In my last blog entry, I talked about some “big goals” towards a vision for Scouting in Avon.  One of these was about: “empowering young people to shape the Movement in partnership with adults”.

We need to make sure that we develop creative ways to engage them so that they have their say, make decisions and shape what we do and how we do it.  This way Scouting will reflect their needs and aspirations, it will stay relevant and they’ll be more likely to join and stay.  As importantly, it’s the right thing to do. 

Remembering who and what Scouting is for

Doing all this well requires leaders to be imaginative and capable of effectively giving young people increasing (stage and age relevant) responsibilities, choices and control over their Scouting as they develop.  I recognise how challenging it can be to “facilitate”, “lead and support” from behind and from time to time to “let go”, particularly when we have strong ideas and are passionate about how we think things should be done.  We must though resist the age-old temptation as adults to project our needs, interests and wishes on young people.  The very best Scouting happens when it is truly shaped by young people themselves. Since the formation of the Movement, this principle has been central to our uniqueness.

Back to the future

This is why on taking up the invitation to visit my old Cub Scout Pak at 1^st Little Stoke, I was all the more delighted to see that the programme imaginatively got the Cub Scouts themselves involved shaping what we do.  The idea was introduced playfully though a familiar game, but with a twist!  The purpose of the game was to simulate communication in the Movement (no easy task!!) and to make it clear that young people need to speak up to their leaders and even the County Commissioner with their interests and ideas.  The “telephone game” ensued with Corné and the other leaders acting out various roles in Scouting and the Cub Scouts making things to communicate what things they want to do and achieve in Scouting.  They County Commissioner (that’s me!) left with all their ideas attached to him in the form of posters and balloons.  In dealing with the chain of communication the game helped us learn about the challenges of good communication and also got all the leaders and  Cub Scouts talking together about shaping their Scouting.  I thought it was absolutely excellent.  One of the Cubs even wanted to go camping on the moon, and was all the more surprised when I told him how many of those who had been there were Scouts. 

Corné, who’s Wood Badge I also presented that evening to recognise the completion of his training, also emailed me afterwards.  He made some observations from the evening which I thought were really worth sharing so I’m sure if he won’t mind if I quote him here: “good Scouting for adults means we must be prepared to remain flexible and temper our natural fear of change with a strong dose of excitement and wonder for what that change might bring”.  Very true!

Check your progress and share your success

Why not take a moment to evaluate how well you, your Section and Group involves young people?  There are lots of ways you can go about this.  From Section and Group forums, to involving young people in meetings, and creative ways of getting their views and ideas, there are so many practical things you can do.  Why not ask them how they would like to share their views and ideas?  Think about how they are involved in every aspect of Scouting from planning, evaluating, making decisions on how we spend and use resources to how achievements are recognised and celebrated.  I would love to hear form all of you about how you currently involve young people in shaping Scouting. You might be a young person in Scouts, Explorers or Scout Network and have some ideas you'd like to share here or with me.