"Specialist" or "Generalist" Crew --- What's More Common?

[mrkstvns]

Just wondering whether it's more common for a Venturing crew to specialize in a certain kind of activity, or whether it's more common for them to do a smattering of whatever floats their boats...

Any thoughts?

See:

https://venturingcrew.blogspot.com/p/what-will-our-crew-do.html

 

[qwazse]

Around here, it's split even.

Ours was general interest. If you like three-ring circuses, it's kinda fun. However, when a group can do anything, they have to spend a lot more time deciding what to do. That can be stressful for youth.

If you know that you're about one thing, year-in and year-out, there will be a set number of events and sub-goals that dictate the schedule. Things go smoother, but some youth might feel that they are stuck in a rut.

[oldbuzzard]

Here, I think there are three models

1) Specialty crews like the SCUBA crews are chartered by subject experts and only do that activity.

2) We have a crew chartered by an outdoor store that is nominally a climbing crew. They also backpack and canoe depending on scout interest. I would call this and similar crews high adventure crews.

3) We have standard CO chartered crew who do whatever that cohort of scouts wants.

[RememberSchiff]

Recently heard a yet another group with the BSA - Invention Scouts , not be confused with STEM Scouts.

Invention Scouts is a new program developed to help today's Co-Ed youth and young adults to "Become Better Inventors". On this Website, and at Crew meetings Invention Scouts will learn new Skills, how to work within a Team, Create new Inventions and use your new skills for Community Service.

When you join Invention Scouts you will become part of an Invention Team. There are one or more Teams in a Crew. The Post or Crew has a meeting place, a chartering organization, and an Adult Advisor. There is also a Crew Committee made up of parents and other adult volunteers.

Each Crew and their Invention Teams will determine their Invention focus. Their focus can change over time. For example, a team could focus on inventions in fashion, or bio-medical inventions etc.

http://www.inventionscouts.org/invention-scouts

[Eagledad]

23 hours ago, qwazse said:

Around here, it's split even.

Ours was general interest. If you like three-ring circuses, it's kinda fun. However, when a group can do anything, they have to spend a lot more time deciding what to do. That can be stressful for youth.

If you know that you're about one thing, year-in and year-out, there will be a set number of events and sub-goals that dictate the schedule. Things go smoother, but some youth might feel that they are stuck in a rut.

Since I have little experience as an adult leader in a Crew, I take your word as gold. I find your post interesting because the crew members I found most bored were from General Interest crews.

Based from my youth experience of Scuba Explorers, planning for scuba activities was relatively quick and easy. I agree that when open to do anything, a lot more time (and frustration) is spent deciding. Same goes with PLCs. Troops can sometimes get in a rut simply because repeating activities is easier than the pain of planning something new.

Also, I may have said this somewhere else, but for the 20 or so years I was active, our district averaged loosing 3 out of 5 crews in their first five years. None of those crews were Specific Interest crews as far as I can remember. I think there are several reasons, but the main reason is the sponsors of specific interest crews are generally organizations or businesses specializing in that specific theme and don't loose interest. Sponsors of general interest crews are typically parents who move on when their kids move on. 

Barry 

[mrkstvns]

40 minutes ago, RememberSchiff said:

Recently heard a yet another group with the BSA - Invention Scouts , not be confused with STEM Scouts.

Hmmm.

Much as I love STEM fields, I can't help but feel  like this is yet another effort doomed to do nothing but dilute the scouting brand.