What every Scout leader needs to know about how to exercise their duty of care toward their Scouts during the conduct of Scouting's outdoor program
The Guide to Safe Scouting defines “hazard trees” as “dead trees, live trees with dead parts, and live trees that are unstable due to defects and are within striking distance of people or property.” The author recently had occasion at
Dr. Robert Kauffman, retired professor of Recreation and Parks Management at Frostburg State University, has developed a series of videos directed to various aspects of outdoor risk management. These videos, some of which are accessible below, are relevant to outdoor
The author is aware of two units who each sent a crew to Philmont, and who each had an adult crew member have to remove themselves from the crew by the third day due to a physical inability to continue
In 2003 seven teenagers perished as a result of an avalanche while ski touring in British Columbia during an annual school-sponsored trip. As a result of the tragedy, an after-action report was commissioned, which made various recommendations and conclusions. Many
BSA has instituted rigorous Youth Protection protocols to protect Scouting youth. Indeed, the Guide to Safe Scouting includes a section titled “Barriers to Abuse.” See, also, this BSA statement on Youth Protection. However, a unit leader must view the term
The “Mission” of the Boy Scouts of America “is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.” One of the Eight Methods of
It should go without saying that Scouting units in the outdoors should only consume water that is safe to drink. Indeed, there are any number of ways to treat water to make it safe to drink, including but not being
As of 2020, BSA instituted new activity assessment criteria called S.A.F.E., (intended to replace The Sweet Sixteen of BSA Safety) the four aspects of which are the following: SUPERVISION (Youth are supervised by qualified and trustworthy adults who set the
In August of 2018 a 16 year old member of Scouts UK fell 200 feet to his death while hiking along the edge of the Great Orme, a 700 ft. high peninsula on the north coast of Wales, pictured below.
In an April 22, 2020 interview published in the Washington Post newspaper, Duke head football coach David Cutcliffe discussed the decision-making process that he teaches quarterbacks in order to maximize their chance for success during a game. Cutcliffe’s time-honored theory
Many well-meaning, unselfish adult leaders make decisions during outdoor events that, upon reflection, they might characterize as “stupid”. Lester Zook, an experienced outdoor guide in Virginia, has characterized “stupidity” as being “the unwillingness to be open to learning, and receptive
In 1976 my brother and I went backpacking in Rocky Mountain National Park. On our first night of camping on a bluff overlooking a small stream, the local area was pummeled by rain-laden thunderstorms, resulting in an epic flood in
Heat illness is a serious matter in Scouting, as evidenced by more than a few instances where both youth and adults have perished during outdoor Scouting events due to the effects of heat. See this 2009 story. And, this 2013
There have recently been many news reports of children not being vaccinated against diseases such as measles, resulting in hot spots of measles epidemics in the United States. What is left unsaid is whether a refusal to be vaccinated against
Renowned outdoorsman Cliff Jacobson, in a Scouting magazine issue of September-October, 2016, addressed the “Pitfalls of Impatience” in relation to actions taken during an outdoor activity. Cliff described four different scenarios that might reasonably be faced by a volunteer Scout
Over the years, Scouts and their leaders have experienced white water activities which have included Class V rivers. Indeed, Scouts attending Bechtel Summit Base had the opportunity to raft on a Class V river. But, no more! Note the
BSA has a health and safety page on its website that should be of interest to all Scouting volunteers – “Safety Moments“. BSA’s “Safety Moments“ are single page discussions of specific aspects of the Scouting program, intended to highlight significant
In the finale of the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, the immortal knight says to the villain, who is attempting to pick the Holy Grail from among an assortment of goblets, to “choose wisely” – when he picks
In a posting on the website Sportwaiver, the point is made that exercising sensible and competent risk management procedures has many benefits, including (1) avoiding involvement in costly litigation, which could drag on for years, (2) avoiding bad publicity and
The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council’s Mountain Safety Manual 38, “Outdoor Safety – Risk Management for Outdoor Leaders“, 3rd edition, 2013, p. 16, makes the point that the risk attendant to an activity can be perceived differently by different persons,
Priest and Gass, in “Effective Leadership in Adventure Programming” 2005, pp. 126-127, confirm the point that the health of the participants is the paramount concern during an outdoor activity from the standpoint of risk management. From the standpoint of risk
Priest and Gass, “Effective Leadership in Adventure Programming“, 1997, p. 98, make reference to the use of “risk management countermeasures” in support of a risk management plan. These “countermeasures” can be employed to either avoid, or minimize, the effect or
Being a well-meaning BSA adult volunteer in support of a unit’s outdoor program presents many challenges. The challenges presented are, for the most part, different than those normally faced by adults. Indeed, the challenges which must be faced, and successfully
A Scout unit participating in an outdoor activity is generally comprised of a mixture of both youth and adults, of differing ages, skill levels, maturity levels, and physical conditioning . . . not to mention, differing views of their own
There were at least two reported hiking deaths in 2017 attributed to altitude sickness. One a 17 year old Boy Scout backpacking in Utah, and another a 20 year old female hiking in the Colorado mountains. A Boys’ Life article
While outdoor participants are routinely faced with mental “red flags” (or warning signs) either during the planning or conduct of an outdoor activity (such as a bad weather report), there are times when such red flags constitute actual warning signs
In September, 2017, BSA announced a revised curriculum for wilderness first aid courses for BSA volunteers. The new curriculum updates the prior 2010 wilderness first aid curriculum. The revised curriculum may be found here. By way of important change, while
The movie “White Mile” (trailer found here) (available on DVD and used in support of some university outdoor recreation courses) is based on a true life event where several adult participants perished during a “corporate-bonding” white water rafting event in Canada.
As of April 1, 2017, BSA terminated its Tour Plan trip planning resource. There is no stated replacement. Since either the Tour Plan or its predecessor Tour Permit procedure have been in place since the 1960s, this is a major
Can we sometimes place too much faith in GPS for directions? Some stories make this seem so. In one 2016 story, a young woman became lost for 5 days near the Grand Canyon due to reliance on her car’s GPS,
The National Park Service keeps records of search and rescue missions in its parks, and its 2014 annual report is enlightening as to such causes, most of which are applicable to the planning and conduct of Scouting activities. For instance,
One aspect of BSA‘s SAFETY PAUSE slogan is “Share”, meaning sharing with others anticipated risks and how to deal with them. But, will others listen? All volunteer leaders have their own perceptions of risk to be encountered during an outdoor
All volunteer leaders will at some time during their tenure arrive at a point where a decision must be made that has significant risk management implications for either the group as a whole, or for one or more members of
The author has become aware there have sadly been instances of adult leaders perishing while attempting to complete the BSA swim test while attending summer camp (presumably due to heart attacks), as well as a number of non-fatal cardiac events
The National Park Service since 1997 has engaged in an effort call “Preventative Search and Rescue” (PSAR ), in a proactive attempt to reduce the need to engage in searches and rescues of park visitors. This effort generally involves educating
All responsible units carry a first aid kit during outdoor activities. This is part of a group’s “duty of care”. Knowing how to use a first aid kit’s contents is part of a unit’s “standard of care”. However, the concepts
In this story regarding a near-tragedy during a 2015 Northern Tier canoe trek, it is stated that the Northern Tier “guide” made a mistake by taking the crew too close to a waterfall, with the entire crew ultimately being swept
The participant handbook for BSA’s Northern Tier canoe programs states as follows with regard to its “whitewater” policy: “The running of rapids, whitewater or waterfalls is prohibited. All Northern Tier crews will portage around all falls, rapids, fast water, etc.
On June 19, 2016, while attending a Russian summer camp, 14 children aged 11-15 (out of 47 participants) perished while boating on a large lake during a summer camp activity. The boats overturned during an advancing storm. The water temperature
A recent study analyzed search and rescue (SAR) response reports for Baxter State Park in Maine (home of Mt. Katahdin, terminus of the Appalachian Trail) for the 20+ year period of 1992-2014. Perhaps not surprisingly, the study found that fatigue
The Sweet 16 of BSA Safety (replaced in 2021 by BSA’s S.A.F.E. activity assessment criteria) defined a “qualified superviser” as follows: “Every BSA activity should be supervised by a conscientious adult who understands and knowingly accepts responsibility for the well-being
On May 14, 2016 a group of 13 Scouts and 6 adults ran a 16 mile stretch of the Dead River in Maine, stated to include Class III to Class IV+ (some say Class V+) rapids. The Dead River reportedly
In their article “Risking a Debate – Redefining Risk and Risk Management: A New Zealand Case Study”, The Journal of Experiential Education, Spring 2001, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp 50-57, authors Robyn Zink et al discussed the results of a
In his article “Learning from accident analysis: The dynamics leading up to a rafting accident”, The Journal of Experiential Education, August 1998, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 86-95, the author Johan Hovelynck makes the point that accidents can be attributed
I recently read the following quote: “No matter how bad things are, you can always make them worse.” The implications for an adult volunteer during a Scouting activity are many, including failing to appreciate the existence of, and to deal
The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 immunizes from liability unpaid volunteers working for non-profit organizations whose negligence results in an injury to another during the course of their volunteer duties. This Act, of course, applies to adult Scout volunteers acting within
A service iNeverSolo (info here) markets itself as being “better than a trail of bread crumbs”. It is a free service where participants taking outdoor trips (hikes, canoe trips, etc.) can register their trip plan on-line, which trip plan includes
American Whitewater has a safety code directed specifically to white water boating. See, http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/safety:start. The safety code covers the following subject areas: Personal preparation and responsibility Boat and equipment preparedness Group preparedness and responsibility Guidelines for river rescue International scale
Selecting an appropriate commercial vendor for an outdoor activity is part of the unit’s duty of care. For instance, if the vendor is a source of rental canoes, rafts, or kayaks, does the vendor: maintain the equipment (including PFDs) in
Apart from BSA‘s policies and procedures, other outdoor recreation organizations have their own standards of operation that govern how they act in the outdoors. For instance, the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) has a “Manual of Accreditation Standards for Adventure
Jeff Jackson, professor and coordinator of Algonquin College’s Outdoor Adventure Program, and co-author of “Managing Risk – Systems Planning for Outdoor Adventure Programs” (2011), in a recent webinar, makes the point that “safe failure” is more important than being “fail
“Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste, look well to each step, and from the beginning think
Peter Kick, in his 2015 book “Desperate Steps – Life, Death, and Choices Made in the Mountains of the Northeast“, lists the following hints to assist in avoiding or minimizing risk in the backcountry: Plan ahead – know your bailout
Goode et al, in their 2015 publication “Looking beyond people, equipment, and environment: Is a systems theory model of accident causation required to understand injuries and near misses during outdoor activities?“, Procedia Manufacturing 3 (2015) 1125-1131 (available on-line at www.sciencedirect.com),
In the event of an unfortunate incident, involving one or more youth or adults, it may be simplistic to believe that the only victims are those directly involved – i.e., those who are injured, or worse. But, the list of
Professor Angie Moline of Northern Arizona University several years ago released the results of a study directed to the level of preparedness of university faculty who supervised outdoor field programs for students in subject areas such as ecology, biology, environmental
The February, 2016 issue of Boys’ Life contains an article titled “Scuba on Ice”, directed to a winter scuba activity on a frozen lake in Minnesota. An excellent adventure to be sure. Opportunities for Scouts to learn, and participate in,
Most outdoor recreation commentators do not consider an activity completed until a “post-activity review” occurs. That is, what did we do, how did we do it, how did it go, and what do we need to change? Scout units may
Several outdoor risk management commentators equate “risk factors ignored” to “lemons” such as might appear on a slot machine, such that when sufficient “lemons” accumulate due to ignored risk factors, the “jackpot” of overwhelming risk results, potentially leading to a
Being able to provide reasonable medical care during an outdoor activity is one aspect of meeting the standard of care toward the participants, Scouts or adults. BSA deals with this issue by requiring minimum medical certification standards for those attending
The “Sweet 16 of BSA Safety” has been an integral part of the standard of care which must be exercised during the planning and conduct of Scouting’s outdoor program for decades. However, as of 2021, the “Sweet 16” is phased
The “default” mode for outdoor participants, particularly youth, probably tends toward dehydration as opposed to being sufficiently hydrated. Why? Most will use the “thirsty” reflex to determine when to consume water, but at that point, most commentators take the view
Some unfortunate stories on the web might cause the reader to conclude that those acting as outdoor program supervisors (such as volunteer Scout leaders) were overconfident in their abilities, and overwhelmed by the circumstances with which they were confronted, leading
The January 2016 issue of Boys’ Life magazine contains an article about a Scout group which attempted to hike to the summit of Mount Washington (NH) during February, 2015. Wisely, on the advice of a park ranger, the group put into
Meier et al, “Camp Counseling – Leadership and Programming for the Organized Camp“, 2012, p. 81, lists a number of “proactive program safety points” for camp staff to take into account during the operation of a camp program. As many
There is a consensus among outdoor program commentators that accidents in the outdoors are the result of one or more of unsafe conditions, unsafe acts, and errors in judgment. Leemon et al, “Risk Management for Outdoor Leaders“, 2005, p.16., among others.
Many outdoor leadership commentators take the view that those in charge of outdoor recreation programs should possess certain “core” skills, stated by some to include activity and technical skills, teaching and modeling skills, group process skills, and judgment and decision-making
BSA‘s Guide to Safe Scouting states the following with regard to BSA‘s liability insurance coverage and activities conducted on behalf of youth: “The Boy Scouts of America’s general liability policy provides coverage for a bodily injury or property damage claim
Rick Curtis, author of “The Backpacker’s Manual” (2005), an excellent and highly recommended 400+ page treatise on backcountry skills, makes the point (pp. 226-228), also made by many others in the outdoor recreation field, that potential hazards in the outdoors
In a story from 2002, two members of a church camp canoeing group tragically perished at the base of Upper Basswood Falls in the Boundary Waters (pictured below) – one a camp participant while swimming at the base of the
As an adult volunteer, you are frequently confronted with one or more risk factors during an outdoor activity. Will you be able to deal with them, or will you find cause to ignore them? Priest and Gass, in their book
Priest and Gass, in their book Effective Leadership in Adventure Programming, 2nd ed., 2005, conclude that competent planning for an outdoor activity includes the following items: Reason for the trip (what are the purposes, goals and objectives?) Activities involved (do
“Learn it young, remember it forever” . . . a promotional slogan adopted by Scouts South Africa, as discussed and depicted in this video. This slogan has real implications with regard to risk management in Scouting, reinforcing the fact
Several outdoor program commentators characterize an outdoor program participant’s ability to function by relating their level of competence to the degree of difficulty of the activity, denoted as “operation zones“. Such “operation zones” are defined as follows: The “boredom zone”
Cathye Haddock, author of “Managing Risks in Outdoor Activities”, New Zealand Mountain Safety Manual 27, pp. 91-93, 1993, suggests that administrators of outdoor education programs should address a number of areas of inquiry to ensure that their programs are well-planned
Cliff Jacobson, in his book Canoeing Wild Rivers, 5th ed, 2015, lists the following as significant hazards when canoeing in the wilderness (pay attention future Northern Tier, Maine High Adventure, and other wilderness canoeists!): Over-reliance on maps and contour intervals
BSA’s new (2015) “Scouter Code of Conduct” states “I will exercise sound judgment and demonstrate good leadership and use the Scouting program for its intended purpose consistent with the mission of the Boy Scouts of America”. Is that a promise that
Apart from the author’s risk management book, the one and only book written specifically for adult Scout volunteers on the subject, there are a number of other resources directed to outdoor risk management which would find a useful spot in
BSA published (Oct, 2015, revised March, 2021) a Scouter Code of Conduct to guide adult volunteers during their tenure. Adhering to all aspects of this Scouter Code of Conduct will serve to assist an adult volunteer in meeting the requisite
Philmont Scout Reservation has been in continuous use since 1942. During 2015-2016, for two years, BSA offered Philmont advisor training programs at various locations across the country (apparently the first ever offered specifically for Philmont advisors). The program, known as
During a recent outdoor activity, the author requested that one of the activity stations be modified (by reducing the height at which the activity occurred) to provide a greater margin for safety, this despite the activity being within the guidelines
A September 28, 2015 article in The Spectrum newspaper discusses 10 dangers that “can ruin a hike”. While focused on hiking dangers in southern Utah, most, if not all, of the list is applicable to hiking in any location, particularly for Scout
Each Scout unit must establish a culture of outdoor risk management in order to enhance the odds that a successful, safe, outcome is achieved. The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council in its book “Outdoor Safety – Risk Management for Outdoor
The movie “White Mile” (trailer found here) (available on DVD and used in support of some university outdoor recreation courses) is based on a true life event where several adult participants perished during a “corporate-bonding” white water rafting event in Canada.
The author recently read an article about a commercial outdoor recreation organization where the author expressed some concern about the number of participant deaths that had been experienced by that organization since its inception. In the “comment section” to the
The “qualified supervision” of BSA’s Sweet Sixteen involves many responsibilities, one of which is to understand when to exercise “general supervision”, when to exercise “specific supervision”, and when to transition from one to another. In a reported incident of years past,
As discussed in a different post, Scout volunteers owe a “standard of care” to those Scouts in their care. The “standard of care” are those actions taken to meet the Scout volunteers’ “duty of care“ toward their Scouts. Whether the
In his book “Deep Survival” (2003), author Laurence Gonzales offered the following “Rules of Adventure”, which are certainly applicable to the planning and conduct of Scouting’s outdoor program: (1) Know what you are doing (have you taken all applicable training and
It is not uncommon for Scout-sponsored boating trips to occur on rivers having inherent hazards such as cold water, in-water obstacles, rapids, high water flow rate, etc. Such hazards can place participants (youth and adults) in harm’s way under unexpected
In the unlikely (hopefully) event that your group requires the assistance of rescuers, for whatever reason, would you know which agency or agencies would come to your aid? This may be important to know from the standpoint of having the
Open water paddling, particularly in bodies of water where the temperature is cold, places risk management at the forefront. The margin for error can be slim indeed as shown by this Chilean kayak story involving the founder of North Face. Experienced
Rescue agencies, including the National Park Service, as well as various state agencies, have long questioned whether those in need of rescue, who have created a need to be rescued due to their own negligence, should be billed for those
Hikes in the backcountry include their own challenges, including unknown, unexpected, and unforeseeable risks, resulting in the potential for harm. Being prepared for emergencies by carrying a rescue or survival kit is, of course, part of “being prepared”! The National
A fire department in Maine recently used a drone to deliver a lifeline to two teenagers trapped in the middle of a river. The drone used is a DJI Phantom 3. Shades of things to come? Here’s another story about
A leader’s duty of care to the Scouts includes attempting to understand those risks that are “reasonably foreseeable”, and then either accepting the consequences of those risks, mitigating the effect of the risks by making changes to the activity, or
With the advent of cell phones and satellite phones, not to mention SPOT devices, the question of whether to bring some kind of communication means when exploring the backcountry is being asked more and more. Indeed, all Northern Tier crews
Several persons during a risk management training session shared some personal stories. Story #1: Regarding the issue of driver fatigue, one person confirmed that a scout leader returning from summer camp fell asleep and hit his car in traffic. As
This post will be supplemented periodically with stories about teachable moments in the wilderness. There unfortunately does not seem to be a lack of them on the web . . . Cold water canoe accident 1982 Boy Scout cold water
Weather is a primary risk factor to be addressed. As some say, “WEATHER RULES“! One way to address the risk associated with weather is to employ pre-determined weather “trigger points” which may be cause to put “Plan B” into effect
Cliff Jacobson, a renowned author and outdoorsman with over 35 years experience canoeing in the backcountry, offers the following tips for avoiding accidents in the September-October 2012 issue of Scouting magazine: (1) Pay attention to the weather; (2) Dress appropriately