National alcohol policy

[Dave Beam]

Had incident at summer camp with alcohol. Reported said incident and filed incident report, but felt camp director and local council executive were trying to sweep it away (I believe money is involved!).

Two questions:

1)Is there guidelines as to how camp directors are to respond and what is it?

2)Sent letters to national, local council, camp and chartered organization. Is there something else I should do or should have done?

Thanks

[scoutldr]

Welcome to the campfire! Are you any relation to Jim? The National policy is stated in Chapter IV of the Guide to Safe Scouting. I presume that violations are handled at the discretion of the Scout Executive in whose council the violation occurred.

The Boy Scouts of America prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances at encampments or activities on property owned and/or operated by the Boy Scouts of America, or at any activity involving participation of youth members. Adult leaders should support the attitude that young adults are better off without tobacco and may not allow the use of tobacco products at any BSA activity involving youth participants. All Scouting functions, meetings, and activities should be conducted on a smoke-free basis, with smoking areas located away from all participants.

[Dave Beam]

The question isn't about what the policy is, but what is the "stated response"? Are there any prescribed "plan of action"? If not, shouldn't there be such?

[Bob White]

The Council Scout Executive is responsible for investigating and acting on the matter. In order to protect both the accuser and the accused the SE will not discuss the matter beyond limits of confidentiality. Who you are was not told to the accused and what was said or done to the accused in this matter will likely not be discussed with you.

 

These matters take time to investigate. You will likely need to be patient and allow the SE tme to do the work, this violation could lead to permanent revocation of membership and so it is not treated lightly.

[Dave Beam]

But at the time of the incident, is there a written policy as to how a camp director is to react? After the fact does not help the incident resolve itself nor does it help keep our scouts safe at that particular moment.

 

In the incident that was observed by myself, scout leaders knowingly put youth in a vehicle of a man who was under the influence after being told that that man should not even be driving.

 

The camp director, after being told of this, did virtually nothing. The scout executive, after being told the whole story, was trying to dismiss it.

 

Hence my questions.

[Bob White]

The national policy requires that the local scout executive be informed. What localized process might have been created within a specific local council camp would be ipmpossible for any of us to venture a guess at. However it would need to include informing the SE. Remember that any investigation always takes place after-the-fact.

[Eamonn]

While I can't speak for other councils. In our Council, the camp which is in a state park. Does make everyone aware of both the BSA policy and the no alcohol policy from the state that does not allow alcohol in the state park.

The group that seems to break this rule the most is parents who attend the Parent /Son weekends. If they are caught they are asked to leave the camp.

We do not have a blanket policy to deal with alcohol. Each case is dealt case by case. Being as our camp is in the state park with a no alcohol rule if someone is caught with alcohol they are are asked to leave camp. A report is made to the Scout Executive. This to my way of thinking is as far as the Camp Director needs to go. His job is directing the camp.

The Scout Executive can deal with the matter as he sees fit. He has a lot of options open to him. He might take a lot of different factors into consideration. It may seem that this is being brushed under the rug, but that isn't the case. If we are talking about a Scout who brings alcohol to camp. Surely we we are talking about someone who has made a bad choice. We as an organization do not need to go for public humiliation? Isn't it better that we do all that we can to help this Lad?

If however we are talking about adults they need to be asked to leave.

Eamonn

[scoutldr]

If I had witnessed an incident of suspected child endangerment, and those in charge did not act, I would have immediately notified the local law enforcement. The immediate concern should be to remove the youth from danger, not whether the Camp Director is following the proscribed script. If the "use of alcohol" did not occur on Scout property (i.e., he showed up to pick up kids after having imbibed somewhere else), then it's a Youth Protection issue. YP training is required for all camp staff and registered Scouters. The "plan of action" is your council's policy for YP and those reporting requirements should have been followed, if not by the Camp Director, then by whoever witnessed the alleged violation. There are a lot of facts missing here, so it's probably unfair for anyone to comment who wasn't there.

[Eamonn]

OK I have now read the second posting.

Let me see if I have this right:

A person who ought not be driving is going to transport Scouts in a vehicle. I see this what action do I take?

I using my Sunday best manners inform the driver that he ought not be driving and that I will not allow the Scouts to travel with him. I also tell him that if he tries to start the vehicle that I will be calling the police. I then do everything and use whatever people are available to prevent the Scouts from traveling in that vehicle.

If I don't do this I am at fault. I would hate to see any of our Scouts hurt and allowing them to travel with a drunk driver is unforgivable.

It is very difficult to do very much after the fact. The Scout Exec.again has many options open to him.

Eamonn

[JimmyD]

Give the SE a little time (a month or 2?). Then talk to him if anything was done. Something should've bene done btw. If nothing was done this guess your next step is to talk to your Regional Director.

[Dave Beam]

I witnessed this as they were pulling away. My imediate response was to inform the camp director, since at this time the adult consuming alcohol (and under the influence) was eating dinner in the dining hall with the boys. I personally witnessed the camp director talking with the individual (not close enough to hear what was said) and nothing was done! The person then got back into his vehicle and left the area, endangering all the scouts on that particular camp road at the time.

 

The other problem with the whole situation is the fact that other unit leaders were told not to let this man drive, and they knowingly put youth in this man's vehicle. The Camp director did nothing about these irresponsible leaders!!

 

The investigation by the Scout Executive concluded with him talking with the troop leaders and was informed that "they didn't know he was drinking alcohol." The Scout Executive told me this himself, he too trying to blow the whole incident off.

 

My response at the time, had I the authority, would have been to call the police to have this individual escorted off the camp, and to excuse these leaders from the camp for allowing the whole incident to take place and condoning it. Unfortunately, once the camp director was informed, I was told everything would have been handled. I was so mislead.

[Bob White]

Actually you had the authority, responsibility, and the obligation according to the Youth Protection policies, to contact the SE yourself, and to contact the police once the adult took control of a motor vehicle. Did you?

 

The YP policies do not say to inform the camp director, they say to tell the Scout Executive and the legal reporting authority in community where the violation took place.

 

 

[Dave Beam]

You're correct. I thought by informing the proper camp authorities, I had done my job. Next time I'll know.

 

Still, the question is what should the director have done?

 

[Dave Beam]

In a round about way, by filing an incident report, right then, I did inform the scout executive. Since I was out of council, I would have had to go through the camp staff to get in touch with the scout executive. Not to mention, it was after office hours.

 

Additionally, after two telephone conversations with the SE, he too is trying to cover it up or blow it away. So, where does that leave me?

[Eamonn]

Where does this leave you?

You have done all that there is to be done.

You now know that you should never have allowed these Scouts to ride with an intoxicated driver.

The home council Scout Exec. Knows.

You don't have to do anything else.

Letters to the National Office or the Regional Office will end up on the Scout Executives desk.

Now that you have reported it you leave it alone.

You have no need to know what action the Scout Exec. Or the Chartering organization is taking or has taken. For you to persist might be taken for you being a busy body. I would also warn you that the suggestion that something was or wasn't done because of money when you don't have all the facts is something that you really do not want to do.

Eamonn.