Qualifying to attend summer camp

My troop has an interesting situation this year in regards to our summer camp roster. We have a Scout in the troop who attending summer camp but has attended nothing but one Court of Honor since summer camp last year.

This 14 year old has been a member of the troop for over three years and has an older brother in the troop. He was semi-active for about a year (at about 1/2 of meetings and activities), but the past two years or so, has barely attended anything. In 2005, he went to two campouts (summer camp and a Canadian camporee we attend each year), two troop meetings (where we did wall climbing and rifle shooting), and a day event where we went tobaggoning. This year, the Scouts decided to drop the Canadian camporee and not to do wall climbing and rifle shooting. Hence, this Scout has attended one Court of Honor (he wasn't in uniform, he sat with his parents rather than the other Scouts).

This Scout's dad pays his dues every month whether he shows up at anything or not, and signed him up for summer camp months ago. The feeling I've always gotten from this Scout is that although he likes some of the things that Boy Scouts do, he doesn't want to be in the Boy Scouts. When he was attending meetings, he never wanted to do what we were doing and was more often than not a distraction.

Last year before camp, his dad dragged him to a troop meeting so he could pick his merit badges and fill out some paperwork. The Scout (then 13) threw a temper tantrum because he didn't get all the merit badges he wanted (he had to settle for his back up choices). Things went ok at camp, but there were a couple of times the adults had to take him aside because it looked like he was heading toward a meltdown. After that, we didn't see him again. We were a bit surprised when his dad put down a deposit check back in March.

My feeling is that the Scout doesn't want to go and is only going because his parents are making him. He doesn't want to be in Scouts and definitely doesn't want to go along with the "un-fun" stuff we do (falling in line, washing dishes, service projects).

We're taking this Scout up to camp again next week. Should we be taking him to camp just because his dad paid for it? Do other troops have some sort of qualification needed to attend summer camp? Myself and the other adults attending camp are a little bit worried about this Scout and his lack of Scouting spirit, so to speak.

Any suggestions?

Our troop has a policy (in writing, that each Scout gets)in regards to this. A Scout has to be considered an "active" participant at routine meetings & outings in order to participate in the "fun" things. A Scout becomes inactive when he misses 4 meetings in a row. (We primarily have a problem with the meetings.) He regains his active status by participating in 4 consecutive meetings & having a BOR. Our PLC didn't think it was fair for the boys who didn't do the work to get the perks. (I agree.) They devised this plan.

We had a similar situation this year. Kid shows up intermittantly at meetings, and when the Mom gets wind of a campout, he shows up the week before. She's basically dumping the kid on us for the weekend for some free babysitting.

He was ok at summer camp this year, but some of the PLC were not pleased about the sparse attendence, then having to deal with him and his sometimes questionable behavior at camp.

They are planning to set a minimum attendance requirement for future campouts at this months PLC meeting.

I also flat-out refused to take him on one of our backpacking trips because he didn't attend skillbases and would be a burden to the entire group.

I like the '4-meeting' rule... will suggest it...

I'd be happy that the boy is back and we get another opportunity to attract him to scouting year round. Summer camp is fun, but I don't know that I would list it as a "perk" of scouting like some events would be. I would draw the line like CA when it comes to something like a high adventure trip where the boy has not participated in shakedowns and has not learned the needed skills and isn't prepared. My son went to Northern Tier this summer. They had meetings to discuss gear and such months prior to going. They did weekly paddling training for a couple of months. They did a shakedown weekend. They were going into the wilderness and being prepared was a necessity. Going to summer camp isn't that tough. Take him and put some effort into him and see if you can get him involved beyond camp. It isn't like he is gaming the system and will somehow make Eagle without doing any work. He can't advance without being there, doing service or POR's.

We had a similar problem a number of years ago. It seemed some of our older scouts were using the troop as a travel agency to book Summer Camp and High Adventure trips, and they were not seen at weekend campouts or troop meetings. The PLC at the time came up with a criteria of attending at least half of our troop meetings and 3 of our 8 weekend campouts. It did the trick, to where we didn't have the problem. This year we have had the beginnings of the problem again, so it is on the agenda for the first PLC meeting in August.

Of course one might ask:

"What are we doing or not doing to hold the interests of this Scout?

"Are our regular Troop meetings really the best show in town?"

At the end of the day we are here to serve the youth are we really going out of our way to meet the needs of this young Lad?

Maybe he might be better off in another program?

Maybe he really just isn't interested?

Maybe it's time to sit down and listen to him?

And have a word with Dad!!

Eamonn.

E has a point, but where do we draw the line?

I have 19 scouts in my troop. I have this one kid who pulls this stuff.

Do I change the program to meet the needs of this one problem scout?

No. And tough luck if he or his mom doesn't like it.

Yes, maybe he's better off in another program, maybe he's not interested, maybe its time to sit down and listen to him... ooops sorry, you get out of scouts what you put in... if you don't put energy into it, you don't get energy out of it.

That's a lesson that is real and valid. I would be doing a disservice to the other scouts by catering to his ( or really, in this case, his Mom's ) needs.

Its not Baby Sitters of America. Right?

The program is supposed to be coming from the Scouts.

We have so much to offer, accommodating the needs of each and every Scout isn't easy, but it's what we try to do.

By listening to him and finding out what his likes and dislikes are we can find out where he fits into what is going on.

A pal of mine had a Scout who really didn't like hiking, but the Lad loved photography. It wasn't rocket science to invite the Lad to take pictures on the next hike.

Our job has to be finding a way to light the fire which is in each and every Scout.

Of course this doesn't mean changing everything. After all if the Troop is really youth led he has representation on the PLC.

Catering to the needs and interests of individual Scouts is the real reason we have so many merit badges.

However, if he finds that the Boy Scout Troop set up is a little to structured for him, maybe the less formal setting of a Crew might be better for him.

Of course if he really wants to get out on the water he might want to give Sea Scouting a try?

But I think every Lassie and Lad should give Sea Scouting a try!

Eamonn.

It's true that imposing an attendance requirement will solve this problem, but the solution could be either to spark the problem boy to come to more meetings, or to drop out entirely. As long as you'd be happy with either of these results, an attendance requirement will work.

I don't have any suggestion for you. I'd have a tough time with this kid going. But I would have addressed it at recharter, not now. We've got a boy who joined last year before Summer Camp. He's been in for 13 months and still hasn't made Tenderfoot! (I wonder what the record is). He comes about once every month or two. His isn't a matter of wanting to attend the fun things. His is a situation of only coming if his dad can be there with him (seems the umbilical cord may still be attached.)

Good luck.

EagleinKY, I was in the troop for at least 2 years before I got Tenderfoot. I didn't go to summer camp until my third summer in the troop and on campouts we seldom did requirements.

Some told me something when I signed up to be a leader many moons ago. It was "You can only be there for the boys who want to be there". It made sense then and still make sense now.

I wouldn't bend over backwards for this Scout. The real world won't. I would have a chat with the Scout & dad separately to see if I could figure out what was going on.

And I would let him go to camp. But with the onus that any incidents that cause a problem (like not doing dishes, getting in line, etc.) and home he goes! One problem Scout shouldn't ruin summer camp for the entire Troop.

Ed Mori

Troop 1

1 Peter 4:10

Hops - Good to know there's still hope (and we haven't set any records).

I still don't see the issue here. Sure, you want each and every boy on your roster to attend every meeting, campout, summer camp, events, service projects, high adventure trips, COR, etc. and willingly and enthusiastically participate in each on his journey to making Eagle with Palms and crying when he ages out at 18. Now, back to reality.

Some boys are there because parents make them go. Others are there in spite of their parents lack of interest. Some love to camp but could care less about advancement. Some only care about advancement and could care less about camping. Some will do scouting exclusive to all other activities and others will play sports or belong to another organization and casually drop in on scouting when their schedule allows. Some crave a leadership roll and with others it is like pulling teeth to even get them to be librarian.

I understand the frustration. My son is 13 and a Star scout. He has everything done for Life except 6 months in a POR because he decided to accept APL this last go round instead of a POR that would count. Should he get elected or accept a position during elections in the next couple of weeks, he will be Life right before he turns 14 in February. I look at our 15 and 16 year old scouts who are 2nd class or Star and wonder what they are waiting for. Heck, my son got where he is at a fairly leasurely pace. But some of these boys are involved in sports at school and things like Civil Air Patrol. Scouting isn't the top priority of their extra curricular activities......and that's OK......even if we adult leaders don't like it. We want scouts we can count on.

Again, what does it hurt if this boy hasn't attended meetings? Like I said, he isn't going to sneak up on you and earn his Eagle while you were not looking. Summer camp isn't high adventure. There is very little skill involved in eating in a dining hall unless he is eating utensil challeneged. Heck, many summer camps already have your tent set up for you. All you have to do is unroll your sleeping bag. I'd take him, show some interest in him, conspire with a few of the other scouts to try to draw him in and see if you can't turn him into a regular scout.

What do you have to lose???

I'd be pleased just to have another boy benefit from what the program has to offer. If it's exciting and fun he'll attend. Greet him with open arms tell him you would like to seem him attend more meetings and see what the next move is.

Are there family issues that prevent him from attending all or most of the meetings?

Eammon is right on this one!!