Petey091 Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 I need some help. I know that many troops prohibit open toe shoes for troop activity and I can understand why. I have been told that this is a national BSA Policy but I can not find any mention of it in the guide to safe scouting. Am I just missing it or is it listed in some other location? I agree its a good idea but I don't want to look like a fool and site it as BSA Policy and it not be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa Turtle Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 IMHO the rule of common sense should prevail; we do not all need to be policy lawyers. I have been at camp outs wear boys went barefoot and cut their feet and had to be stitched up...much extra work for leaders. I was on a backpacking trip when a scouter wore open toed sandals...got up in broad daylight and impaled a stick in the webbing next to his big toe. Couldn't get a boot on anymore, had to hobble down a side trail so we could arrange a car pickup half a day later. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardB Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Am unable to provide a citation where something is that does not exist is located. Good idea reference is here: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS.aspx In situations not specifically covered in this guide, activity planners should evaluate the risk or potential risk of harm, and respond with action plans based on common sense, community standards, the Boy Scout motto, and safety policies and practices commonly prescribed for the activity by experienced providers and practitioners. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBob Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 I need some help. I know that many troops prohibit open toe shoes for troop activity and I can understand why. I have been told that this is a national BSA Policy but I can not find any mention of it in the guide to safe scouting. Am I just missing it or is it listed in some other location? I agree its a good idea but I don't want to look like a fool and site it as BSA Policy and it not be. If you make it a "Unit Policy", then whether or not its a BSA Policy is irrelevant. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoutldr Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 I agree..."dress appropriately for the occasion" should be common sense. It is a policy at most summer camps. Sandals and flip-flops allowed only IN the showers...to and from must be closed shoes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdidochas Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 I need some help. I know that many troops prohibit open toe shoes for troop activity and I can understand why. I have been told that this is a national BSA Policy but I can not find any mention of it in the guide to safe scouting. Am I just missing it or is it listed in some other location? I agree its a good idea but I don't want to look like a fool and site it as BSA Policy and it not be. I've got mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I'm a fan of sports-type sandals (such as Tevas), and have never had any problems in the outdoors with them. On the other hand, I'm dealing with other people's kids, and any way that I can avoid taking them to the emergency room is good. I like the closed-toe sandals as a compromise that's "scout legal." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petey091 Posted June 14, 2016 Author Share Posted June 14, 2016 Thanks for the replies. I have no problem with it being a troop policy. The problem was I was told it was BSA policy and I could not find were that was stated. I just didn't want to be the guy who states that it was BSA policy and it is not. We had a big influx of new scouts and another scouter was telling them it was BSA policy that they needed to wear closed toe shoes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr56 Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 Common sense would prevail. With the risk of ruining a trip, why would anybody in their right mind want to go running around in the outdoors without their feet protected? Duh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stosh Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 After 61 years of camping I have seen my fair share of arch cuts from tent stakes, burns from stepping on a hot coal and toe-nails ripped off, along with a broken toe here or there. All them were preventable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWScouter Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 A lot of "National BSA Policy" really is just your local camp policy, or just somebody repeating what they were told from somebody else who was repeating what they were told from somebody else who was repeating what they were told from somebody else, ad infinitum. There are a lot of policies that really are nothing more than myth. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beavah Posted June 15, 2016 Share Posted June 15, 2016 Nah, not national BSA policy @@Petey091. It is the policy at some BSA summer camps, as a local rule. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubScoutIdeas Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 I've been involved with our Cub Scout day camp as an instructor or director since 2009. Our camp's policy has always been closed toed shoes--even when the fire department comes to hose down the boys. This one is just plain ole good common sense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatung42 Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 Like others have said, there is no BSA policy against open toed shoes. For example, flip-flops are considered OK at Seabase for your land shoes. However, many camps and units have their own local rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa Turtle Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 Oh RichardB where are you when we need you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardB Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 Oh RichardB where are you when we need you! What is the expectation? Can't provide something that does not exist. See the above post. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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