Re: Woodbadge, Scouting & Ones Physical Condition
Ed Henderson (BigEdBSA@AOL.COM)
Sun, 29 Dec 1996 14:46:59 -0500
The very fact that a good part of Scouting is out of doors does present
challenges for some of us. When I joined the BSA I made a committment to be
Physically Fit, but truth be told there have been times I could not Physicaly
Fit into my Supply Division Greens! ( LOL )
Many leaders in Scouting seem to be large of girth, myself among them, and
yes, at times it has kept me from doing all I might do with the Scouts. Last
month, for example, I took my troop to Cumberland Caverns for an overnight in
the mountain experience. The commercial tour climbing over 150 steps inside
the caverns was all I could take. When the tour guide presdented a 14" box
we were to fit through if we wanted to go on the Wild & Senic Tour I just
laughed and sat down as I did not want to become a permanent part of th Fat
Man's Squeeze exhibit. Living in the south, and so many summers on camp
staff I can appreciate knowing about limits. A five mile hike in 95 degree
heat and 100% humidity would put me in a hospital. I compromise with the
scouts and go on hikes in the winter time (I love the ones at battlefields,
we talk a few hundred feet and I insist we stop and read every historic
plaque on the way). In the summer time I have good assistants who can deal
with 40 miles of the AT while I came up with the idea of providing vehicle
support to meet them at cross roades with Gatoraide. Hey it works!
As far as Woodbadge goes. (Keep in mind I never did do some of those walking
Woodbadges or ones out in the summer Philmont sun) I did okay most of the
time. Having been spoiled as a camp staff member used to running the camp
truck alll over camp for years, I got to experience the joys of toting all of
my stuff up the side of our mountain just like we make the scouts do. I do
remember strongly objecting to one presentation on the 101 uses of hiking
sticks when the pack weight scale feature was demonstrated and one coach
counsellor said something about a backpack being a third of our body weight
to which I shouted COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA!
The only time I was really pushed physically at Woodbadge was the final
weekend when we went on our hike and did the obstacles. I rather enjoyed the
obstacles but the hike itself in Georgia's summer heat got to me a bit. They
made sure we saw all 2200 acres of Camp Thunder, up and down every darn
Mountain we got. To be fair, my coach counsellor told me I did not have to
do that if I felt it was going to be too much but I went on anyway. My dear
patrol members, unbeknownst to me carried a celular phone just in case - when
I found out I desperately wanted to call Domino's that night for an air drop
but oh well. In short, Woodbadge push and challenge me physically and
mentally, exactly what it was supposed to do. But never have I scene a
Scouter in any course made to do things that were beyond their physical
capabilities. We have had paraplegics, Vietnam Amputees, people with heart
conditions, etc....even a Big Ed (me) do the Woodbadge number.
Anyone contemplating WB should not let their physical condition automatically
preclude them. They should feel perfectly open to talk with their
Scoutmaster and Coach Counsellor at the beginning of the program to share
their concerns. As with all long term BSA activities, an updated and
accurate BSA Medical Check is very necessairy. Not a wek goes by when some
adult arives at camp in the summer without a medical form ("....well I
thought only the scouts had to do it..."). That kind of behavior (we only
put it in the leader's guide a half dozen times and in every letter to the
unit that EVERYONE coming to camp needed a medical form) puts the scouts, the
camp, and the adult themselves at risk. In a way I guess one of the best
things about being a volunteer scouter is the fact that with all I do, I am
compelled to visit my Doctor once a year to hear his lecture about weight
loss. (Please I get enough internet junk mail about loosing 100 pounds
today, I need no more weight loss MLM plans forwarded to me).
Still doing my best to be Physically Fit,
BIG ED aka Ed Henderson
SR-32 Buffallo (Yea somehow that critter seemed to fit me)
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
