🚀 go-pugleaf

Several years ago, the first spring my son was in cubing (9 years old) our
pack held a pack Lad and Dad at a local Council camp, late May, in our own
(personal) tents. The boys were 6 or 7 through 10 and our 'brother' troop
was camped nearby. All the boys loved it and there were no difficulties
other than a nighttime temperature lower than expected (and my son's air
matress had a flat. Between that and a light weight bag, he was cold and
spent much of the night by the campfire). That summer we were assigned a
new Counci Executive who halted all non council lad and dads or other Cub
camping on Council property or BSA auspices. There was much dissent at the
roundtables (I was new to scouting except for over 20 years previous). The
Exec's response was "boys that young arent ready for camping" and BSA is
not a democratic institution. policy comes from National and you
volunteers have no voice in it." We lost several boys to Campfire and
other programs where camping is encouraged. I still do not know why my 7
year old daughter (in Brownies) is ready for camping and GSA trains
brownie leaders similar to (or more than) Cub leaders but boys of that age
are not? I am a firm supporter of Boy Scouting but not the Lawyers and
other nervous people in the professional establishment who are fearful of
a stron program and input from the membership.
>>>---> Mike