Boy Scouts and hammocks

**Bic** · 12-03-2011, 08:37

Unrelated to hammocks.......But

I just wanted to say how great it is that so many of you support or are active with helping the scouts! I was a boy scout with troop 419 in minnesota and I can hardly wait until my boys are old enough to join. I didn't have the greatest father figure at home, and looking back, my scout master unknowingly became that male role model to me. You guys that are working with scouts might not realize it, but you have a huge impact on those kids! Just about a month ago I went over to my old scout masters house to finally say hello and tell him how much what he did meant to me. He's in his 90's now and still participates with the scouts... He is a great man. I'm glad I was able to thank him for everything he taught me!

**Oms** · 12-03-2011, 09:04

I'm hoping that with the Scouts organization coming around to the use of hammocks other government agencies, state and federal, will soon agree to the use in their parks. The down side is there are so many scouts they may take all the trees

**Stormstaff** · 12-03-2011, 11:09

Originally Posted by hikingdad

Unrelated to hammocks.......But

I just wanted to say how great it is that so many of you support or are active with helping the scouts! I was a boy scout with troop 419 in minnesota and I can hardly wait until my boys are old enough to join. I didn't have the greatest father figure at home, and looking back, my scout master unknowingly became that male role model to me. You guys that are working with scouts might not realize it, but you have a huge impact on those kids! Just about a month ago I went over to my old scout masters house to finally say hello and tell him how much what he did meant to me. He's in his 90's now and still participates with the scouts... He is a great man. I'm glad I was able to thank him for everything he taught me!

I had no father at home so I know how you feel. My Scoutmaster to this day calls me his "other son" and his son and myself are the best of friends. The kind that I'd trust my life with.

I'm going to try to help spread the hammock love hopefully this coming spring.

**JKRay** · 12-03-2011, 15:58

My son & I are the only hangers in his troop..

**zukiguy** · 12-03-2011, 16:41

The local troop has gone almost exclusively to hammock use. This was after I showed up at an outing with one about 3 years ago and sang the praises of them (and was the only one that got a good night's sleep due to the heat). That and a change of leadership helped the troop come over to the light. Last campout we had only one out of a dozen campers in a tent.

So far the cub scout pack hasn't embraced them. I haven't found the exact reference but some claim they don't meet the privacy requirements for the Tigers. As long we're camping somewhere with facilities I don't see it should be a problem.

**Chrisman2013** · 12-04-2011, 14:47

So far I am the only hanger in my Venturing crew but over the summer while working at a Camp Rainey Mountain in northeast Georgia I found many of the other staff members had Eno hammocks to relax in. I worked in the High Adventure program and every week we would take the participants backpacking. I was asked so many times during these trips about my hammock and every single week at least one of the participants bought a hammock from the trading post as soon as the trip was over. It's great to be able to pass on stuff like that to younger scouts.

**The Weezer's Dad** · 12-04-2011, 19:29

Talk of a Northern Tier trip by our troop before we joined got my son and I interested in hammocking.

Next thing I know, I'm on this forum and poorer in the pocket but richer in the soul!

**CubmasterTony** · 12-05-2011, 16:53

Originally Posted by zukiguy

I haven't found the exact reference but some claim they don't meet the privacy requirements for the Tigers. As long we're camping somewhere with facilities I don't see it should be a problem.

Well, I know the rule of thumb for Tigers is that they have to have a parent/guardian with them at all times. Maybe they think that being in a separate hammock doesn't count?

In terms of camping, the only difference between a tiger and a wolf is that the wolf can go to a council sponsored resident camp, while the tiger cannot.

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pd...Insert_Web.pdf

If it's breaking some sort of privacy restriction, any privacy issue would be just as big of a deal for a wolf as it is for a tiger. No cubs are allowed to sleep in a tent with an adult not in their family, and that goes for Tigers - Webelos. But there's no rule that I'm aware of saying they have to be in the same tent (Hammock) with their parent.

**Fishgeek** · 12-05-2011, 22:55

I'm a scout leader as well. Both my son and I hammock. After this coming weekend I will have 40 nights in the hammock for the year. Hanging is the only way I could log that time in the woods.

**FLScouthanger** · 12-05-2011, 22:58

I agree with Cubmaster Tony's response and would only add to not forget to check in The Guide to Safe Scouting. Perhaps the subject should be raised during the next Roundtable and request position/clarification from the district/council leadership. Just a suggestion...