Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:24 am
Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:01 pm
Recruiting adults
I believe it correct to say that any halt in the decline of Scouting's youth membership, let alone growth, has to start at the Group level. And to start at this level, we have to have leaders who actually provide a Scouting program. Our youth handbooks show all kinds of exciting activities, but how many youth actually experience them?
We are short of leaders. It is said that a leader's life is about 18 months. Is this because of lack of training, or is it that the adult quits when realising that Scouting is not a "baby-sitting" service and that for a variety of reasons he/she cannot provide the type of program that Scouting requires?
When recruiting leaders are we honest in telling the adult the time demands that will be placed upon them in the provision of a full Scout program? Do we tell them that as well as running a section involving meeting nights, planning evenings and weekends (and perhaps giving up a weeks holiday for a summer camp or Part 2 training), we expect them to take training, to attend leader meetings and to get involved in planning and/or attending Area and Council large scale activities? It is not an hour a week! Surely, we should be honest so that the leaders we do attract are people who fully understand the commitment involved, the time demands that will be placed upon them and, most importantly, have the attitude, skills and knowledge required to provide a balanced Scouting program. Leader training can provide a knowledge of the program and demonstrate the activity skills needed to deliver the program. But we cannot teach attitude, and it is fruitless to try and teach skills if the individual does not want to employ thise skills in a Scouting program. If an adult individual is not comfortable in the outdoors is this the type of person we should encourage to be a section Scouter working with youth? We have a screening process to weed out undesirables, we need a screening process toi ensure we recruit the right kind of adult. The Scout Movement began with boys forming themselves into patrols and themselves choosing the adult leader. How many of today's Scouts would have chosen the leader they actually have?
My final observation is that success builds on success. Why do Area Commissioners permit in urban communities groups which fail our "program standards" by simply offering "youth club" activities. Would not Scouting be better served by having fewer groups and, instead, merge small groups (those with only a few youth) into "supergroups" under the leadership of adults who actually deliver an active, varied, vibrant and challenging outdoor program where the patrol system, the six system and the lodge grouping can be followed?
Owascoscouter
We are short of leaders. It is said that a leader's life is about 18 months. Is this because of lack of training, or is it that the adult quits when realising that Scouting is not a "baby-sitting" service and that for a variety of reasons he/she cannot provide the type of program that Scouting requires?
When recruiting leaders are we honest in telling the adult the time demands that will be placed upon them in the provision of a full Scout program? Do we tell them that as well as running a section involving meeting nights, planning evenings and weekends (and perhaps giving up a weeks holiday for a summer camp or Part 2 training), we expect them to take training, to attend leader meetings and to get involved in planning and/or attending Area and Council large scale activities? It is not an hour a week! Surely, we should be honest so that the leaders we do attract are people who fully understand the commitment involved, the time demands that will be placed upon them and, most importantly, have the attitude, skills and knowledge required to provide a balanced Scouting program. Leader training can provide a knowledge of the program and demonstrate the activity skills needed to deliver the program. But we cannot teach attitude, and it is fruitless to try and teach skills if the individual does not want to employ thise skills in a Scouting program. If an adult individual is not comfortable in the outdoors is this the type of person we should encourage to be a section Scouter working with youth? We have a screening process to weed out undesirables, we need a screening process toi ensure we recruit the right kind of adult. The Scout Movement began with boys forming themselves into patrols and themselves choosing the adult leader. How many of today's Scouts would have chosen the leader they actually have?
My final observation is that success builds on success. Why do Area Commissioners permit in urban communities groups which fail our "program standards" by simply offering "youth club" activities. Would not Scouting be better served by having fewer groups and, instead, merge small groups (those with only a few youth) into "supergroups" under the leadership of adults who actually deliver an active, varied, vibrant and challenging outdoor program where the patrol system, the six system and the lodge grouping can be followed?
Owascoscouter
