Snipe Hunts, New Scouts, and New Units
Timothy J. O'Leary (OLEARY@EMAIL.AFIP.OSD.MIL)
Fri, 24 Mar 1995 11:58:31 EST
Last summer, the new scouts who had graduated from my Cub Scout pack discovered
the joys of snipe hunting, left handed smoke shifters, and shore lines at summer
camp. It took them about 10 minutes to figure out the snipe hunt, and about 30
seconds to figure out the others (to hear my son tell the story - I suspect that
perhaps it took a bit longer).
Funny thing happened. My son didn't particularly want to go on any troop
activities after summer camp. Same with most of the other new scouts. Said
that the older scouts didn't like them much. He went to troop meetings, but
several of the new scouts had dropped out. I discussed the situation with
several of the ASMs (who were personal friends), but any change wasn't apparent
to my son.
By November (about six months after the new scouts had joined), the unit had
finally organized a new scout patrol! I went with the troop on a backpacker
(figured I couldn't complain about the program if I wasn't willing to help).
Only 3 of 7 from my CS pack were still involved. On the backpacker, it was clear
that a different ASM (not one of those to whom I had talked) was actively
encouraging some of the scouts to do unsafe things.
Most of the troop's adult leaders were individual "points of light," but one
adult was "not with the program" and the others didn't keep him in line. No
wonder these kids didn't want to do scouts! The troop scared them because they
couldn't trust the grown ups to do the right things!
What does this have to do with snipe hunts? Hazing new boys is a _symptom_ of a
troop that isn't looking after the best interests of the Scouts. When the SPL
sends the new scouts on a snipe hunt he isn't saying "you are one of us now."
He is saying "you aren't one of us yet." The strong may survive, but scouting
isn't only for kids who can tough it out.
The story has a happy ending (sort of):
1. Several new scout parents went to the troop committee and laid out the
situation clearly and concisely. The troop committee seemed responsive,
particularly when it became clear that they were soon to lose virtually all
the year's class of new scouts.
2. My son wasn't impressed. Too little, too late. We checked out a couple of
more troops, but he was "gun shy."
3. We organized a new troop (now four months old). All the scouts who had left
are back; new boys have joined. Every parent reports a happy son. I'll fill
you in on the new troop in another post.
Tim O'Leary, oleary@email.afip.osd.mil
CM, Pack 1072
CC, Troop 772
National Capital Area Council
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