Boy Scout Camping

[gdobson]

So I broke down and finally decided that my 11 year old son could go on a weekend Boy Scout camp out without my husband to go with him and watch the potential food problems. He is really good about not eating or even touching anything that we didn't give him. We even went out and bought him a new cooler and stocked it with what he needed for the camp out.

Anyway, long story short, my son just called me because one of the Mom's that went on the trip was yelling at my son to wash and clean up the other boys dishes that were covered with hot dog buns and other horrors. My son told her he couldn't and apparently she told him it wasn't going to hurt him and just do it.

I talked to the woman on the phone as calmly as I could (shaking on the inside with anger) that Lane could end up touching his face or his own food and cross contaminating himself. Not to mention he breaks out everytime he comes in contact with anything. And how smart is it of this person to insist a child touch something that knowingly makes him sick?

So there is my gripe. I'm sorry for that.

Has anyone else had any success with getting through these kinds of things??

Gina

[psawyer]

Gina, this is going to be a mixed response.

I am in Canada, where I was a Scout volunteer for decades. I served as the Council Commissioner for Toronto from 1993 until 1996.

Did his Scoutmaster know about his needs?

If so, then he should have taken every step needed to accommodate those needs. If he knew, and failed to communicate those needs to others with a need to know, then you should hold him responsible, and should also contact the Commissioner responsible to make a complaint. In the Boy Scouts of America, the first level of supervising Commissioner is likely a Unit Commissioner, but if that level does not exist in your area, contact the District Commissioner. If you telephone your local Scout office, the Scout Executive there will also listen to your concerns.

If you did not tell the Scoutmaster, but left it up to your son to speak once he arrived at camp, it is likely that people did not know about the seriousness of celiac disease, and the importance of absolute avoidance of gluten.

[gdobson]

Thanks Peter,

I appreciate your response. The Scoutmaster was aware. Lane had been on other camp outs (always with his father) and all were aware of his condition. It was just this one mother this time. She knew his condition but told him it wouldn't hurt him to do the clean up.

Very frustrating.