Camp-out Issues

T399 Parents:
A recurring issue needs addressing: Drivers for our camp-outs. First of all, I love ya! Second of all, let's plan a better method of communication.

Parent Drivers
Please let us know if you can drive and how many seat-belts you have. Do not assume because you told me, that we have you down.
Please make sure the ramrod knows your driving availability. If you tell me, "I can drive if you need me", then that is not recorded and I will not remember (after all I am 59 years old).

For example:
if you can drive and stay (DS)
if you can only drive there (DT)
if you can only drive back (DB)
can't drive, but can stay (S)

I know this may seem simple, but the flow of information has not been pristine. I learn of available parents, and unavailable parents at the last minute, and quite frankly too late in the process. We end up scrambling to make sure all Scouts are transported safely.

Which brings me to the second point of parents who pick up Scouts and they do not "check them out" or more clearly "tell someone in charge". The obvious safety of us knowing if a Scout has left the camp-out is imperative. We take head-counts on a regular basis and when Scouts appear to be missing, we research (by asking other Scouts) where they might be, etc. Please let us know when you have picked up your Scout or any Scout. You will save us time and worry. This also is useful information when we are trying to locate a "seat belt" for each Scout for the return trip.

We are typically very flexible about Scouts deciding at the last minute to join us on a camp-out. We want all our Scouts to come to all our camp-outs and we want to make it as easy as possible. However, when a Scout has not signed up and shows up at the camp-out, we obviously have not made arrangements for his ride home. It is important that the Scout parent communicate to us when a latecomer and a no-signer-upper has decided to join us. And let me reiterate, we want all our Scouts to come to as many events as possible, we are just asking for clearer communication.

Don B. Mauro
dmauro21@gmail.com
512/657-0195

"It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to serve others by helping them to install values in young people and, in other ways, to prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential.

The values we strive to install are based on those found in the Scout Oath and Law."