Okay, am I crazy???

“I'm suppose to take a newbie to the Catskills for 4 days, a fairly strenous hike. Because of the requirements for Boy Scouts, I have to have a man with me. He volunteered and I can't bring boys without him. He's in good shape and reasonably sane.

Someone tell me this will turn out OK!”

“If he doesn't sleep in a bivy and scarf down cliff bars you should be all right.”

“A newbie on a 4-day strenuous hike? It may be his LAST hike. How old are the Scouts?

Go easy on the newbie, take some earplugs to escape the whining...and good luck.”

“"I recommend you start drinking heavily"

--Animal House”

“m&m, He?ll probably do just fine. And if you don?t mind some good advice I would advise this if you haven?t already done it, sit through the Scout Leader?s training course. By the time it?s over with you?ll take anybody that will go, even if you have to carry them on your back. There are all kinds of horror stories about peoples lives ruined because some kid got mad because he didn?t like something he had to do, or for some other reason he got pissed off. The kid lied and guess who everybody believed. Get as many adults to go with you as you can and never be alone with any of the kids for any reason. Have fun.”

“Mrs. Robinson, listen to the wabbit!”

“M&M
I agree with Rabbitman, he will be ok. I'm a Scout Leader and I know how hard it is to get adults to go on trips. My advice is to put the new guy in front and you bring up the rear. No one passes the new guy and no one falls behind you. That way he sets the pace. Just be sure he knows how to navigate or else have a couple of your experienced scouts up there with him.

What Rabbit said about being alone with a scout, that goes for him as well. Always at least two.”

“It sounds like you have to be joined to this guy like glue. Do you like him at all? Could be a long trip or a fun trip. Can't one of the "sane" TT guys help you out? (What am I saying, "sane" TT guys?)”

“I understand that the black flies are especially fierce right now.

You're crazy!”

“Jesus loves you more than you will know, wo ho ho!”

“What others said, many times over.

You MUST have two-deep leadership on any scout outing, both for your protection, and the boys.

Is this guy a REGISTERED scout leader? There are background checks and even fingerprint requirements these days. Please read up on the requirements, and please take a scoutmaster fundamentals course ASAP! If he's not a parent of one of your scouts, I might even inform the parents of who all is going just so it doesn't bite you later.”

“Fingerprinting? They don't do that to Registered scout leaders in my county yet. m&m doesn't need a scoutmaster fundamentals course, she's probably taught many of them herself. Good luck with your trip, don't give Violin the satisfaction of getting lost, and give the new guy a good idea of what he can expect during the four days. A newbie has a lot of surprises to deal with as it is.”

“Fingerprinting is now a nationwide BSA requirement of ALL adult leaders, even Merit Badge counselors. Contact your local council and/or District Exec for confirmation & details. I am 100% sure of my comments in this regard.

I don't know about m&m's background & certainly meant no offense ny my comments. Like Rabbitman, I am firmly convinced you can't be too careful. One of the reasons that one should become officially "trained" is not just for knowledge gain, but to prove that one has gone thru BSA's Youth Protection Training & similar "official" programs... a lot of this is CYA stuff!!! We live in a very litiguous society.”

“Thanks, wanderer, I hadn't heard about this yet. I will ask my council (girl scouts). They SHOULD have the same protections as the BSA. You are right about the CYA stuff, but it is making it hard to get adults to be involved also. But if you are going to do a program, you might as well do a good job of it.”

“Wanderer - I train Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts (leaders and scouts) in backpacking and will be a trainer in out upcoming SLD course. Been a leader (double duty) for 10 years. Blah Blah Blah Blah

My question arises because I have NEVER allowed a newbie to go on a trip like this. I am wondering if I am just being paroid.

I'm definately not leaving him - and will be pulling weight away. I usually cook alone, not this time.

It will be a mixed group. 3 GS's, 2 BS's, 4 very exp leaders and him.”

“Hey are there any TTer's on the East Coast that are registered BS's.

Ice Tea - hurry up and get old!”

“Why are you fretting? Have a great time! We were all "newbies" once. (just be sure to leave his cot at the trailhead!)”

“and have the pizza delivered on time”

“What, is Ice Tea in high school? Or are adults 21 years old to the BSA? I thought Tea was in college. Whatever. I know he knows more about html than I'm ever going to learn.”

“he is not out of HS yet.
BSA 18 for troop, 21 for Venturers.

BTW - Fingerprinting is not done yet in BS or GS. Not National Policy in either camp.”

“Hey Wanderer. Are you 100% certain that you are 100% sure???”

“Wow, fingerprinting isn't done for Troop Leaders? I had to be fingerprinted just to coach my daughter's soccer team.

Course mebbe the soccer officials read TT.”

“As close to 100% as I can get. This was a big deal within our district last year...at every rountable, every month, someone would show up with their fingerprinting gear, and repeated messages went out to all unit leaders. Unit Commissioner stood up at every mtg. & told everyone to get their leaders in to a roundtable, or, make arrangements to get someone out to the individual troops. I believe everyone was supposed to be done by 12/31/00.”

“My fingertips are pure! Heard nada here at our council. I'm walking to HQ in 15 minutes, so I'll inquire while there.”

“Just got the real scoop, I'll have my crow baked, please.

Apparently my Council is one of those selected by national to implement the fingerprint program on a pilot basis. This is our second year of the pilot, I thought that the first year only was the pilot, and that it became policy last year. It's still just a pilot program in selected councils. I'm just in one of the lucky ones! LOL”

“So you are 100% sure its required in your Council. Okay, I'm cool with that.
Boy, I must be in a real generous mood today! ;-) Oh yeah, brotherhood of scouting etc...”

“I owe you one flyguy. Don't people that spout off like they know what they're talking about pi$$ you off??!!”

“I'm with Rabbit and Flyguy. I was a Cub leader and I am a high school rugby coach (boys and girls - all senior). I've never had a problem (24 years), but I'm still careful. Do it! And, of course, happy trails.”