Re: BSA GUIDELINES COLD WEATHER
Settummanque, the blackeagle (waltoml@WKUVX1.WKU.EDU)
Thu, 20 Jan 1994 10:34:54 CST
George Huffman <HUFFMAN_GEORGE_W@LILLY.COM> writes:
>
>A thought just occurred to me....What is the national guideline on canceling a
>winter outing or camporee with regards to wind chill and temperature? I know
>that the US Army had a guidline; Does the BSA? Does anyone recall ever seeing
>this? What is the Army figure (Hello Mike, are you there?)
Hey George!
THe US Army says that the anytime the temperture drops below freezing,
there is LIMITED work to be done; when the temperture drops below 0
degrees f., EXTREMELY LIMITED work is to be done. The Army has
categories (like they do for everything) and anytime the windchill
approaches negative numbers, training is suspended.
But then, this is the same person that camped out in negative number
weather several times, as a youth member and later as an adult!
As far as the BSA is concerned, George, there is NO set policy on
cancelling a winter outing...there's unit policies, of course, but
I couldn't find a National policy (lots of precautions to take, but
no policy!) or a local Council policy that states "when the weather
gets so low, all Scouting stops".
On page 30 of the BSA's "Guide to Safe Scouting", there's five
paragraphs that give precautions and things to think about when
camping in the winter or in the cold. The part starts out with
"There is magic to camping in winter. It is one of the most
advanced and challenging of outdoor adventures."
That's the closest that I've come to a "national policy". I would
continue to use common sense and whatever policies your local Council
may have with regard to winter weather activities, and follow them. I
would also inform parents and Scouts that "Scouting is a year-round
program and doesn't stop just because the weather is cold. We may
curtail what we do, but we won't STOP what we're doing because that
to, is what Scouting is all about!"
But hey, thanks for asking!
Settummanque!
--
Settummanque, the blackeagle... (MAJ) Mike L. Walton (
AIS/MR Recreation Specialist, Lifeskills Inc. ___)_
(h) 502-782-7992 (f) 502-781-7279 (w) 502-842-2274 |-=-|]
3201-D Cave Springs Avenue -- Greenwood, KY 42104-4439 -=====-
WALTOML@WKUVX1.WKU.EDU (or via America OnLine) KYBLKEAGLE@AOL.COM
"Not speaking for Lifeskills, Inc. or WKU...but I do speak well!!"
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
