Scout Does not like Camping

[SMT224]

Let him go. You cannot change your program to fit someone who will probably leave anyway. Some boys do not like camping, and like others have said, there are other Scout activities, but this one sounds like he has a number of issues that that go well beyond any possible reasonable accommodation.

 

95% of the boy in our Troop love camping and so we do a lot of camping. One of the Webelos who crossed over several years ago did not like camping so he left and joined a Troop that does alot of Scouting activities, but minimal camping. It worked fine and everybody's happy.

[Ohio_Scouter]

OGO,

 

Sounds to me like you've tried your best to keep the boy interested in Scouting. You can lead a Scout to the campfire, but you can't make him camp. Time to move on ...

[Apache Bob]

scoutldr - help me out. In order to make it to First Class a boy only needs 3 nights of camping. To make Eagle only 20 nights.

Oh yes, I think that camping is one of the best things in Scouting and would want all kids to enjoy the outdoors and camp every month.

[AvidSM]

I find that if a boy does not like something, he will think of every different excuse why. And, when a boy likes something, he will overlook every flaw, like the down side of youth leadership. Most boys who are a loners seems to fall in the first catagory.

[ozemu]

Oh Avid, that seems a bit broad. Personally I am an optimistic introvert.

[fleetfootedfox]

Maybe you should talk to him and his parents to make sure that there aren't other issues going on.

 

For example, if your camp-outs are perceived as boring, they won't be worth the trouble of tent camping to the boy. If he has enough fun, he might be willing to put up with the aspects he doesn't like.

 

So, like in wood badge, ask the boy "what do you want?" Or in this case, maybe "what would make you want to go camping?"

 

Or maybe he has some personal issue. Bed wetting for example? Without invading the boy's privacy, maybe you should ask the parents if there's something that you don't know about.

 

Good luck.

[fleetfootedfox]

Maybe you should talk to him and his parents to make sure that there aren't other issues going on.

 

For example, if your camp-outs are perceived as boring, they won't be worth the trouble of tent camping to the boy. If he has enough fun, he might be willing to put up with the aspects he doesn't like.

 

So, like in wood badge, ask the boy "what do you want?" Or in this case, maybe "what would make you want to go camping?"

 

Or maybe he has some personal issue. Bed wetting for example? Without invading the boy's privacy, maybe you should ask the parents if there's something that you don't know about.

 

Good luck.

[Lisabob]

Hmm. A home schooled kid who has difficulty with the "youth led" aspect and thinks adults would do a better job, who also doesn't like camping.

 

OK without knowing the young man it is impossible to make an accurate assessment. So I'm going out on a limb here and comparing what you've written to some kids I know, who have made similar statements. Your mileage may vary.

 

Some types of kids find it easier to interact with adults or with kids of significantly different age groups, than with kids close to their own age. Kids who are extremely bright, only children, and kids with various social deficits are often (though not always) examples. In my observation, these sorts of kids struggle a lot more with boy scouting than with cub scouting, because "youth led" typically means that they will be led by other boys who do not understand them, and who they do not understand either. Opportunities for bad experiences abound. Those opportunities multiply on campouts (as opposed to weekly troop meetings), where there is extended interaction with less adult presence. There is no temporary escape while on a camp out, everything you do is with other kids, and an entire weekend of this might seem interminable for a 11-12 year old kid. For kids who struggle with social interactions then, camp outs pose all sorts of anxiety-inducing possibilities.

 

If that sounds like your scout, it might be worth talking with the scout's parents first, and then with the scout about what worries him and what his coping options/mechanisms could be if he finds he's really getting stressed out over teh course of the weekend. Sometimes knowing that he can take a short break from the other kids, being invited to help the adults out with some special task, or some other "out" if things get past his endurance level, is all a kid like that needs. Another option might be to buddy him up with a very kind, significantly older boy who will include him and hang with him if he needs a break from his nearer age-mates.