YP and Family Camping

[scoutldr]

Just got back from a weekend campout at a local city owned campground. Also in the campground were two Cub Packs camping with moms, dads, siblings, dogs, and, of course, cubbies of all ages. Why am I uneasy? Youth protection seemed to be non-existent in these units. Kids were running rampant throughout the campground...no adults, no buddy system. Several times, I found myself alone in the restroom/shower building with youth, one as young as about 5. Last night, there was some guy in there taking a shower who looked pretty scruffy...I think he was a homeless guy who just dropped in to freshen up, since he put his ratty clothes back on and had no towel, soap or other stuff that one normally takes to the shower.

 

Word to the wise to Cubbers...public campgrounds are not "safe havens" where you can kick back with a cuppa joe and let the kids run wild. They are public places and the front gate is open all night with no security guard checking ID. There was a ranger patrolling in a pickup, but his schedule was very predictable. If I had been a pedophile or kidnapper, I could have had a field day. A little common sense, please, folks.

[Tami the Mom]

I think before anyone takes their kids- scouts or just their own, to a public campground, they should be informed about who is there. Public campgrounds- state parks included, are very well known hunting grounds for pedophiles. Everyone knows that kids will be set free to roam with little or no supervision for long periods of time. There are a million places to hide away with someone's kid. And if you can get the kid to climb into your car, you can be 100 miles away before anyone even knows you're gone.

 

In the situation you are describing, I would hope that the parents would be more cautious. I don't think the BSA would stand behind these folks at all if any problems arose as a result of this kind of camping. We always take our Cubs to a BSA camp.

[ScoutNut]

"I don't think the BSA would stand behind these folks at all if any problems arose as a result of this kind of camping."

 

 

If it was a council approved camping ground & the Cub Units had approved Travel Permits, then why on earth would you think the BSA would NOT stand behind them? Of course they would.

 

Public camping grounds or BSA, it really makes no difference. If someone really wants to harm a child they will find a way.

[EagleInKY]

According to the G2SS, Cub Scout family camping must be conducted at council facilities or approved faciliites. I haven't had much experience at it, but I think our council frowns on using these public campgrounds, unless it is in a group area where the scouts can be separated from the general public.

 

Anyone else have similar experience?

[Eamonn]

Our Council Camping Committee does have a list of approved camp sites for Cub Scout camps.

Sad thing is that many Cub Scouters don't follow the rules, or the guidelines.

I'm not sure if they really don't know or just choose to ignore them?

I would call the District Camping Committee Chair. and let him know that this camp is not a suitable camp for Cub Scouts /Boy Scouts??

Maybe it will prevent some little Lad getting hurt at some time down the road. The Chair can also ask that the people in the Service Center are careful with who they issue Tour Permits to.

Eamonn.

[scoutldr]

This park IS on the approved list. They were in a "group site", which is just a larger site mixed in among the RV sites. The playground and shower house were on the other side of the campground, and kids were allowed to roam at will. The kids weren't being bad...just having fun. If we limit cub packs to just council-owned properties, I would guess that most would not go, since there would be no flush toilets or showers, electric hook ups, or even water, unless they drive 2 hours to the main Council Reservation.

 

There was no problem with the park that would cause it to be "unapproved". The problem was with the adult supervision. I think that most leaders will assume that, as long as the scout's parent is there, it's the parent's responsibility to protect their own children. Perhaps the solution is to make YP training mandatory for all parents, as well.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

[madkins007]

On a Cub pack-level overnighter, the parents are in charge of their own youth.

 

If the outline in the Leader Book was followed, each family was taught the basics of YPT and other do's and don'ts beforehand- and that may have been the big missing step.

 

[FScouter]

BALOO training addresses these issues. If there is no planned program, the default program is "run around wild".

[Eamonn]

" Last night, there was some guy in there taking a shower who looked pretty scruffy...I think he was a homeless guy who just dropped in to freshen up, since he put his ratty clothes back on and had no towel, soap or other stuff that one normally takes to the shower."

 

Wow!! if this meets the approval of the Council, I'm glad I'm not in that Council -Give me the two hour drive anyday.

Eamonn.

 

[scoutldr]

So, what are you saying, Eamonn? If the campsite access cannot be controlled by BSA, and if we can't assure separate facilities for youth and adults, the site should not be on the approved list? That would essentially kill any Cub camping in this Council.

[Lynda J]

Did you get the Unit Number? If so I would contact your council and advise them of what you witnessed. My guess is this was a group whose leadership has taken very little training and certainly not YPT or Baloo. I know of a Cub Pack in our district that has never taken anything but New Leader Basic. They also camp all the time anywhere and no leader has any outdoor training.

And they NEVER file a Tour Permit. I informed our DE and he and the SE contacted the Cub Master and informed him that he was in direct violation of BSA Policies. They also contacted the CO.

THe CO informed the Pack that unless all leaders were properly trained and BSA camping policies were followed that they would remove the current leadership and find others to take the unit.