[philmont] Little guys are Scouts also

I have a comment on this as well as a semi-dilemma of similar proportion.

First the comment, in 2003 when I went to Philmont as a rookie advisor (w/ an experienced one) we had a small crew from our troop, 9 of us total, 2 adults over 21, 1 18 YO, 1 17 YO and 5 guys that were all 14 (one turned 15 on the trail and 1 on the train on the way home.) Of our 5 14 YO's, 1 was a slightly overweight wall-toed, knock-kneed kid that was our resident First Aid example and 2 were small enough that we had to limit the amount of weight they could carry. There were different times that I worried about all three of them as well as my co-advisor that was in his mid-50's and not quite as prepared as he could have been (as well as fighting a few minor health issues, hypo-glycemia and stomache problems he blamed on the polar pure.) We all made it. When we got back, my co-advisor and I commented to each other as I'm sure a lot of 'us' do that "if it weren't for 'that one scout' it would have been a perfect crew" ....neither of us were disappointed in the trek, it was
 just an offhand comment that our 1 scout (the heavier, less coordinated kid) was a constant challenge to get out of camp in the morning and get set up when we arrived, did laundry and hung up his clothes without wringing them first... the list goes on and on... nothing disaterous but enough little things to be a challenge. We had attended mass trailbound night and were attending the non-denominational home bound and the pastor giving the sermon addressed just what we had said in his talk. He said 'think about it, if you make that comment and then imagine the trek without that scout, you next inclination is to pick out the next scout that created challenges on the trail and you'd be wishing that scout away...." he then made the point that, "We All Made It" means just that and part of the greatness of the experience is overcoming all the challenges and returning with your crew as a team. My co-advisor and I looked at each other knowingly and it was my feeling that we
 silently agreed at that point that we wouldn't discuss the thought again. I would say that it sounds like this senior patrol leader carries more than his weight and I would think that it would be a great learning and teaching experience to do what it takes to make sure this kid can have this opportunity.

NOW, that being said, I'm going to call myself a hypocrite before anyone else can. When we started planning our council crew for 2007, one of the boys in my troop mentioned interest. This is a scout that is the epitomy of a 'picky eater'. He only survives our campouts because he can bring his own 'extra food' and survive a weekend. His campout diet relies heavily on 'Cracklin' Oat Bran' cereal. He is also a very inflexible kid that has a lot of trouble adapting to uncomfortable situations. He has very little physical involvement outside of what he gets on our troop calendar and is the only scout I've ever seen opt out of the OA Ordeal after spending his night out. When it came time to sign up I talked to my mentor (who also happens to be our High School Principal and former Scoutmaster of my Troop) he agreed with me totally and actually was more adamant that this was not the right event for this young man than I had been. We both discussed it with him and I also discussed
 it with both his parents (both agreeing with our assessment and apparently having not considered the rigors of a 60+ mile backpacking trek at altitude.) This youth has changed quite a bit in a year physically but is still fairly thin and would probably be on a pack weight restriction. His eating habits haven't changed nor has his inflexibility. I fear that he would starve on the trail and if he got to a point where he was physically exhausted, he would sit and refuse to move. There is a chance that we'll have an open spot on our crew and I am inclined to reconsider my decision after the recent 'small guy' discussion but am still VERY apprehensive about starting down the trail with him and I feel he is a different case than the one(s) mentioned below. I throw myself on the mercy of the list and ask for any wisdom and guidance of the collective experts here.

Kevin Mineart
Scoutmaster Troop 214
Mississippi Valley Council Contingent Crew Advisor 618-E2

----- Original Message ----
From: John LeBlanc <philmontjohn@yahoo.com>
To: philmont List Member <philmont@troop47.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 3:20:57 PM
Subject: [philmont] Little guys are Scouts also

in regards to the "little guy" question. Can he make it?
 
The simple answer is "of course he can and should".
 
In 1959, I was a scrawny 14 year old with a burning desire to go to Philmont. I had foregone the National Jamboree in 1957 at age 12 for a chance to go to Philmont two years later..
 
Let me say that the only thing in life I ever wanted to be was a Boy Scout. Both at age 11 and now at age 62. Some things change and some don't.
 
My dad was concerned with letting his little boy, his first son, go off to Valley Forge at such a young age and put off his consternation with an offer for Philmont two years later.
 
As the time approached, I got ready. I'd pack up my Yucca pack with National Geographic magazines and take hikes with an overweight pack for "training". I was determined.
 
When we first met to discuss the trek to Philmont, some people expressed concern over the size of some of the boys who wanted to go. They never directed it to me personally, but as the smallest of the group, it was not difficult for me to know they were talking about me.
 
After the first meeting, my dad talked to the lead advisor, Bill Godwin as to his advise on whether to let me go or not. Bill's answer was simply "he'll do fine".
 
The decision for me to go stirred quite a rumble amoung the helicopter mothers who hovered around their sons.
 
To this day, Bill Godwin is looked up to by me with a great respect because he believed in me and helped me and fended off any criticism of letting the "little guy go".
 
I did just fine on the trek and it wasn't me who slowed the trek down but some of the "big ole boys" who weren't ready for it.
 
My going was the highlight of my youth. Hiking Philmont showed me that I could overcome great obstacles if I simply tackled them one step at a time. It opened the door to a life in the outdoors that I still enjoy.
 
I returned to Philmont in 2002 with my youngest daughter and stood atop Mt Phillips with her at age 57 (me) even more proudly than I did in 1959 at age 14 as the little guy.
 
Too much emphasis is placed today on length of trek, doing the difficult routes and how tough Scouts are and not enough emphasis on Scouting is for everyone.
 
As a leader, if you single out a Scout and discourage them from going because you "feel" he cannon make it, you have FAILED in you duty as a leader. You have let your prejudices rule your kingdom and nowhere in BSA training will you find that as a principle.
 
If however, you take the lead and guide the crew into accepting the little guy as one of them andguide the Scouts in their decision of the route based on the wants and needs of EVERYONE in the group, then you have succeeded in your leadership role.
 
When hiking as a group it often becomes drudgery to "take a number and get in line" and trudge on. Remember that a Scout crew IS NOT a military marching unit. It is a walk in the park and should remain so for everyone involved.
 
If you succeed in your leadership role, then the Scouts will get a lot more from the trek than a 50 miler award and the arrowhead. They will get an adventure to last them and to guide them their entire lefetime.
 
If you succeed, then they will succeed.
 
Little guys are Scouts also.
 
John LeBlanc
Eagle Scout 1959
Philmont 1959 & 2002

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Received on Tue Mar 27 16:07:32 2007