From: Phil Brown (philbrown@enterinfosys.com)
Date: Wed Jan 22 2003 - 14:28:28 CST
I think you need to read my post a little more careful or maybe I should
have added more detail.
The scout in question had some physical issues (balance problems, depth
perception). Had he been able to complete a Philmont trek, which would
be doubtful, it would have been misery for him and the rest of his crew.
I'm not talking a little slow here, I'm talking about 11 other crew
members slowed to a snails pace. With his physical issues, there was
also real question of safety. We did have other scouts among our three
crews that struggled on the first shakedown, but things like bad fitting
boots and stamina can be corrected. If the leaders made a mistake it
was in not counseling this youth and his parents that, although he had
the desire, his physical limitations were too great to overcome before
we began our shakedowns. But he is an enthusiastic (now Eagle) scout
and we erred on the side of wanting him to make it.
BTW, the scout did not feel humiliated and ashamed, he just came to
realize that a Philmont trek was not for him.
I'm not sure, but I think that I first read this on this list - Scouting
is not for every boy and Philmont is not for every Scout.
Phil Brown
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-philmont@troop47.com
> [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com] On Behalf Of Doug Kemp
> Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2003 8:09 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
> Subject: Re: [Philmont]: Boys Who Aren't Interested
>
>
> >
> >
> >>on the first shakedown trip he was pushed to the limit, saw that he
> >>was upsetting his crew due to his very slow speed, decided
> that maybe
> >>Philmont was not for him, and withdrew on his own.
> >
> This post bothers me - a lot. (and I'm not trying to start a
> flame war)
>
> What is being expressed is "This boy should not be there
> because he has
> to go slow." It sounds as if he withdrew because he was
> humiliated and
> ashamed that he could not keep up.
> I see this as a leadership failure that manifested itself in scorn
> toward this scout.
>
> It is not unusual for several scouts to struggle on the first
> shakedown.
> And those struggles can be handled so that the boy never returns or
> they can be handled so that the Scout knows that he has the
> support to
> handle the stress. The trick is to instill crew values into
> every crew
> member so that they look after each other and find ways for every
> willing and able person to reach their goals. Philmont is
> not a trail
> race. It is a life experience.
>
> YiS
> Doug
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------
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