Just when you thought the Friday night campfire was going smoothly, the Eagle patrol had to do that skit.
You know, the one with salty language, an inappropriate ethnic joke, or sexual innuendo?
Now you, the Scoutmaster, will spend all week fielding angry calls and e-mails from moms and dads in the troop.
If only this could’ve been avoided…
Before your next Scout campfire, let’s work together to answer two questions: (1) How do you screen a skit or song to make sure it’s appropriate? (2) What criteria do you use to determine whether it’s “in good taste”?
Screening Skits and Songs
Successful, Scout-appropriate campfires start with a great leader. Because troops are boy-run, you’ll want a Scout or three to be in charge of the campfire’s plan. Give the Scouts this BSA-produced Campfire Program Planner worksheet (PDF) to guide their efforts.
Have the campfire leaders request from each patrol leader a skit and/or song. With smaller troops, each patrol will probably need to do both a skit and a song. Be sure the boy leaders don’t let patrols put down something like “TBD skit” — you’ll want the exact name.
Notice the line for “Camp Director’s Approval” on the worksheet. Once the plan is complete, the Scouts should approach you or another designated Scouter for approval.
Now it’s on you, and this is why having names for each skit or song is so important. If it’s one you recognize, fine. If not, take the time to find out more information about the lyrics for the song or plot for the skit. When in doubt, ask the patrol whether they think the skit or song upholds Scouting’s values. Chances are they’ll realize it’s not in good taste and come up with something else. A few minutes of investigation now could save you hours of awkward phone calls later.
OK, but there’s a difference between good, clean fun and skits that cross the line. Where is that gray area, and how is it determined? That brings us to…
Is This Skit or Song in “Good Taste”?
Each Scout unit is different, which is probably why the BSA keeps its recommendation on “good taste” for campfires pretty vague.
The BSA says, “Be sure that every feature of this campfire program upholds Scouting’s highest traditions.”
In other words, how you apply the Scout Oath and Scout Law here is left open for interpretation.
Of course, all skits or songs that use coarse language, disparage a certain demographic group, or involve inappropriate costumes should be banned outright.
That said, don’t overdo it with your red pen. Some of my best laughs at Scout campfires have been from skits that include good-natured ribbing of the Scoutmaster. If the laughs are at your expense, so be it!
Coming up with the perfect litmus test isn’t easy, but here’s one idea: Before the campfire planning, ask all Scouts to pretend the skit/song is being video recorded. Would they be OK with their parents (or grandparents) seeing it?
And in the YouTube generation, that’s not such a stretch at all.
What Do You Think?
What’s your approach to the concern of Scout-appropriateness at campfires? Is it a real problem, or is it overblown? Share your thoughts below.
Campfire Ideas
Find lots of great skits and songs here and here.
Main photo by WVUMC West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church
I went to the link for skits. There are skits there that don’t pass the policies and guidelines that we have our council and district.
Good to know. You don’t have to call out specific skits necessarily, but can you share what parts of your council and district policies are being violated?
I think that would be informative to all of us. Thanks!
-Bryan
Hey Bryan!!
A few years back our Regional Director for Program up in the Northeast Region sent a note to local Council camp directors and Scout Executives about appropriateness of songs, skits and “run-ons”. Funny your topic is about camp skit appropriateness — we’ve been talking about it over on LinkedIn’s BSA Adult Volunteers forum for about a month now.
If you like, I can cut and paste Doug Fullmann’s note over here…it gives some clear guidance — clearer than the Campfire worksheet does — as to descriptions of skits, songs and “run-ons” should NOT be allowed.
My dad was in the Army, so a LOT of the skits and songs we sang as a kid didn’t bother him — nor his parental peers — very little. But that was a long time back…and this is now. I gave examples of three such skits or run-ons over on LinkedIn — entertaining as they were back then (and still is today), neither are appropriate for today’s Scouting enviornment.
Settummanque!
There is a LinkedIn BSA Adult Volunteer forum??? I didn’t know that. Would be helpful to spread the word
)
I don’t see it. But I did find a Wood Badge Alumni group
The forum over there is called “Boy Scouts of America Adult Volunteers” and has more than 11,200 subscribers to it. If you can’t find it, send me email at blackeagle.walton@us.army.mil and I’ll help you find it, Karen!
Hi, Mike! Yes, I think that would be helpful. Please paste here. Thanks!
As promised here’s the information from NER on songs and skits.
Here’s the Northeast Region’s policy, as sent to local Councils and Regional staff members in 1997…
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Scouting’s program is designed to develop boys in character, citizenship, and fitness including mental, moral, spiritual, and physical fitness. Activities, meetings, camp programs, and campfires all contribute to Scouting’s aims. Therefore, some items that may be acceptable in other segments of society are not part of the Scouting program.
One of the important elements of Scouting is FUN. In our attempt to use humor and fun activities, we must continually remind ourselves that these amusing and entertaining programs are excellent opportunities to teach the values of Scouting, and must not detract from, nor contradict the philosophy expressed in the Scout Oath and Law.
Although many leaders are able to determine the appropriateness of most program choices, there are certainly numerous songs, stories, skits, and stunts that force the leader to make decisions. To add to the complexity of the decision is that in many cases it is not so much what is done, but how it is done that makes the difference. The areas that fall between the inappropriate and the absolutely acceptable, we call the gray area.
Just because a skit, song, or story falls in one of the gray area categories does not, in itself, establish that it may not be done. At the same time, if an item is in the gray area, then a leader must exercise his judgment concerning not only the subject matter, but also the performers and their sensitivity to the values and ideals of Scouting. The final decision must be the impact the item has on developing character, fitness, and citizenship or setting the wrong example of what Scouting is all about.
The following “Gray Areas” should alert leaders to exercise their best judgment:
1. Underwear
Concerns: Nudity, natural modesty of Scouts, mental fitness, and cleanliness.
Judgment Note: The J. C. Penney Skit can be done in Swimsuits as an example.
2. Water
Concerns: Victims (self-worth and self-esteem)
Persons may be hurt physically and emotionally. Equipment/clothing damaged.
Bodily Functions – Skits, etc., portraying urination, sexual acts, or defecation do not contribute to developing Scouting’s Ideals and Values.
3. Toilet Paper
Concerns: Bodily Functions (see above) and Toilet Humor.
Judgment Note: “The Viper is Coming” can have a person with Paper Towels and Windex to clean someone else’s eyeglasses.
4. Inside Jokes
Concerns: Only the participants or those in the “KNOW” can appreciate the humor, etc. Don’t bore, or even worse, ignore the rest of us in the audience.
Judgment Note: Staff Banquets, and Last Wills and Testaments, are great uses of inside jokes and most, if not all, of the participants are “in.”
5. Alcohol/Drunkenness
Concerns: BSA’s Unacceptables – Alcohol is the most abused drug especially within the age group Scouting is trying to serve.
Drunkenness – Making fun of people. Courtesy. Self-esteem and self-worth.
6. Cross Gender Impersonation
Concerns: Bodily Functions and excessive, inappropriate exaggeration of body parts.
Embarrassments.
May become a form of sexual harassment.
Judgment Note: Can be great fun. Area that most probably fits into the “not what is done, but how it’s done” category.
This guide has been prepared with the sincere desire for wholesome fun, recreation, and enjoyment for all at Scouting activities, especially campfires. Hopefully, you the leader, A find these guidelines helpful as you thoughtfully approve these activities, guide boys in making the right decisions, and personally set the example for Scouting at its best.
– Douglas C. Fullman, Director of Program, Northeast Region BSA
Between Scouts being too smug to want to do a skit to begin with, and adults being too uptight to approve any skit, I’d rather BE the campfire than deal with trying to set one up.
“JC Penney” is a skit I sat through at summer camp every year for 5 years, but when I mentioned it to a group of stumped scouts, I got an addled youth protection lecture spiced with “that was a long time ago.” There were moms there–imagine if they’d seen someone in a bathing suit; the horror!
Friends, the year 2000 was not that long ago.
We do not develop character or morality by encasing young men in bubblewrap, blindfolding them, and delivering them to the age 18 having never experienced any situation that requires them to think, decide, critique, create, etc. We create mental cases unable to make decisions, solve problems, or make their own determinations–value judgements about this very issue included.
This is not a call to a free-for-all system. Bryan’s system is the right system; leadership and approval process to make sure actually inappropriate things don’t make it through. What campfires don’t need are fretting nannies.
Now, has anyone seen my pants?
Mike;
Thanks for the post. I had five of my Venturers on camp staff this year and was surprised to be told that a song/skit that had any reference to death was now banned. While I’d admit that songs encouraging killing animals or people would and should be banned, this was in reference to “The Unicorn” which is a song with hand gestures about Noah’s Ark.
In this logic, songs like “Titanic,” “Sergeant Flynn,” “Oh! Susanna,” and even “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” which have basis in history would have to be banned locally because of this ruling. It seems to me that having a published resource or maybe an updated songbook or three from National would help maintain consistency and ensure we have many great songs to sing.
First of all, is the troop adult leadership following BSA guidelines as an example? If not, fix the problem first before going to correct the boys.
The boys – ask the boys to do the skit infront of you as a practice run. They you can pre-view what the skit is and evaluate its appropriateness. Then explain that there are certain BSA guidelines to follow. We had a patrol leader do this for the unit leaders. When it came to the campfire program, he did something else and it was inappropriate. A few weeks later he had a BOR and it was brought up. He did not advance because of it. “Trustworthy, Clean, Reverent, Helpfull, Courteous, Kind, and Obediant” boundries were crossed. The parents agreed with the troop.
Common sense needs to be applied. I am not a PC person and I refuse to walk on eggs shells for people. Some people need to suck it up and grow a thicker skin. Alternatively, it is not good to be offensive to people.
How about adding choking hazards? I stopped the “Chubby Bunnies” skit this past summer because it was a choking hazard and was completely inappropriate for a Scout Summer Camp. I would hate to see a local Council as well as the National Organization get sued because someone choked to death.
why do you keep referring to ‘boy leader’…you see my troop is in ireland and of mixed gender..do the eagle scouts have all male troops?
This is an interesting question. I am one of the editors of http://www.scoutorama.com, which you listed in your blog post above. We have over 600 scout skits on the website that have been submitted by scouters and youth leaders from all over the world.
Over the years, I have heard occasionally from different people who find a particular skit or another to be offensive. In some cases I find myself in agreement, and in others I do not find a skit offensive, but recognize that it may be to another person.
A few years ago we added a feature to the scoutorama.com website that flags some skits as “May be mildly offensive to some audiences.” When a user reports a particular skit as offensive, we review it and update this flag as needed.
Also interesting is that different cultures may find some subjects or elements to be offensive, where other cultures do not.
You can see the skits and flags on http://www.scoutorama.com/skit/
I appreciate the blog and comments above.