the aims & methods of scouting. the aims of scouting character development citizenship training...
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The Aims & Methods The Aims & Methods of Scoutingof Scouting
The Aims of Scouting
• Character Development
• Citizenship Training
• Mental & Physical Fitness
A central purpose of Scouting is to help boys develop into honorable men.
Aim: Character Development
• Character encompasses personal qualities, values and outlook such as confidence, honesty, respectful appearance.
• Scouts develop special skills and interests, respect other people and their differences, develop the ability to take care of ones’ self in emergencies,
• A determination to do ones’ best, and practice ones’ religious beliefs—all in the face of challenges.
Aim: Citizenship Training
• The Scouting program allows young men to practice good citizenship by living and working among others in a troop/team with rules based on the common good.
• Citizenship training helps young men become aware and gain understanding of the community and government around him.
• The Scout learns to appreciate, respect and give service to others.
Aim: Mental and Physical FitnessAim: Mental and Physical Fitness
• Scouts learn the importance of exercise, eating properly and getting enough sleep.
• Scouts will get the most out of life when mentally and physically fit. Scouting motivates each boy and adult leader to work toward this goal.
• Scouts learn to reject experimentation with drugs, alcohol and other harmful activities (pornography).
• Scouts strive to maintain mental alertness; make sound decisions and be resourceful in solving problems.
Though not specifically stated as such in the handbook, the understated Aim of Scouting may be: Religious Development.
Lord Baden Powell, the founder of Scouting, said:
“There is no religious side to the movement. The whole of it is based on religion, that is, the realization and service of God.”
How can we get these How can we get these great Objectives into the great Objectives into the
heart of a boy?heart of a boy?
THE METHODS!!!THE METHODS!!!
Methods of Scouting
• Patrol/Team Method• Ideals• Outdoor Program• Advancement• Association with Adults• Personal Growth• Leadership Development• Scout Uniform
Method: Patrol/Team
* Allows boys to determine activities through elected representatives.
* Allows boys to interact in small groups where members can easily relate to each other.
* Gives them experiences participating in citizenship activities.
* Gives Boy Scouts & Varsity Scouts an experience in group living.
Method: Patrol/Team
“Scouting adds Adventure to the Quorum. Boys become close friends through the sharing of exciting experiences…It offers a medium which features characteristics of fun, challenge, and excitement all of which are bonding agents that grant a peer group the all-important special and exclusive status”.
“In a peer group, boys do not seek fellowship one with another to satisfy interests that are thrust upon them by adults. (Packer, 37)
Method: Patrol/Team
As powerful as the Patrol Method is, it is challenging in LDS wards. Most have small groups of boys. It is helpful to have 10+ boys to have effective Patrols. This is a difficult concept for many, plus group sizes change so often that it is hard to be consistent. As often as you can, teach this concept. It will have a powerful effect!
Method: Patrol/Team
For Varsity Scout age, a Team can operate with just 3 boys and has great power to drive a successful program. It is far underutilized.
Where there are few young men, a Scout troop [or team] may be organized to serve multiple Wards, Branches or in some instances, an entire Stake or district. (Handbook of instructions book 2, 8.13.4)
Method: Ideals
The goals are high, and as he reaches for them, he has some control over what and who he becomes.
The Scout measures himself against these ideals and continually tries to improve.
Scout OathScout LawScout MottoScout Slogan
Method: Ideals
• These Ideals are Spiritual Development,
God-like qualities in every sense of the word! Scouting is the Gospel taught in the laboratory— a hands-on practice of Gospel principles.
“Lord Baden-Powell said, “Had we called it what is was, a society for the promulgation of moral attributes, the boy would not exactly have rushed for it.”
Method: Ideals
“Scouting acts as a catalyst to help the quorum perform its objectives.” (Packer, 37)
• The parents of the boys must understand Scouting’s purposes and methods in order to give boys a clear picture of the appeal of Scouting when it is conducted properly. If these elements are in place, Scouting can provide a special Magnification of the Aaronic Priesthood and its purposes.” (Packer, 1)
Method: Outdoor Programs
• The outdoors is the laboratory in which Scouts learn ecology and practice conservation of nature’s resources.
• In the outdoors the skills and activities practiced at Scout meetings come alive with purpose.
• In the outdoor setting Scouts share responsibilities, and,
• Learn to live with one another.
• Being close to nature helps Scouts gain an appreciation for the beauty of the world around us.
Method: Outdoor Programs
“Scouting camouflages a value through an activity with a purpose which the boy has in mind, but which may be different from the one the leader has in mind.” (Packer, 32)
This Laboratory held in the Outdoors provides a fun and casual environment that brings out behavior that through guidance & adult example, boys desire to improve.
Method: Outdoor Programs
“Scout camping is always camping with a purpose. The purpose will be to learn special skills while practicing to live the ideals of Scouting.” (Packer, 68)
There is nothing like seeing the Scouts show up as Deacons or Teachers on Sunday with a special enthusiasm and feeling of comradery after a successful campout or event.
Method: Advancement
• Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them.
• The Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge.
• The Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which
helps him gain self-confidence.
• The steps in the advancement system help a boy grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.
Method: Advancement
A misunderstanding in the Varsity Scout program is that it is just like Boy Scouts concerning Advancement.
The truth is only 1/5 of the program is about Advancement. The other four Fields of Emphasis are:
High Adventure, Personal Development Service, and Special Programs and Events
The Varsity program meets every need of this age group 14-16 including advancement.
An adult leader or committee member can be assigned to work with each boy that is desirous to continue to advance to Eagle.
Method: Association with Adults
*Boys learn a great deal watching how adults conduct themselves.
*Scout leaders can be positive role models
*In many cases a Scoutmaster or Varsity Coach who is willing to listen to boys, encourage them, and take a sincere interest in them can make a profound difference in their lives.
*Varsity’s 5 Fields of Emphasis offer even more opportunities to interact with adults.
Method: Association with Adults
“Heroes are usually doers, and boys are naturally hero worshippers. Quorum advisers have a chance to enrich their assignment by the doing of Scouting and thus to become heroes in the eyes of boys.”
(Packer,42)
Method: Personal Growth
• As Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth.
• The Good Turn concept is a major part of personal growth as boys participate in community service projects and do daily good turns for others.
• The religious emblems program is also a large part
of personal growth. (Faith in God award)
• Frequent personal conferences with leaders help
each boy determine growth toward Scouting’s aims.
Method: Personal Growth
“The program is flexible, and wise Scout leadership can accommodate even the uncommon interests of individuals.” (Packer, 38)
Once the energy towards advancement starts to dry up, Varsity Scouting offers a program that meets the needs of every group of boys, because it is created and implemented by the Boys! It takes on the personality of the group!
The 5 Fields of Emphasis give balance to meet every boys needs in the Team.
Method: Leadership Development
*The Scouting program encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills.
*Every Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations.
*Understanding the concepts of leadership helps boys accept the leadership roles of others and guides them toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.
Method: Leadership Development
Elder Charles W. Dahlquist said,
“In many cases, the extent of their leadership experience is to stand, in the case of a deacons quorum, unprepared each Sunday, welcome the quorum members, ask for a volunteer to pray, ask for volunteers to pass the sacrament, turn the lesson over to Brother Johansen, and then ask for another volunteer to pray at the end. Then we wonder why they leave their Aaronic Priesthood unchallenged, untrained, and sorely unprepared to meet challenges.”
Method: Leadership
I believe Scoutmasters are often like Sheepherders. The advancement program takes advantage of their natural desires & effectively nips the boys in the heels and gently drives them to Eagle if the boys are agreeable.
Leaders and Parents alike know how to get behind the advancement program for it is spelled out so well.
12-13 yr old boys still respond well to the Adult leaders planning the activities.
However, if a trained Scoutmaster uses the Patrol Method where he can, and teaches leadership, even with the challenges of our often small LDS units, he also can also become a Shepherd in part.
Method: Leadership
• In Varsity Scouting if a Varsity Coach desires to tap into the power and enthusiasm of this great program, they must teach Leadership and get out of the boys way! This requires a Shepherd!
• Varsity Scouts are hungry to apply what they have learned in Boy Scouts and to have greater control of their lives by having challenging leadership opportunities.
• Our failure is that we don’t teach boys how to lead, nor entrust them with their program through our guidance.
Method: Leadership Development
Timberline (Boy Scouts)All Stars (Varsity)Kodiak (Venturing)
Take advantage of these amazing opportunities to excite and encourage boys who show an inclination to lead by providing opportunities for these experiences. (The entire group may also participate)
WoodbadgeTake time as adults to learn Leadership yourself and get a leg up on this critical need in Scouting and the Quorum.
Method: Uniform
•The uniform makes the Scout troop/team visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community.
•Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout’s commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting.
•The uniform gives the Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals.
•The uniform is practical attire for scouting activities and provides a way for Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished.
Method: Uniform
The uniform is a way to display association and accomplishments in the short term.
Aaronic Priesthood goals are long-term; they are very profound. The awards are announced, but they sometimes come in the next world….There should be boy-oriented goals that are short-term, accomplishable, and worthy of immediate recognition. Scouting is designed to achieve those very goals. (Packer, 39)
Melt Down!Thane Packer’s
“First, Scouting succeeds because it supports gospel purposes and yet helps boys feel accepted in the peer group it creates, attracting both inactive and active boys. It serves as a camouflaged incentive for boys, encouraging them to participate for the sheer joy of it, for the excitement, challenge, action and adventure.”
Second, Scouting succeeds because it contains a code of conduct that appeals to a boy’s inborn sense of honor and duty and encourages spiritual development precious to the purposes of the gospel.
Third, Scouting succeeds because it provides an organized magic called the patrol method (also Team method). These methods encourage peer leadership in the Quorums and also an important requirement for the success of Scouting itself.
Fourth, Scouting has a patriotic purpose easily equated with the Church’s view that we live in a land blessed above all others, a land that provides the right to life, liberty and religious freedom.
“Scouting is another jewel in the crown of the Gospel.” (Thane J. Packer)
Information for this PowerPoint presentation compiled from the Boy Scout and Varsity Scout handbooks.
Quotes are taken from On My Honor, Thane J. Packer, A guide to Scouting in the Church and Charles Dahlquist, Strengthening and Vitalizing Priesthood Quorums, Sept 2004
Presenter: Dennis Cox 435-590-1227
Cedar City, Utah