Jump to content

NealOnWheels

Members
  • Content Count

    467
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    3

Posts posted by NealOnWheels

  1. 10 hours ago, ParkMan said:

    GSUSA requires all adults who camp to be registered too.

    I do see an inherent conflict in the fact that parents are required to camp at the Cub Scout level.  But, at the Scouts BSA level, if it really is that anyone who camps for more than 72 hours all year has to register - that's really not so crazy.

    Beyond that though - it seems a little ridiculous that this forum needs to try to interpret the response from someone on the BSA helpdesk.  As forums go, this is certainly the most active one I know of.  There has to be someone that we can contact on behalf of the forum.  I'm sure it's in the best interest of the BSA for this group to get it right.  Anyone know who we should reach out to?

    RichardB who frequents this forum deals with health and safety at national.  He would be a good person to answer.

  2. 1 hour ago, ParkMan said:

    Well, technically - they wrote the rule, they can interpret it to mean whatever they want.

    The GSUSA mandates that you be registered to go on any trips.  Even at 72 hours, the BSA is much laxer.

    They can intepretate it however they want but if they expect the membership to correctly follow the rule then they need to clearly comunicate it to the membership.

    The 72 hour period seems rather arbitrary to me.  Why not 48 hours? Or 24? Why a time period at all?

  3. The Guide To Safe Scouting says "All adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must be registered as leaders".  By using the word "the" it implies a single activity.

    Nowhere does it mention a one year period.

    I find it disturbing that a published policy guide and a national help desk give two different statements.

    Maybe RichardB could clarify.

  4.  

    4 minutes ago, HashTagScouts said:

    For anyone that has gone through the new YPT (I went through a  live version, using the new National training syllabus) there is the new hotline, which bypasses Council entirely and is investigated by a firm that National has contracted with.  I'm wondering if that is what has transpired here.

    From the latest Guide To Safe Scouting...

    Scouts First Helpline

    As part of its “Scouts First” approach to the protection and safety of youth, the BSA has established a dedicated 24-hour helpline to receive reports of known or suspected abuse or behavior that might put a youth at risk. 1-844-SCOUTS1 (1-844-726-8871) When to use it: • Anytime you believe a youth has been harmed or their safety and wellbeing is at risk, and you cannot immediately reach your Scout executive or local council. • If a Scout is bullied because of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability, and local help is unable to resolve the problem. If someone is at immediate risk of harm, always call 911.

    • Thanks 1
  5. The protocol:

    Scout unit reports the incident to the Council Scout Executive since it is an alleged threat that falls under the Youth Protection Policy.  The Scout Executive or designee work with the unit to complete an incident report.

    The Scout Executive may choose to remove him from Scouting altogether.  If so you will get a letter and it should contain an appeals process.

    The Unit may choose to remove him from the troop.  A simple phone call is all it should take.  You may or may not be able to appeal that decision.  Even if you could you probably do not want to stay in that toxic environment.  I would suggest moving to a different unit.

    I know all of this because we had to do exactly that.  In our case we did talk to all scouts involved.  We had two scouts get threatened by one scout at the same event.  We ultimately dismissed the scout from the troop but the Scout Executive did not remove him from scouting.  He could transfer to another unit if he chooses.

    From your description it does not seem like things are being handled well.

    • Upvote 2
  6.  

    Seems that phone calls between adults and scouts will no longer be practical.

    OLD:

    Two-deep leadership and no one-on-one contact between adults and youth members includes digital communication. Leaders may not have one-on-one private online communications or engage one-on-one in other digital activities (games, social media, etc.) with youth members. Leaders should copy a parent and another leader in digital and online communication, ensuring no one-on-one contact exists in text, social media, or other forms of online or digital communication.

    NEW:

    Private online communications (texting, phone calls, chat, IM, etc.) must include another registered leader or parent.

  7. Years ago scouts could no longer camp by themselves.  Today it appears they can no longer have meetings or day activities without adults.

    "Two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities, including meetings."

    "Patrol Activities—A Scout patrol may participate in patrol activities. Two-deep adult leadership is required."

    • Upvote 1
  8. I am an electrical engineer.  I would not worry much about the lead used in solder.  Just don't eat anything.  Most electronics should be safe from a chemical aspect.  A shock hazard perhaps.

    You are not going to find much in the way of magnets unless you have something with an actual coil speaker or motor.  A modern day phone probably has a piezoelectric speaker.  No magnetic material in those.  Transformers will have some ferrous material in them that may have a small magnetic field to them.

    Most ferrous material (iron) has a weak magnetic field.  I have heard of inserting a needle  through a cork and floating it on water to make a compass.

  9. This can be found in the 2015 printing of the Guide to Safe Scouting but is no longer listed in the 2017 printing...

    "Single-room or dormitory-type accommodations for Scouting units: Adults and youths of the same gender may occupy dormitory or singleroom accommodations, provided there is a minimum of two adults and four youths. A minimum of one of the adults is required to be Youth Protection– trained. Adults must establish separation barriers or privacy zones such as a temporary blanket or a sheet wall in order to keep their sleeping area and dressing area separated from the youth area."

     

    • Upvote 2
  10. Was this a violation of the Two Deep Leadership policy? No - There were three adults on this outing.

    Was this a violation of the No One-On-One policy? No - There were multiple scouts in the room.

    Was this a violation of the Youth Privacy policy? Maybe - Older versions of the YP policy mention placing blankets or some sort of divider between adults and youth when using the same room.  I don't see that in the current version.  All I see now is mention of a clothes changing area.  I would think that the scouts sleeping in the main area would need a designated changing area somewhere other than the main room since the main room would be used by all people.

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 1
  11. Not a question but a rant.

    Have been mentoring a scout through the Eagle Rank process.  When it came time to complete his application I gave him some guidance on filling it out.  I made sure he had the latest version (April 2017)...

    https://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-728_wb_fillable.pdf

    I went to point out the statement of "ambitions and life purpose" to make sure he included that.  Well it is no longer part of requirement #7.  I re-read every requirement on the application and could not find it.  Knowing that there were some changes to all the rank requirements at the beginning of the year I concluded that the statement was no longer required.  The scout completed his application and project notebook and submitted it to the Council office.  After a couple weeks to my surprise the council office e-mailed me that the statement was missing.  I nearly fired back an e-mail telling them they had it wrong but fortunately I did some more checking before I did that.  Found that the statement is mentioned tucked in the Scout's signature between requirements #6 & #7.

    Seems to me that if it is to be a requirement it should be listed as a numbered requirement.  Even looking online at the requirements it sits in a box between requirements #6 & %7...

    https://www.scouting.org/filestore/boyscouts/pdf/Eagle_rank_2017.pdf

    Just a little frustrated with the delay this has caused.

  12. I just finished a Teton Crest trip. Started at Granite Canyon Trailhead and ended at Leigh Lake. I'd be happy to answer any questions! It topped Philmont as the best place I've backpacked so far. 

    Any good place nearby for a group to camp?  Being flat-landers we will need to spend a night below 8500 ft to acclimate before ascending.

  13. I just finished a Teton Crest trip. Started at Granite Canyon Trailhead and ended at Leigh Lake. I'd be happy to answer any questions! It topped Philmont as the best place I've backpacked so far. 

    Did you go with a scout group?

    How did you manage vehicles between your starting point and ending point?  We plan to use a single van but don't want to make a loop.  Probably cover most of the Teton Crest.  From what I read the Death Canyon Shelf is a must.

×
×
  • Create New...