#Trashtag Challenge cleanup

[mrkstvns]

Have y'all heard about the first ever useful use of social media hashtags? 

It's called the #Trashtag challenge and the idea is simple: go clean up an outdoor space. Post before and after pictures using the hashtag #Trashtag

It ties in perfectly with scouting's emphasis on service projects, the environment, and Leave No Trace. 

Info from Bryan on Scouting:   https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2019/03/12/trashtag-challenge/  

Info from the Washington Post:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/03/12/will-trashtag-challenge-really-get-bored-teens-offline-cleaning-up-planet/?utm_term=.5a7adc1fb19b 

Just a reminder to scouters who might be thinking of doing a unit service project around this effort:  you also might be able to earn a Hornaday Unit Award, or other conservation awards...

 

[Terasec]

disagree with such a tactic

scouts and everyone should be doing such tasks because its the right thing to do, not for additional attention or recognition

its ok for orgs to promote such programs, but leave such marketing out of the kids

such things will just give the impression that things are not worth doing if they don't get enough likes, responses

 

[qwazse]

Of two minds.

The real challenge is to get folks to not jettison their gear (yes, drinks bottles and plastic wrapper are just a another form of gear) in the first place.

But the only hope of doing so is by people actually taking a moment to try and clear an area they care about. Most of us have our scouts do this as a matter of routine. Bling is secondary -- so much so that BSA has to constantly remind us to log those service hours!

[FireStone]

42 minutes ago, Terasec said:

disagree with such a tactic

scouts and everyone should be doing such tasks because its the right thing to do, not for additional attention or recognition

its ok for orgs to promote such programs, but leave such marketing out of the kids

such things will just give the impression that things are not worth doing if they don't get enough likes, responses

Part of our membership numbers struggle is public relations, and making people aware of what scouts do. Like it or not, informing the public about scout activities, accomplishments, and service to the community is important.

If someone undertakes a service project entirely for social media posting, obviously that's the wrong motivation. But if it happens that there is an opportunity for some good PR while doing something positive, I see no issue with taking advantage of it.

We often invite the press to scouting events, Pinewood Derby, etc. This is just the modern day version of that.

[Terasec]

4 minutes ago, FireStone said:

Part of our membership numbers struggle is public relations, and making people aware of what scouts do. Like it or not, informing the public about scout activities, accomplishments, and service to the community is important.

If someone undertakes a service project entirely for social media posting, obviously that's the wrong motivation. But if it happens that there is an opportunity for some good PR while doing something positive, I see no issue with taking advantage of it.

We often invite the press to scouting events, Pinewood Derby, etc. This is just the modern day version of that.

such marketing should be left up to the org and leadership to coordinate behind the scenes

not for the scouts to feed their ego, look what I do.

task should be performed for its own merit not for acknowledgement.

 

[FireStone]

1 minute ago, Terasec said:

such marketing should be left up to the org and leadership to coordinate behind the scenes

not for the scouts to feed their ego, look what I do.

task should be performed for its own merit not for acknowledgement.

Who says that's not what is already happening here? A leader could post a photo with that hashtag and leave the scouts out of the discussion entirely.

[Terasec]

1 hour ago, FireStone said:

Who says that's not what is already happening here? A leader could post a photo with that hashtag and leave the scouts out of the discussion entirely.

then they should promote it as such and leave the kids out of it,

instead its just another pat yourself on the back promo

[mrkstvns]

1 hour ago, FireStone said:

Part of our membership numbers struggle is public relations, and making people aware of what scouts do. Like it or not, informing the public about scout activities, accomplishments, and service to the community is important.

If someone undertakes a service project entirely for social media posting, obviously that's the wrong motivation. But if it happens that there is an opportunity for some good PR while doing something positive, I see no issue with taking advantage of it.

We often invite the press to scouting events, Pinewood Derby, etc. This is just the modern day version of that.

Quite right.

I like the essence of Terasec's sentiment that service projects should be done for their own value, but there is definite value to making people aware of things like this.

"Just another pat on the back" isn't the right reason to spread the word, but increasing visibility for the organization is a benefit to BSA (and other organizations that share its values), and publicizing things like the trash pickup serve a larger goal of educating the public.

When scouts document environmental service projects using the Hornaday Project Workbook, they're even asked about media coverage --- it's common (and even expected) that scouts doing these kinds of projects will publicize their efforts. Not as "just another pat on the back", but because it's important that people in the community see that things they do may be contributing to local problems and that there are things that can be done to address the problems. Awareness is often the first step towards solutions.

[FireStone]

21 minutes ago, Terasec said:

then they should promote it as such and leave the kids out of it,

instead its just another pat yourself on the back promo

I'm not sure what you mean by "leave the kids out of it". Leave them out of the social media aspect of it? Or leave them out of the photo?