[Philmont]: Read the entire comment before reacting

Long-time List members will recall that I have commented on these issues
in the past. I could go into a long-winded tirade against idiots
(recall the 4 or 5 Crews we found swimming in the Cimarron this past
summer, and a too long list of similar transgressions only some of which
I have reported to this List); however, that seems rather pointless when
we're looking for solutions. Similarly, it is easy to quickly rise to
the bait and defend the BSA, using the usual defense of a few bad
apples. That's not an answer either - especially when those of us whose
service is measured in decades have watched the overall situation
continuously deteriorate over the years. What was once rare is now only
too common.

You may recall a post I made about 6 - 8 months ago where I commented
that my personal efforts to correct bad behavior in neighboring Units
(whether at Camporees or in the wilderness) was almost invariably met
with icy, grim-faced silence or open hostility. Those of you who know
me personally can attest that I have a reputation for walking into
lions' dens, and - politely or not - not leaving until I have some
satisfaction. In my observation, there aren't too many others willing
to do the same in our "MYOB" world. I hope most of the folks on this
List ARE willing to do so, when necessary. To paraphrase an obscure
Japanese Q&A proverb: "Who must do the difficult things? - Those who
are able."

If I had to put my finger on one critical issue, it's BAD LEADERS. One
of my standing jokes in answer to "What are the qualifications for being
a Scout Leader?" is: "A pulse." Most of the folks on this List who
were Scouts probably had at least some WWII and Korean War vets as Scout
Leaders, along with a smattering of true outdoorsmen and hunters, etc.
We learned the nuts and bolts of Scouting, and proper respect for the
outdoors, "the right way". This is not to say that everyone got
fabulous instruction in Scoutcraft and woodlore, but most of us did OK
by our leadership when we were boys.

Now, however, that sort of basic instruction from qualified leaders is
uncommon. This would not be a crisis if we had proper outdoorsmanship
training programs, but we don't. Most of the current basic training is
administrivia and how to run meetings sort of stuff, and basic outdoor
skills are a rush job. What makes it even more critical is that most of
the training is purely voluntary - and of course the people that need it
most are the ones who are seen the least.

One illustrative vignette, if I may: We had a Camporee here three weeks
ago. It rained fairly hard Friday night (as had been predicted for four
days in the weather forecast), and moderately on-and-off on Saturday.
The Horror, the Horror! One Unit didn't show at all, because it was
going to rain. Two Units packed up and left before breakfast (!), four
more after lunch, and four more before or after dinner. By Sunday
morning, a predicted pre-Camporee attendance of over 400 was down to
about 80 (my Unit was 25% of that total - everyone who signed up
attended, they all stayed, and we were all dry, how about that?) And
this was a GREAT Camporee too, probably the best I have ever attended as
an Adult. The whining and excuse-mongerings among the departing were
unbelievable. What are these people doing in the woods with kids!!!

Are there "good" answers? Frankly, I don't think so. There are added
requirements, perceived threats, and actual (and painful) punishments.

To answer Jim's immediate question, one thing that I would personally
want to see is a formally organized BSA National Complaint Office, where
agencies such as the National Forestry Service or National Parks Service
could dime out a Unit for bad behavior. To my knowledge, there is no
such Office or reporting mechanism. I suspect much of the frustration
expressed by the NFS personnel that Jim talked to would be immediately
alleviated if they felt that they could file a formal complaint with
some governing body, that it would result in corrective action. [And
that corrective action had better be something more than a useless
"whataboutit" phone call from the DE or Commissioner.]

Second, I would like to see the BSA teach all federal, state, and local
agencies that deal with Scouts, that the very first thing they should
ask for when a Unit arrives on their doorstep is the Unit's approved
Tour Permit. [As we all know, TP compliance is a nationwide joke.] No
permit, access denied, period. And furthermore that in exchange for the
permit, every adult present gets handed a list of the pertinent
regulations and made to read and sign them right there on the spot.

Third, the Tour Permit should have some more pertinent signoffs, such
as: "By my signature, I am affirming that my Unit will abide by all
applicable BSA regulations and restrictions, and will also abide by all
non-BSA applicable regulations and restrictions in effect at all
activities and locales covered by this Permit. I furthermore affirm my
understanding that my BSA membership may be terminated for failure to
abide by all said regulations and restrictions." Or some such similar
language all done up in legal Latin. And every attending adult needs to
sign it. This will get their attention.

Finally, the BSA *MUST* implement some useful training requirements for
new Leaders. It is beyond ridiculous that the only penalty for failure
to get training is loss of a Quality Unit Award. It is also beyond
ridiculous that we have to get trained to death in administrivia (for
example, Youth Protection (over and over and over...)), but can go
camping anywhere any time without so much as IOLS, never mind something
actually useful. We certainly don't need to go the route of the Girl
Scouts and have training requirements that are so Draconian that it
drives leaders away, but at the same time our Leaders should have more
than "a pulse" to be qualified to take Scouts into the woods. If we
lose some leaders, and maybe some Units, so be it - the ones that comply
will be far better for it.

Obviously I could write for hours on this topic, but that's for
Scouts-L, not here. But the issue is serious enough that all Philmont
Scouters should think about it. Remember, one of our (unstated)
responsibilities is to utilize and disseminate applicable Philmont
methodologies to our fellow Scouters; i.e., to educate and train.

- Dr. Bob

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Received on Sun Nov 13 21:22:44 2005