Boy Scout Leaders Destroy Utah Rock Formation, Now Suffer Consequences

Last week, a group of Boy Scout leaders destroyed a 200 million-year-old rock structure in Utah’s Goblin Valley State Park, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. The three men even filmed themselves as they knocked over one of the formations, known as “goblins.” The video has since gone viral and has sparked an outcry from disgruntled nature lovers from around the globe. The leaders of our nation’s youth may be facing felony charges, and now things just keep getting worse for the rambunctious trio.

The fact that they were, yes, were, Boy Scout leaders complicated the already sticky situation. Now, Dave Hall and Glenn Taylor have both been stipped of their dutires and will no longer be leading any Utah Scouts. After all, they completely went against the Scout code. They defaced a sacred piece of nature for construed reasons. Whether or not the rock in question would have fallen and “killed someone” is up for debate.

"We encourage all leaders and Scouts to review the 'Leave No Trace' principles, as we are all a part of maintaining the integrity, character and the natural beauty of the outdoors for all living things," the Scouts' Utah National Parks Council wrote in a statement.

Hall has since apologized for his role in the park defacement, the Associated Press reports. "We've always supported the Boy Scouts, and if that's what they feel is best, we support that decision.”

In the video, posted on Facebook, one of the Boy Scout leaders leverages himself against a nearby rock and pushing it down into a shallow crevasse, destroying the rock formation. They validated their actions by claiming that the rock, which has stood atop the same formation for 20 million years, could have fallen over and hurt someone.

"Some little kid was about ready to walk down here and die and Glenn saved his life by getting the boulder out of the way," the cameraman is heard saying. "So it’s all about saving lives here at Goblin Valley."

For the former leaders’ sake, let’s hope expulsion from the Scouts is punishment enough. Although they should be punished accordingly, a felony charge for a brief lapse of judgement seems a bit harsh. But then again, isn’t that what any crime ever is?