really thoughtless things to happen.

Parents expect the scoutmaster knows what he's doing, but that's not a given. Who is going to follow up and make sure? Again, it's very possible that none of them will feel like he/she needs to be that person because someone else is doing it.

I'm guilty too. My boys just went to cub scout day camp and I couldn't be there so I just expected it to be run well. I had my wife go with them, but she's the kind of person who would just trust that the people around know what they're doing.

But yeah, it would be much better if people just did what they were supposed to do, including parents involving themselves.