RichardB

The tent was just a victim in prior analysis, thanks for identifying it's active role and the need to eliminate the exposure.

On a serious note - If any of you call or email about this I will now at least know where it came from. Second serious note: Put up your best practices if you are proud of them - www.myscouting.org Thrid point - elevated water entry (ala rope swings) does have water entry height restrictions for cause. Not so serious (well sort of) We continue to evaluate the hazards, risks and rewards of roasting marshmallows........

So what about the argument that "water pistols" are only appropriate for Venturing? Had not seen it tossed out yet. The site counter informs me that there are 1253 active users. About .1% of the regsitered adults. Can you imagine what the 99.9% also come up with as what is a "water gun" and how can I use it.

Have found rarely does debate work on forums. Can provide guideance, point folks in the right direction, ask leading questions to get a little bit bigger scope out front, may or may not be able to say yes or no. In most cases it depends is probably the answer but if it has to be yes or no, and there is not a mitagation of risk then no will be the answer. I find myself using if it looks like a duck, acts like a duck then it is probably a duck often these days. Want a protocol - ask your council (H&S / RM / Program folks). They or you still have questions fill one in. http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GotQuestions.aspx Want to research H&S / RM - i.e. scouting safely issues: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety.aspx Take names - ask the right folks - most of the time there is an answer. Why may not always be readily apparent and some things you all may never no why by design. Richard (Sweating at camp this week)

Interesting twists and turns - water "guns" (gun and firearm are synonyms BTW), Water filled balloons, waterfilled sponges, marshmallows. All projected at another.....(there are some folks and a few with law degrees who might have suggested this is not "kind" BTW) To play both sides of the fence - would it matter that my "watergun" puts out several gallons a minute and has a pressure boost and yours won't squirt but 3 feet? What if the balloons are propelled with great accuracy and distance via a crew served sling - as in 100 yards or 20 feet? Do the sponges fill with dirt, grass, or other objects after round one? What is the safe area to do these activities? Are the marshmallows flaming at the time of lauch? (and have you every really looked at the risks associated with S'Mores? - That was a NAM topic in Orlando, got calls for 6 months that we were banning them.........Because of the fire risks BTW, well that and bears.....) As to the OP - the click23 quote is the source I'd point to.

So it only took 2 hours for someone to send us the question.................anyone going to admit it are you just going to post the reply?

so back to the OP - why don't you all modernize / wordsmith this and let me know how it could be more clear, consise and complete. Comments don't count / must be ready to copy edit: A sharp pocketknife with a can opener on it is an invaluable backcountry tool. Keep it clean, sharp, and handy. Avoid large sheath knives. They are heavy and awkward to carry, and unnecessary for most camp chores except for cleaning fish. Since its inception, Boy Scouting has relied heavily on an outdoor program to achieve its objectives. This program meets more of the purposes of Scouting than any other single feature. We believe we have a duty to instill in our members, youth and adult, the knowledge of how to use, handle, and store legally owned knives with the highest concern for safety and responsibility. Rememberknives are not allowed on school premises, nor can they be taken aboard commercial aircraft.

txbobber, please contact the council or the camp with your issues so they can be addressed. This council is ready and willing to engage the allegations but would need someone to step forward with specifics to a trek that would have happened several weeks ago due to the fires. 'tis also noteworthy that some councils take advantage of bulk buys and every year buy new product along with PSR. (This message has been edited by richardb)

Used the pdf to get the 8 "whole word" fun's. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34416.pdf So missed out on some of your fun finds Beavah. The locations are: Internet top right page 5, Summer Camp lower right page 16, bicycle riding page 34, Skating upper left page 34, Winter Sports page 45 & 46 (2x), tour plan page 58. I also did a quick scan of three new MBP. Note there is only one use of "fun" in the robotics MBP, and 5 in inventing MBP and 8 in the Geocaching MBP so perhaps we could just say the latest GTSS is either a) more fun or b) at least as fun as advancement!

There are only 8 uses of the word fun in the current GTSS. None that I can tell used in a manner which regulates it out of scouting. Richard

Interesting approach with everyone already being registerd in the crew. Hope there isn't a hiccup at arrival with who actually has the reservation, would be interesting if two crews showed up and someone questioned which was the real one....... http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/Alerts/Insurance.aspx Richard

Just another scouter trying to keep the movement moving. All registered members of the BSA are all part of the the national organization BTW. Certain topics blend more into my day to day and that of the H&S Support Committee that I advise. This is one of those topics. As a related topic, sometimes we all need to think of a larger impact. Thus if "I" (or other H&S volunteers) can participate here and on a couple other forums then the hope is to keep the misinfo to a minimum.(This message has been edited by Richardb)

"State" has the intended impact of somewhere between 30,000 and 100,000 youth. Think big!

Or just maybe it's there to facilitate state resident and day camping standard / requirements......but then again maybe just to make sure you were reading the FAQs......so 5 yr are you saying you want more than one form? I know people:)

Have the council contact me if they have questions / reach no conclusion AFTER talking to your CC / COR. Richard Bourlon PS: Initial thoughts (sorry I lost the will to continue reading after the first page) is that the two separate starting points is not the issue, the relationship / ratio of leader to youth and sex of youth / adults is more than likely the issue that will create concern. That and the assumption that the unit can at will chose not to have part of a trip as a scouting activity when there appears to be no other reason to travel as a group.(This message has been edited by richardb)

Folks please review: http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss06.aspx specific to not using chemicals / fuels to start fires at scouting events. The Sweet 16 of BSA safety is a good review for the battery / steel wool use. http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/HealthandSafety/Sweet16.aspx Thanks, Richard

Or could it have just been based on knowledge of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) development and it's relationship to risk taking behaviour......

Now Beavah, have you read the link?

Like you I constantly ponder why those folks charged with protecting the brand, people, property and environment of scouting would listen to their volunteers / committee / counsel / voices in their head and not issue a ppt for this particular topic by design. Something about consistent delivery, well meaning modifications, 24/7 availability.... http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/HealthandSafety/Alerts/WeatherCD.aspx is the link to info on the version available publicly. Were you using this item or a BIN item which was given to councils initially? If the BIN item, it is obsolete. And if your meteorologist has issues (on the sold item), send the specific suggestions to health.safety@scouting.org and I'll make sure the comments are considered by "our" meteorologists.... And moxieman, thank you for what you do for our youth. Richard

"...In situations not specifically covered in this guide, activity planners should evaluate the risk or potential risk of harm, and respond with action plans based on common sense, community standards, the Boy Scout motto, and safety policies and practices commonly prescribed for the activity by experienced providers and practitioners..." Now Beavah there are some folks that instead of making comments just propose "copy edit ready material". ....It's much easier for folks to execute.....

"...The purpose of the Guide to Safe Scouting is to prepare members of the Boy Scouts of America to conduct Scouting activities in a safe and prudent manner. The policies and guidelines have been established because of the real need to protect members from known hazards that have been identified through 100 years of experience. Limitations on certain activities should not be viewed as stumbling blocks; rather, policies and guidelines are best described as stepping-stones toward safe and enjoyable adventures..."

Eagle1973, IIRC your comments came in as a question and were passed onto / are being reviewed by the shooting sports task force, SSTF, and their advisor. So unless that was someone else named Steve from VA you already found a way. Give it time. Be prepared for more info as the SSTF moves forward with several guides, updates and changes. Suggest that would not get my hopes up for major changes to age appropriate guideance nor would I suggest that the requirements to have an RSO (whose job as I'm sure you know is to run the range, not instruct or coach) will be much modified. As to the qualifications of the SSTF, doubt there is anyone with more trigger or shooting sports teaching time volunteering for scouting. Richard

The Blancmange valid medical records are valid in 2011. RememberSchiff, the Tour Plan reminds folks to have AHMR (which has generated several questions, apparently the need for this is "new" to some). So are you saying you want the Tour Plan to remind you when to execute on H/W issues for each tour? How would you set it up so that it would be clear to all using it?

Along the lines of lessons learned you all are reporting incidents beyond scout rendered first aid right? http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-016_fillable.pdf Found here http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/Forms.aspx if you were looking...

Also suggest http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/HealthandSafety/Training/wilderness_fa/faq.aspx and http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/amredcross.aspx which is the summary of the agreement with the American Red Cross. The primary goal of the agreement is for each council to become self-sufficient with its own instructors and trainers of instructors so that BSA staff and volunteers are available to teach the courses whenever and wherever best meets local Scouting needs.