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