[philmont] What would you do??

I agree with others that you owe it all involved, not just the scout in
question and his family, to let them know your doubts now. Problems that
start with just a single scout can quickly spread to others that get tired
of having to pick up the slack from someone they rightly or wrongly judge to
be not pulling their weight. This is particularly true after spending 4 or
5 consecutive days on the trail. Through the years I have read on this list
serve of how crews accepted the ³altruism challenge² of helping younger or
physically challenged scouts get through the adventure. I have also read,
as well as personally experienced and witnessed, the opposite reaction with
groups at each end of the possible age spectrum for Philmont crews. Each
crew make up is unique and you as leaders are the only ones in a position to
personally work your way through it to provide the best experience for ALL
the scouts in the crew. This scout¹s heart may be in it, but he may be just
too proud to admit that he is having trouble physically keeping up. As an
8th grader, he will have many more opportunities to go to Philmont if he (or
you for him) choose to sit this one out. I have been in the awkward
position of telling several youth and their parents that they were not ready
for the trip as a member of the crew. Its one of the toughest things I had
to do as an adult leader, but I did not regret the experience, nor
retrospection, required to make the decision. Two times the scouts were not
physically up the challenge and the other was for a scout that was not
capable of getting along with others for extended periods of time. I would
recommend that you trust your feelings and experience and make the decision
that will be best for the entire crew, not just the affected scout.

On the second note about your tune ups, they sound like you are right on
track. I wouldn¹t call them ³only² 10 to 12 miles in March. Depending on
the treks your crew selected and the one they ultimately will experience,
you know from your experience that this kind of mileage is pretty average
for most Philmont treks. You are also training in an area with altitude
changes and loads of opportunities for the crew to work out map reading
challenges. Training in the dry climate also is a big plus for your scouts.

Gregg Nuessly
Venturing Crew 2125
Wellington, FL

On 25/3/07 7:37 PM, "Troop 681 scouter" <troop681@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> We have one scout who, though small, we thought would be able able to make it
> backpacking Philmont for 10 days. He backpacked in the High Sierras of
> northern Califorina last summer with a school group, 5-6 days. He is small,
> completing the 8th grade this year........he is also the SPL right now and
> doing a great job.
>
> BUT, after completing our 2nd tune up this weekend, the other advisor and my
> self are starting to have doubts. On the over night tune ups, by the end of
> the hike he is taking steps and turning his feet in (pigeon toed). You can
> also tell by his body language he is struggling, though he doesn't complain.
> Our tune ups have only been 10 to 12 miles total so far, at elevations of
> 5200+ ft in San Diego county. We're backpacking the Grand Canyon (Havasupai
> Indian Reservation) in April, and he's going too.
>
> MY QUESTION --- should we tell his parents now about our doubts??? OR wait
> until after we see how he does on the Grand Canyon hike??
>
> Kim Pigorsch
> Philmont '99, '03, '07 (724-T)
> Troop 681 Outdoor Chairmun (sic)
>
> www.troop681.com - troop website
> www.sdicbsa.org - Council Website
>
> San Diego, CA
>
>>
>
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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.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Sun Mar 25 20:17:29 2007