Campout without cellphones

[Armymutt]

A couple weeks ago, the acting SM announced that cellphone were no longer allowed at Scouting functions.  Internalizing this new rule seems a bit slow.  This Friday, we arrived at camp.  Noticing one Scout playing on his phone, the SM reminded him of the rule, and the phone was secured.  A general announcement was made and the remaining phones were collected and secured in a locked vehicle.  Turns out, the Scouts actually interact more and get more done without having to be constantly told when they aren't staring at a screen.  We had absolutely no issues, until today because a parent couldn't send routine messages to their son.  Nothing emergent.  We were only 30 minutes from home but it was a massive issue for them.  Personally, I'm of the mindset that if you need your child to constantly have a cellphone, then you need to be present with that child to ensure the phone isn't used for cyber bullying or violating YP rules.  Otherwise, you need to trust the system and let your child develop into an independent being.  There were no parts of the campout that required the use of a phone.  If we were going to do the orienteering course, phones would have been returned for that training portion.

[skeptic]

In this "modern" society, banning phones is nearly impossible.  As noted, some parents defer to the phone as part of their parenting oversight, and if the kid does not respond promptly, issues arise.  Our unit took a number of years to adjust to the issue, but over time, the scouts learned when and when not to be on the phone, for the most part.  Ideally, there might be a phone designed that does not have all the apps and games available, but still has the tools that are useful, such as the GPS, camara, and distance finder, fro example.  A no wind issue today I fear.  Meanwhile, I am at a loss how to use my phone, so the wonderful stuff seldom is utilized, and I have not found the patience to get the crash course.  .  

[Armymutt]

The public schools across the country have banned cellphones unless medically necessary, like a glucose monitor.  

[MikeS72]

46 minutes ago, Armymutt said:

The public schools across the country have banned cellphones unless medically necessary, like a glucose monitor.  

As soon as it was announced here that there would be a ban on phones in grades K-8 we saw multiple parents on the news complaining and threatening to sue.

[Armymutt]

33 minutes ago, MikeS72 said:

As soon as it was announced here that there would be a ban on phones in grades K-8 we saw multiple parents on the news complaining and threatening to sue.

I'm waiting for that.  The solution is for them to become leaders and monitor the cellphone usage by their Scout, away from all the other Scouts.  The cellphone must be secured by an adult unless the adult is present while it is in use.  The only exception to this rule is when a Scout is using the phone as a means to provide training.  After that, the cellphone goes away.

We also have parents who complain because their Scout is tasked with providing training on Tenderfoot through First Class skills.  "They already did that!" is apparently the phrase.  As if Scouting is a one and done type of program.  

[mrjohns2]

2 hours ago, Armymutt said:

We had absolutely no issues, until today because a parent couldn't send routine messages to their son.  Nothing emergent.  We were only 30 minutes from home but it was a massive issue for them. 

Did the parent know of the new plan?

[Armymutt]

17 minutes ago, mrjohns2 said:

Did the parent know of the new plan?

Don't know.  Depends on whether or not their Scout told them.  This isn't Cub Scouts.  I expect the Scout to tell their parents about the rule changes their PL puts out.  

[RememberSchiff]

Good grief.

The cellphone is just another tool like a pocketknife. Maybe add to chit card. If a scout abuses the privilege, take it away, teach, trust, and return it.

My $0.02.

P.S. SOS Flashlight is a pretty cool and simple Android app.

[Armymutt]

23 minutes ago, RememberSchiff said:

Good grief.

The cellphone is just another tool like a pocketknife. Maybe add to chit card. If a scout abuses the privilege, take it away, teach, trust, and return it.

My $0.02.

P.S. SOS Flashlight is a pretty cool and simple Android app.

How do you ensure it isn't being used to stay up all night?  How do you ensure it isn't being used to bully?  We actually had conversations going on vs the total silence we had during summer camp where everyone was glued to their screens.  We have a bunch of "barracks lawyers" who complain that we didn't specify this or that wasn't permitted.  It's far easier to simply put them away safely.  I don't need an 11 y/o freaking out again and yelling at us that he's not going back to camp because he set his $1000 phone down somewhere.

[RememberSchiff]

A Scout is Trustworthy.  And scouting is not easy.

Teach them how to responsibly use tools.  And yes they will fail but try again and again... learn by doing. Share the troop policy with parents. For example, how to fully charge phones before activity and how to find a missing scout or a phone via a phone.

Back in the day, we scouts had nighttime competitions as to who could tune in the furthest AM station. We would be up all Friday night, however we soon learned the downside - dragging or missing fun Saturday activities. Wiser by Sat night, we slept and were ready for Sunday activities. Scouting is a learning experience.

It is far easier to simply...  but it is far better to use the Scout methods.

Another $0.02.

[Tron]

I think there are two or three things here. 

The scouts do not need to have their phones out and as adults we have an opportunity to teach the scouts to exercise self control by keeping their phones put away unless truly needed. Taking away and securing the phones as a default behavior makes adult leaders the wardens and conditions the scouts to being told when it is ok and when it is not ok to have a device out. 

Phones are a useful tool for the scouts. Scouts can use them to reference scout materials, use them for orienteering, checking maps, etc ... and the great big bonus is that if there is an accident and a scout has a phone they can quickly call for help. It's a tool, we want them to have them, but we need them to have the self control to keep them put away unless truly necessary. 

Parents need to backoff and leave their kids alone. Children need space to grow; boys especially need freedom to be about unsupervised to gain the confidence to function. Helicoptering and electronic leashing children is known to cause anxiety and depression. 

[fred8033]

A few things ...

#1  The "enforcer" role?  ... What are the roles of an adult leader?  Is the adult leader an "enforcer"?  A wise older friend?  An advisor? A safety check?  ... I fear the adult leader as "enforcing" rules as it creates a separation / barrier between the scout and the adult.  It creates a grudge when the phone is taken and an incentive to hide the phone and hide the person from the adult leader.

#2  Consistent expectations ... Will the adult leaders police themselves and secure their phones too?  Key to scout is the example that the adults set.  Scouts mimic the adults.  Scouts quickly see the double standards setup by the adults as hypocrisy.  

 Obviously ... IMHO ... The purpose of scouting is to teach skills, responsibility, etc.  At some point, we meet the scouts where they are instead of dragging them into the past that no longer exists.  Cell phones are part of their world and part of the adult world.
 

Edited 21 minutes ago by fred8033