papabear

The guiding factor here is one thing, SAFETY. If everyone is safe, back off and let the boys develope the way BP envisioned they would and how they will if we stop doing for them. It is very difficult at times especialy for newer leaders who came from Cub Scouts or are new to Scouting, our "parental" instincts are very strong and are hard to overide at times, but it needs to be done. A Patrol who forgets something needs to become inventive and overcome. If the pancake is over/under cooked , if they miss a meal, no one will be "hurt" they will still be "safe" and an important lesson will be learned. I do recommend the recommendation an other has made, it was always our policy in our Troops, to review a campout or activity the first meeting after the event. Each Patrol would meet, review and then present to the Troop, it was an effort to learn and to share and maybe avert a similar thing happening to another. Anyway, just my thoughts on the matter. MOST IMPORTANT IS SAFETY! a missed meal or burnt meal will not harm anyone....

I have just retired after 20 years in the Navy just this last year. Have spent 9 years as a Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, Den Leader, Committee Member, District Training Chairman, etc,etc. We have experianced Scouting in England, Germany, Italy, Sicily, Iceland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and now in Texas. I have seen HAZING both in the Military and in Scouting and there is only one way to address it. "ZERO" tolerance to "HAZING". But as others have said what about the "fun"? I'm a firm believer in tradition, I'm so thankful that I was one of the last "initiated" Chief Petty Officers but there were lines crossed during that initiation and it was "my" responsibility to bring it to the attention of those involved, just as it would be the responsibility of the Scoutmaster, adult leader, or PLC member or any other Scout to bring it to the attention of others and resolve the issue. If the fun is removed and behaviour not kept in check, we will lose boys as well as adults from our beloved Scouting. We are so quick to color everything as HAZING. Infriging on everyones rights. Second guessing everything that is said and done, that we just toss up our hands and say forget it, its not worth the grief. Please, adults be adults and take your part in the operation of a Den, Troop, Pack, or District for what it is suppose to be, role model, mentor, an example of what the boy should want to be. OK, off the soap box, but gee folks can't fun still be had without hurting someone???? Papabear Sends