Missing Scouts Not Following Basic Scout Teaching

Missing Scouts Not Following Basic Scout Teaching


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Amanda Butterfield reportingThis is the second time in about a month a Boy Scout has gone missing in the High Uintas, and in both cases, there's one common thread.

The first important lesson boys are taught when they join the Boy Scouts, is the buddy system. In the case of 12-year old Garret Bardsley, and one that happened just last month, the boys were alone when they went missing.

In late July it was a 13 year old boy scout from West Valley that disappeared. He took the wrong trail when trying to catch up with with his troop during a 50 mile merit badge hike. Fortunately, he was found two days later.

Meanwhile, the seach continues for Garrett Bardsley.

Bardsley is part of the Utah National Park Council where, like every council, leaders and Scouts go through several hours of training before they camp outdoors. The first lesson taught: the buddy system -- meaning Scouts should never go anywhere alone when camping in the wilderness.

However, appearantly Bardsley's father sent him alone back to the campsite to change his shoes after getting wet.

A report from the Bardsley case has been filed with the National Boy Scouts of America Office, and a group from the local Boy Scouts is also investigating it.

John Gailey/Utah National Parks Council: "How this happened of the boy out with his father, and how the boy got lost, there's still a lot of things there we need to see if there's any adjustments that should be made."

One change Gailey foresees is to reiterate the importance of the buddy system in monthly training for both new scouts and new leaders.

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