Too Fat for the Scouts?
Part B is required with parts A and C for any event that exceeds 72 consecutive hours, a resident camp setting, or when the nature of the activity is strenuous and demanding, such as service projects, work weekends, or high-adventure treks. It is to be completed and signed by a certified and licensed health-care provider—physician (MD, DO), nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant as appropriate for your state. The level of activity ranges from what is normally expended at home or at school to strenuous activity such as hiking and backpacking. Other examples include tour camping, jamborees, and Wood Badge training courses. It is important to note that the height/weight chart must be strictly adhered to if the event will take the unit beyond a radius wherein emergency evacuation is more than 30 minutes by ground transportation, such as backpacking trips, high-adventure activities, and conservation projects in remote areas.
Part B refers to a height/weight requirement that the Scouts took directly from federal health guidelines. The requirements are as follows:
If you do not meet the above criteria you are not allowed to participate in certain activities that will take you further than 30 minutes away from emergency care by ground transportation.
I don’t have any issues with this, but many do. A story on abcnews.com (here) has two obese men talking about how they are now unable to participate in activities they used to enjoy.
I think this is a good step by the Scouts and although I don’t agree with a lot of things they do, specifically kicking out/blocking gay boys from participating, I think the fact that they are going to try to uphold some form of physical conditioning a step in the right direction.
On a more humorous note. You also have to get a doctor’s exam to go on trips that last longer than 72 hours. The doctor is required to fill out this part of the form:
I just have one question. Why they hell do they need to know if your genitalia is abnormal? For a group that is severely homophobic, I think the condition of the boy’s genitals is not much of a concern.
The entire PDF of the information needed and the guidelines can be found here.