July 18, 201313 yr Author Boy Scouts' Jamboree should include those barred due to BMI restrictions, experts say | Fox News
July 19, 201313 yr The article: The quadrennial Boy Scout Jamboree opened Monday at a sprawling new site in the West Virginia mountains, with one big omission: Scouts who are dangerously overweight. Scout leaders designed the 10-day wilderness gathering in the New River Gorge region to be the most physically demanding since the first Jamboree, a camp-out held around the Washington Monument in 1937. To be eligible for this year's mass gathering, tens of thousands of Scouts (and their leaders) had to meet standards for Body Mass Index and other health factors. Scouts whose BMI was 40 or above were banned from the 10,600-acre Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, while those between 32 and 39.9 had to submit medical information to be approved. "We required a level of fitness in order to come to the Jamboree that we haven't required before," Dan McCarthy, director of the BSA's Summit Group, told the Associated Press. "And that has motivated an enormous return in terms of both kids and adults getting serious about improving their health." Scouts will be tested by such "high-adventure activities" as kayaking, rock-climbing, bouldering, skateboarding, mountain biking, BMX riding, gliding, a 3-mile hike uphill and a 3,000-foot-long zip line. "Teaching Scouts and Scouters how to live a sustainable life, which includes a healthy lifestyle, and the health of our participants are important goals of the jamboree. We published our height-weight requirements years in advance and many individuals began a health regimen to lose weight and attend the jamboree. But, for those who couldn't, most self-selected and chose not to apply," Scout spokesman Deron Smith told ABC News. The Scouts did not provide an estimate of the number of youths who were excluded. Someone is considered morbidly obese if he or she is 100 pounds over his or her ideal body weight and has a BMI of 40 or more, or 35 and above if the person has high blood pressure, diabetes or other obesity-related conditions. From 1981 to 2010, the Jamboree was held once every four years on part of the Army post at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., which was flatter and more constricting than the new West Virginia site, the Jamboree's permanent home. An estimated 30,000 Scouts and Venturers, plus 7,000 staff and adult leaders, are expected to attend, along with about 50,000 visitors. This year marks the first time that girls — from the Venturing program — will be part of the Jamboree.
July 19, 201313 yr You might not like it but, rules are the rules. If you can't meet the requirements so be it, don't have a problem with it.
July 19, 201313 yr Obese, not chubby. Please be honest in thread titles. This is a wonderful policy and needed for safety. My son is there right now. Shortest hike he has to an activity is 1.5 miles. Several activities require a 6 mile hike with over 800 feet Elevation gain. Add in the heat and humidity and obese scouts would be at great risk. This rule has been in place for several years but it became a priority with the move to this mountainous site.
July 19, 201313 yr We sent two scouts who were pretty overweight. One was 5'6" and 220 pounds. In every picture on facebook this week he looks tired and miserable. His mom confirmed that to me this morning in a facebook message. He wants to come home. What's not being said is after two years of preparations and well over a thousand dollars each, this scout is miserable and I'm sure his entire patrol is miserable as they cannot get to activities they signed up for because they're slowing down and waiting on this particular scout while he takes a huge number of rest breaks. I'm sure the scoutmaster and I will be dealing with a major confrontation in our troop when they get back because he didn't prepare like the others.
July 19, 201313 yr So then why didnt these kids get in shape before this event? Its not like they got there and found this out right?
July 19, 201313 yr So then why didnt these kids get in shape before this event? Its not like they got there and found this out right? Exactly. The scouts have had a push on for a while to add more activities to meetings and campouts. This is considered a High Adventure activity and the physical requirements are much more stringent than just weekend or week long summer camps. That is still open to all. For another high adventure activity last year, my older son worked for 18 months to lose 70 pounds so he could go. He's kept it off two years now which included his first two years of college. Probably one of the few Highlands football players to graduate and lose weight. It can be done as the scouts give you specific goals, plenty of time-18 months to 3 years for this National Jamboree-and plenty of help in the way of opportunities, moral support and group activities.
July 19, 201313 yr Can't be gay. Can't be fat. What's next? I thought BSOA accepted gay scouts and leaders?
July 19, 201313 yr I went to a Jamboree at the old site at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia years ago. Even then the bigger guys in the troop had real difficulty hiking around between the various events spread around the massive expanse of the jamboree grounds. This new jamboree site seems way more strenuous than that. That said, I've seen some pictures and videos of the new scout reservation in West Virginia and as someone who's been to the New River Gorge on several occasions, those who are there are very fortunate. Spectacular place with a lot of great stuff going on.
July 19, 201313 yr I thought BSOA accepted gay scouts and leaders? Not leaders. At least not openly gay. I know a few though and they are great leaders. When that fight comes the problem will be getting it past parents.
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.