Here’s the question for the May-June 2008 issue of Scouting Magazine
Early Departures From Weekend Camp-Outs
Our troop has a growing problem of parents picking up their sons from a camp-out on Sunday morning,
right after breakfast but before the real work of breaking camp begins. The parents have many excuses
for their son’s early departure, but this makes the other Scouts feel like they are getting stuck with
all the take-down and packing chores. They even wonder if they should ask their parents to make an excuse
to pick them up early. Any suggestions?
J.S.
Dallas, Tex.
I would encourage J.S. to take this to his Patrol Leader’s Council at their next meeting. They are the ones who have to do the chores, they should be able to find some resolution.
A more predictable reaction is creating a policy of some sort or tossing the problem to the Troop Committee. To do either denies the Scouts a prime opportunity to practice some leadership and self government. Once he has asked the PLC to solve the problem J.S. should listen carefully to their discussion, perhaps ask a question of two and let the Scouts formulate a solution.
If they own the solution they are more likely to make it work.