Scouting accidents rarer than they may seem

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http://nn.byu.edu/story.cfm/56016

 

By Rachel Nelson

Daily Universe Staff Reporter

7 Jul 2005

 

Garrett Bardsley has been missing in the Uinta Mountains since August 2004. Brennan Hawkins was lost and found in the area mid-June this summer. Luke Sanburg fell into the Yellowstone River and has been missing since June 24.

 

All three names are familiar to national audiences, but are even more familiar to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The three boys, ages 11 to 13, all experienced something terrible on a scouting trip. And all were members of the church.

 

Now, another scout has been added to the list. Chase Hathenbruck, 15, drowned last week in the Animas River in New Mexico while rafting with his varsity scout team that was chartered to the church.

 

John Gailey of the Utah National Parks Council, which heads the Boy Scouts in Utah County, said that despite the few recent accidents, there are more than 500,000 scouts camping each year, and nearly all of them come home safely.

 

Safety is most important to us, Gailey said. Weve been asked if we should even take youth out. One core part of the program is to challenge scouts outdoors.

 

But those few incidents are still a major concern for those involved with the scouts. Of the eight scouting fatalities across the country during the last year, five have been church members.

 

Despite these accidents, church leaders will continue to run the chartered scouting programs as they always have, said Scott Trotter, church spokesman. He said that though the situation may need to be evaluated, they are relying on the Boy Scouts for any extra training that is needed.

 

Even when you follow the rules, mishaps occur, Trotter said. But were sticking with it.

 

The church is not the largest organization chartered by the Boy Scouts of America, Gailey said. Other organizations around the country, including other churches, parent-teacher associations and community organizations sponsor Boy Scout charters.

 

A condition of the charter is that the organizations obey the bylaws of the program and provide their own leaders and meeting places.

 

Leadership is the biggest problem with the churchs involvement in the scouting program, said Brad Harris, associate professor of recreational management and youth leadership.

 

Harris worked professionally with the Boy Scouts for 23 years before coming to BYU to teach scouting education classes.

 

Most of the problems were not scout problems, they were church problems, in my opinion, Harris said.

 

Often leaders fail to obey the rules set for scouting activities, Harris said. They take scouts four-wheeling and shooting paintball guns, though they are not activities promoted by the program or covered by its insurance.

 

The main difference I see is, outside of the church, people join scouting because they want to be in it, said Clint Lawton, a senior in the scouting education program. Inside the church, boys join because they are deacons. Whether thats good or bad, I will leave to someone else.

 

Lawton was at the camp in the Uintas when Bardsley went missing last year. The 12-year-old wasnt at an official scout camp when he was lost, Lawton said.

 

The boys are a lot safer when they are at official camps where rules are in place, Lawton said.

 

Tenure problems are also inherent with scouting leaders within the church, Harris said. The tenure of a church scout leader is, on average, seven to nine months. Outside of the church, leaders often volunteer for five to 12 years.

 

Church leaders are there primarily because it is their calling, while scout leaders outside the church are true volunteers, Harris said.

 

Harris said he has noticed a difference in how church leaders promote safety within the scouting program during the last two years.

 

Lately the church has focused more on safety, Harris said. The general Young Mens presidency has created a presentation and has visited places around the world promoting safe scouting.

 

Lawton said the rules and scout policies are all in place, but its how closely leaders and scouts follow those rules that matter.

 

The number of scouts that get hurt is so miniscule, Lawton said. I dont think they need any more rules, just more training.

[fgoodwin]

Sorry -- I posted this before I realized it was already posted in the original thread -- perhaps the mods can close this thread?