Fat Old Guy Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 What should the BOR do if a candidate for Life Scout tells the Board that his mom packs his gear for camping? Not that she checks to see that he has everything. No, he comes home from School and his gear is ready and waiting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saltheart Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 Suggest to 'Mom' that she back off on the June Cleaver stuff, and allow the boy to succeed or fail on his own. Of course, this suggestion would have to be made in a most sincere and respectful manner. As for the Scout, if he never said anything to his Mom about letting him do his own packing, I'd express some real dismay. That may not be the case though. He might not have had a say in the matter. Some Moms are more Mom than others. I don't think I'd interrupt his progress toward rank on this if everything else in his portfolio is in order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyD Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 Uhhh i'm not qualified to answer that but if the kid is like 15 or 16 years old there is something wrong there. if anything if this is a new kid in the troop did he ever sit in a meeting about camping and what to bring and stuff? But he's life so he should know how to if they signed his book off. Ask him who signed off his camping requirments and then slap the guy and ask what he was thinking about at the time. (j/k) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Old Guy Posted December 18, 2003 Author Share Posted December 18, 2003 I don't think that the question ever came up before until this BOR. Everyone knows that mom is the driving force behind his Scouting and someone said, "who packs your stuff?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGreyEagle Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 FOG, did he pass the BOR and what action, if any is planned? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleInKY Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 Hey FOG, I know that Mom. She's in our troop, too. Actually, our case is a little different. The boy is a first year scout, but if he makes it to Life, I can see her doing the same thing. This year at Summer Camp, this boy almost got sent home. Several issues (too much to go into here) arose. I called mom a couple of times during the week, and came within a whisker of sending him home. On parent's night, she comes up there. What does she do? She lets him go play with his brother while she packs his things to go home the next morning. I don't know about you, but if I had been that boy, and my parents had received the phone calls she received, I wouldn't be sitting for a while. BTW, we're meeting with mom & dad to talk about this (again). It just doesn't seem to get through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoutingagain Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 Not that I agree with Mom packing stuff for camp, but which requirement for advancement does this relate to? It seems to me it would be appropriate to encourage the scout to do his own packing,(Mom can always check.)but I don't think it's a reason to hold back advancement if the requirements have been met. I thought we had a similar problem with one of our Star candidates. Not related to advancement, but on camping trips just quizing the guys in the parking lot on who had what equipment, this one lad's reponse was alway's, "It's in my Dad's truck." Dad an ASM was almost always on the trip. The last two trips Dad couldn't go. Guess what, the kid had everything he needed and did fine. My son wouldn't let my wife within 20 yds of his pack. She'd overload with so much stuff you'd need 3 Sherpas? to carry it. You should see her pack when we go on vacation. SA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleInKY Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 SA - LOL! I go on a business trip of two days, take a laptop and small carryon. My family of 4 goes to her parents for one night, and we can fill a dumpster with all we take. I can't imagine her packing for Philmont! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 I'd find out why mom packs. The boy should know how and should do it himself. It's a great skill, is a way to be independent, and if he can't pack to go, how does he pack to come home? Has the troop taught the boys how to pack for camp, or has he gone through a merit badge that addresses it? Is he so busy with school and school activities that his time is limited enough that he asks his mom or that his mom offers? Unless he needs to know and practice packing for advancement, I can't imagine there's a reason to deny advancement, but I think it's a great opportunity to encourage him to begin doing this on his own. Let us know how it goes please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob White Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 Granted it shows his mother is better at being prepared than he is but do you know of a part of the Oath or Law it violates or an advancement requirement that requires him to pack his own gear. More than likely the reason is that he doesn't have time when he gets home to pack. A simple suggestion that he should "be prepared" and pack the night before rather than have his mom pack for him would solve the situation. Otherwise I would give it time, he will no doubt outgrow it. There are far more important things for the BOR to focus on. Bob White Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoutmaster Ron Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 Ok if I'm the BOR member I say nothing to the scout but mention it to the S.M. to suggest to the SPL and or PLC that maybe a backpacking lesson may be in order during the troop meeting's instrucitonal time. Further thought Is it a question he doesn't have time or doesn't know what to bring? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGreyEagle Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 Actually, you can't have to much help from Mom, after all Peepin' through the knot-hole Of Grandpa's wooden leg Who'll wind the clock When I am gone? Go get the ax There's a flea in Lizzie's ear And a boy's best friend is his mother. I fell from a window, A second story window Why do they build the shore So near the ocean? Who cut the sleeves out of Dear old daddy's vest? And dug up Fido's bones to build the sewer? A horsey stood around with his Feet upon the ground Oh, who will wind the clock When I am gone? Go get the ax There's a fly on Lizzie's ear And a boy's best friend is his mother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Old Guy Posted December 19, 2003 Author Share Posted December 19, 2003 I'd say that the requirement is "Never do for a Scout what he can do for himself." Mom, a graduate of MS Wood Badge 2001, should know that. Why does she do it? Probably the same reason that many of us are tempted to do things for our kids, we are sure that we could do it quicker and better. After all, if Junior packs for himself, he might forget his extra underwear. Should he know what to pack? It's in the handbook, isn't it (at least it used to be)? He was passed with misgivings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Old Guy Posted December 19, 2003 Author Share Posted December 19, 2003 "I go on a business trip of two days, take a laptop and small carryon. My family of 4 goes to her parents for one night, and we can fill a dumpster with all we take. I can't imagine her packing for Philmont" We go away for a weekend and I take one small bag and a hanging bag for a pair of nice pants. My wife takes two suitcases and a hanging bag. We go away for a week and I take one small bag and a hanging bag for a a nice pair of pants. My wife takes three suitcases, a duffle for her socks, and a hanging bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob White Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 "Should he know what to pack? It's in the handbook, isn't it" Yes it is, so is a section on baby sitting, butneither is a requirement for advancing. Let's keep things in perspective. What is needed for advancement is that the scout has completed the requirements, nothing more, nothing less. The Scoutmaster should talk with the scout about being prepared, suggest he pack in advance of the outing. Bob White Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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