What do I do

[Mackey]

I am currently a youth in my Troop and we have just finished summercamp planning, we are going back to our favorite camp for high adventure. But we are going 7 days after my 18th birthday and I've heard that I would strictly have to go as a leader and can't do anything with my friends. Is this true?

[Sentinel947]

First off, welcome to Scouter.com

 

Second, yes and no. You will need to be registered as a BSA adult and have current Youth protection.

 

Nothing stops you from participating in any camp programs that adults and youth do together at camp, open swim, open ranges.

 

But you would need to follow BSA youth protection rules regarding showerhouses and tenting.

 

From my experience most high adventure programs have both youth and adult participants. You should be fine.

 

Does that answer your question?

 

Sentinel947

[gumbymaster]

From the perspective of Youth Protection, you will be an adult.  Your camping must be with the unit Adults and the no one-on-one rule will apply, so when hanging out with a friend at camp, make sure there is a third person with you or within easy eyesight.

 

As for what you do, and with your friends or not; that is more in line with what the camp rules are, but in most cases it should not be a problem (although if an activity has limited "slots", those are often allocated to youth members before adults).

 

On the plus side, your summer camp fees will probably be less, and you will help the troop make their adult-to-youth camping ratios (if the camp uses them).  You may even like being an adult leader overseeing the troop operations at camp.

 

As for how you are registered, your could register as either an ASM or as a "College Reserve Scouter".

http://www.scouting.org/Training/TrainingUpdates/Archives/201111.aspx

 

Either way, you will need to submit a new application (your prior membership fee as a youth should still cover your cost), and you will need to complete the Youth Protection Training (an on-line course that takes about 30 minutes).

[blw2]

Or, how about forming a venturing crew that is operating more like a venturing patrol in the troop for the purposes of summer camp?  This is a question to others here, not to the OP, since I don't really know how or if this would float.... I'm just basing this on the understanding that venturing goes up to 21 years old and it seems like it could be a way for you to focus your energies on doing fun high adventure stuff with your friends.

[qwazse]

Or, how about forming a venturing crew that is operating more like a venturing patrol in the troop for the purposes of summer camp?  This is a question to others here, not to the OP, since I don't really know how or if this would float.... I'm just basing this on the understanding that venturing goes up to 21 years old and it seems like it could be a way for you to focus your energies on doing fun high adventure stuff with your friends.

@@blw2, our 18+ year old venturers are considered adults, so they nearly have the same problems as a troop in terms of paperwork and segregation of quarters. Program depends on what the camp is offering. Considering the administrative hassles, it's not worth the trouble for boys who are working just fine as a troop.

 

@@Mackey, I suspect most of your high adventure time will be with your buddies. You'll probably be their 2nd adult leader! So, take the youth protection course online, and get yourself prepared to serve as a troop ASM. If you have free time at camp while your friends are taking MB's, you could report to the program hall and volunteer to help in an area. Often there are small conservation projects that need to be done around camp.

Edited January 13, 2017 by qwazse

[David CO]

I am currently a youth in my Troop and we have just finished summercamp planning, we are going back to our favorite camp for high adventure. But we are going 7 days after my 18th birthday and I've heard that I would strictly have to go as a leader and can't do anything with my friends. Is this true?

 

Is it true?  That depends on who you heard it from.  If you heard it from the Scoutmaster, than you can depend on it being true.  

 

Troops vary quite a bit in regard to how much interaction takes place between the adults and the boys.  Your Scoutmaster should be able to explain to you the policies and practices of the troop.  Ask him.

Edited January 13, 2017 by David CO

[NJCubScouter]

Is it true?  That depends on who you heard it from.  If you heard it from the Scoutmaster, than you can depend on it being true.  

 

Troops vary quite a bit in regard to how much interaction takes place between the adults and the boys.  Your Scoutmaster should be able to explain to you the policies and practices of the troop.  Ask him.

 

I guess it depends on what the definition of "it" is.

 

From the standpoint of Youth Protection policies, Mackey is considered an adult when he turns 18.  That part is "true" regardless of what his Scoutmaster does or doesn't say.

[David CO]

I guess it depends on what the definition of "it" is.

 

From the standpoint of Youth Protection policies, Mackey is considered an adult when he turns 18.  That part is "true" regardless of what his Scoutmaster does or doesn't say.

 

What a foul comment.  I'm sure Mackey didn't have anything like that in mind.  I certainly didn't.

[TAHAWK]

If you expect evil, you may see it even when it's not there.

Edited January 14, 2017 by TAHAWK

[Stosh]

@@Mackey, first of all, welcome to the forum. 

 

Just a couple of comments about what has been said.  Everything falls first and foremost under Youth Protection Training policies regardless of what any other person says.  Youth Protection Training is a misnomer in that to me it has less to do with protecting youth as it does for protecting ADULTS.  One false step, one unfounded accusation, one vengeful kid and your opportunity to ever work with youth in any setting EVER is over and it is locked in stone in the legal system..  Every job your apply for, every housing lease you make, every neighborhood you live in will be taken into consideration.

 

When you cross that magical, yet arbitrary milestone of life everything that you know about the world changes to a different perspective.  You may feel exactly the same the day after your birthday as you did the day before, but it just ain't so. 

 

Take the YPT and pay VERY CLOSE attention to every detail it is very important.  The law of the land and every courtroom in the country has the youth protection as a high priority.  You might have done some rough and tumbling wrestling with your buddies before you are 18 that simply needs to be avoided afterwards. 

 

Until your buddies catch up to you in age, you are no longer their "best buddies"  They are kids and YOU ARE NOT.

 

I have worked closely with youth for 40+ years in a variety of different youth settings and I have faithfully practiced YPT to the extreme and beyond.  Just last week, a church member said she trusted me to take her daughter half way across the country to a leadership training seminar.  I smiled and said, "No way!  Not going to happen."    Then she said, what about your wife?  I said, "No way!  Not going to happen."  She asked what it would take and I said, "Two women who have had full background checks by the congregation, and preferably another female youth participant. "  You will be offered a lot of "bend the rules a bit" opportunities throughout your lifetime and you need to be able to say NO and walk away.

 

And if Scouting isn't enough...  You're 18, your girl friend is 17, and Girl Friend Dad can drop a statutory rape charge on you faster than you can outrun the shotgun he carries. 

 

To sum it up, being a kid was great, being an adult is quite a bit more work.

[NJCubScouter]

What a foul comment.  I'm sure Mackey didn't have anything like that in mind.  I certainly didn't.

I have no idea what you are talking about. It is you who are "reading in" things that are not there.