Field Trip/Activity question?

[Lady_Leigh67]

We had our Annual Planning Meeting for the year. We have some awesome things planned.

 

Have a couple of questions though.

 

A couple of the activities or field trips that we would like to do are archery and rock climbing. Both of these are indoor activities with instructors for both, but not necessarily BSA instructors. One is an indoor archery range where I know some local kids take lessons, so instructors are there. The rock climbing is at an indoor rec center and instructors are part of the 2 hour rental of the wall for a group.

 

Is this okay for our Pack to do? We know already that the Tigers will not allowed to participate in the rock wall climb, due to the minimum age. We have an alternate activity planned for them that day.

 

Need some feedback, folks! Thanks!

[OldGreyEagle]

I hope you don't mind a book answer. Climbing on a Horizontal wall or a Commercial Site is approved for all scouts, from Tigers on up. Bouldering is also allowed from Tigers on up.

 

then again the minimum age you mentioned may be due to the facility you are going to so of course you follow their rules as well.

 

Check the Age Appropriate Guideline in the Guide to Safe Scouting

 

 

http://dev2.scouting.org/pdf/34416.pdf

 

The kids will love to climb!

[CNYScouter]

The first place to check for questions like this is the Guide to Safe Scouting or G2SS.

 

there is an online version and one that can be down-loaded to view offine. This can also be purchased at a Scout Store.

It is updated every year.

 

http://www.scouting.org/HealthandSafety/GSS/toc.aspx

 

In the Appendix there is Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities

 

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/ageguides.pdf

 

For archery - Target, Action (Moving targets) at the Cubs Scout level is at Council/District Outdoor Programs Only.

Field Archery is not done at the Cub Scout level.

 

Climing is OK for all levels (Tigers w/ an Adult Partner) at a Commercial or Horizontal Wall.

 

 

[Bob White]

And yet another book answer..

Archery is a restricted activity. Here is what Chapeter 8 of the Guide to Safe Scouting says regarding Cub Scouts and archery

 

"Archery and BB gun shooting are restricted to day camps, Cub Scout/Webelos Scout resident camps, council-managed family camping programs, or to council activities where there are properly trained supervisors and all standards for BSA shooting sports are enforced. Archery and BB gun shooting are not to be done at the pack level.

 

BW

[John-in-KC]

Sadly, some cold water. From G2SS, Archery is out...

 

Cub Scouting Standards

 

Youth members of Cub Scouting are permitted to participate in the shooting activities named in here only.

 

Archery and BB gun shooting are restricted to day camps, Cub Scout/Webelos Scout resident camps, council-managed family camping programs, or to council activities where there are properly trained supervisors and all standards for BSA shooting sports are enforced. Archery and BB gun shooting are not to be done at the pack level.

 

Cub Scouts are not permitted to use any other type of handgun or firearm.

http://www.scouting.org/healthandsafety/gss/gss08.aspx

 

Now with this said, the way to bring Archery in is to ask Council to operate their range and furnish instructors as an activity your Pack will fall in on. Yes, it will cost $$$, but I suspect less than the local commercial range.

 

Let us know how this turns out.

[Bob White]

I do not think that is a viable alternative John. That would still be a pack event, and the BSA restriction says specifically that archery cannot be done at a packe event.

 

Nor does it say that the activity must be done on the council's range, it states it must be done DURING the specific events that they list.

 

 

[John-in-KC]

I have to contact one of our Reservation Directors and the Support Services Director today. I'll ask. The wording isn't that cut and dried...

[Pack212Scouter]

The restriction on archery states "or to council activities where there are properly trained supervisors and all standards for BSA shooting sports are enforced." If the Council will approve and supply supervisors for the event, then it does not matter if only one pack attends. The restriction is that Packs cannot run the event.

[Bob White]

Pack212Scouter

If the Council holds a Council activity and invites all the Packs, but only one Pack shows up, it is still a Council activity.

 

But the Council cannot put on an event for just one pack. That would be a pack activity and the the G2SS says that you cannot have an archery activity at a Pack event.

 

 

[Beavah]

But the Council cannot put on an event for just one pack. That would be a pack activity and the the G2SS says that you cannot have an archery activity at a Pack event.

 

A swing... and a miss!

 

Sorry, BW, but what makes somethin' a council event is sponsorship and supervision, not who attends. There are some council climbing directors, for example, who run weekend events on a signup/registration basis for troops and crews as council events (block off 4 weekends, let individual units sign up, etc.).

 

It's also possible to arrange memoranda of agreement with the approval of the Region which makes a particular site a council-approved site for G2SS purposes (usually this involves an agreement over primary insurer, an inspection, and some agreement on instructor certification/protocols). I know of a council that has done that for a shooting sports club, for example.

 

Lots of ways to skin a cat if you're creative and yeh are goin' to provide a good experience for kids.

 

Lady_Leigh, no problem with da rock climbin' even for Tigers, as others have told you. I'd encourage yeh to work with a commercial establishment that has done a lot of kids' groups, and to be willin' to pay extra for staff, eh? Yeh want the kids to have a good first experience. One person from the pack should take Climb on Safely Trainin' just to be able to recognize the elements for havin' that good experience.

 

For archery, you'll just have to tread carefully, eh? That one really takes a lot for cub-aged boys to have a good, safe experience with, which is why G2SS places the limits it does. Explore options with your council. If yeh can't work it out, you can still cross-market with the archery range. Get 'em to give you fliers good for a small discount for families to take their kids to the range on their own. In exchange, get 'em to agree to make Cub Scouting flyers (good for a discount on a pinewood derby car!) available to their young archery members and see if you get any recruits!

 

Beavah

 

[Basementdweller]

And their off. Dazed and Confused yet? Hang out it will get worse.

 

 

While your being confused have you taken the new severe weather training required for your tour permit.

 

 

[John-in-KC]

Well, I got the answer for my Council...

 

Yes, we do rent out our Cub World Archery Range and BB range. Rental includes equipment, rangemaster, lessons, all to National Standards.

 

Unit rents it, Council calendars the activity as a closed event under their sponsorship.

 

Lady_Leigh, the key point is you have to see what your Council is willing to do for you Hopefully, they believe in customer service and will find a way to make it happen for you Just remember to stay inside the right/left limits of G2SS.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

[Lisabob]

Our council has also done what John describes so I'm thinking it is probably fairly common procedure.