Advice wanted

[u/AromaticCap4]

My son is part of the Jamboree contingent for our area. They had a Campout at the beginning of May with the new Jamboree troop. The kids were told there would be comfort stations available for them to utilize. Unbeknownst to them, the volunteer leadership decided against having the comfort stations because the troop would be responsible to clean them. The leaders did not update the boys about this change (it was decided at check in at the Scout reservation - not ahead of time). Several boys in my son's patrol went to the comfort station, found them locked and did the inappropriate thing and unlocked several with a flint and steel or rocks. My son was present and says he didn't participate but didn't stop the others either. The volunteer leader showed up, told the boys they should not have done that and the weekend progressed. On Sunday night we received a message in the Discord channel about the damage to the comfort station locks and there would be further discussion.

A week later, I received an email saying my son and a parent needed to attend a mandatory meeting to talk about the damage and reparations needed to be paid. I emailed back and said I needed pictures, needed to understand what was happening to the leadership (who weren't leading), and I wanted to understand the insurance. I was told this would all happen at the mandatory meeting.

The meeting was last night. Come to find out the Area Council leadership called most of the other parents in the Jamboree troop EXCEPT the accused kids' parents. Seriously. My son and the others was tried and convicted without being able to address his accuser(s) and discuss the situation. Is this normally how things are resolved in the Scouts? I get the boys violated the Oath and the Law and didn't act appropriately but I can imagine how this was all decided without talking to the accused. And leadership was exonerated from responsibility.

[u/RealSuperCholo]

As a leader, the fact that a scout says there was no one around doesnt always mean an adult wasn't around. Also as a leader, I know that scouts do things when a leader is not around that they normally wouldnt. All of us were kids once and did the same.

I get your being upset, but as a parent rather than a leader, they broke the rules. From the top down to parent it should be a teachable moment. Im not saying there shouldn't be a punishment but there should be meaningful conversation from all sides. In the end though, they broke rules, were found breaking rules by an adult so the proof is in the pudding as they say. Unfortunately doing nothing is just as bad as the act itself. A scout is Trustworthy, Brave and Obedient.

Yes you should have received a call earlier, but there was probably more of a process involved. I cant say as every council handles things in their own fashion. We found that out at summer camp last year. The other parents were likely called as the scouts may have been asked questions for further information gathering. Its hars to say.

[u/AromaticCap4 → u/RealSuperCholo]

I have a question what is expected of leadership at these type of events. Each patrol made their flag at the campout. One group decided to depict several prominent African Americans with gold teeth (the adult leader said it was obviously Obama and Michael Jackson - I cannot say) with animal bodies. They also depicted Charlie Kirk with a red X on his throat (again from the adult leader at the event - I did not see the flag).  Should I, as a parent, expect the adult leaders at the event to check on the Scouts as they are doing these activities to guide them?  As a Jamboree contingent, there aren't a lot of older Scouts to lead - most are 14 or younger (my son is 12). 

[u/RealSuperCholo → u/AromaticCap4]

Those are a far different cry from what happened with the lock. There should have been a number of people and leaders who should have stepped in to eliminate all of those items you described. Politics aside, all of it was highly inappropriate and if troops leaders said nothing, camp leadership should have taken care of it. The current political climate has made for a very poor grey area.

Camps are a different beast. Scouts should be off with other scouts and making friends, having fun, experiencing things. Leaders should be checking in regularly and when it is feasible. In our case with 20 scouts, its a bit difficult to do all the time. Typically there is always a leader within earshot however. As with all kids, they will also avoid adults, because well, we are adults. We are old, boring, embarrassing, I personally throw in a 67 from time to time to remind them that I am. As leaders we put trust in our scouts that they can function without us and do the right thing, but it doesnt always mean they will. No one is perfect, kids or adults. You'd also be surprised how a 12 year old can lead when given the chance, I was.

[u/AromaticCap4 → u/RealSuperCholo]

They are being made to remake the flag. Many things happened that campout that should not have happened