[Philmont] "Quality" of Staff at A staff camp in 2003

I hope that your last line was in jest. To equate one bad back country
staff experience to " a case of beer and a bong" is a bit of a stretch,
don't you think?
No, it was not in jest. It was a reference to the statement and
behavior portrayed in the Outside mag discussed a few days ago. If they
act that way in front of young scouts and older adults, there's nothing
left to restrain them alone with a group of their peers.

Remember, back country staff members are only a few years - if that many
- removed from the protective cover of their mothers apron. They are
but young adults trying to find their place in this world.
But they were Scouts. It doesn't matter how far they are from momma,
they should act like Scouts. Or at least that's what I expect of Scouts.
 
 Sounds as if the problem at Uracca was that they were lacking a
slightly older CD who could rein in the typical disdain youth of that
age have for some of us older and supposedly wiser folks. I assure you
that once the PTB found out what was going one, it was addressed with
possible dismissals. Mark Anderson simply does not put up with such
antics.
True enough, he or someone did. I don't know what was done but was told
that the problem had been dealt with.

Now, don't get me wrong, some do "play" differently in their off time
(and generally off property) than do others. Shoot, when I was on
staff, I know I did some things which I regret. Some of it was
stupidity. Some of it was "stretching the wings". Some of it was
blowing off steam.
I certainly can't "cast the first stone" either. We've all made
mistakes even in the name of having fun, or at least I have.
 
 However, at no time did our late 1970's off-piste activities even come
close to what has been described in what I will generously call
journalistic offerings of the past few years.
Rice, I guess my point was that even in "God's country" there may be
some who acted like the Outside mag writer said. I don't know. Believe
me I didn't like the article depicting Scouting as it did. I cancelled
my subscription to the mag after that article appeared also. There is,
we'll all probably agree, a not so hidden agenda against Scouting in the
journalistic world. But just a few bad apples in Scouting, or on staff
at Philmont, acting like those depicted in the article or like we
observed at Uraaca, give those looking for an opportunity to hurt the
BSA all the ammo they need.
 
If the writer had been on the porch with us that rainy night in 2003, he
would have reached the same conclusion. Some of the same "slang words"
he used in his article were used on the porch that night, just not in a
drunken stupor but in a feeble attempt at humor.
 
Rice Brewer
Fort Smith, AR

Wayne White, present CC, former SM of 14 years,
Troop 222, Moulton, Alabama

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Received on Wed Oct 17 06:24:00 2007