Jump to content

3 kinds of Scouts


Recommended Posts

A professor of mine used to joke that there were 2 kinds of people in the world: those who made typologies and those who didn't.

 

Anyways... In the five years Ive been with our current troop, Ive been lucky enough to know many fine young men. Thinking about their Scouting careers, there seems to be three kinds:

 

(1) Scouts who drop by the wayside for one reason or another. Tenderfoot or Life, I like to think these guys absorbed the Ideals during the time they spent with us.

 

(2) Scouts who participate continuously for a period of some years and eventually earn their Eagle.

 

(3) Scouts who earn Life rank, fulfill their 6-month leadership and tenure requirements, disappear for a while (sports, high school, whatever) but then reappear a year or years later to complete their Eagle project.

 

Have you also experienced #3? Our committee automatically re-registers all Life Scouts to allow a back-door for any fellow who decides he really wants to finish that Eagle after all.

 

In a few cases I haven't known the fellow well enough to assess their Scout spirit and so delegated the SM conference to his old SM (now an SA). Is that kosher?

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Baden Powell wrote that scouting is delivered one boy at a time, becasue every scout is unique. In addition to that, children change as they grow. A scouts attitude, skills, and interests change as they grow and develop.

 

If you know 100 different scouts then you probable know 100 different kinds of scout, providing you have taken the time to learn the needs and characteristics of each.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In 16 yrs. as a SM & ASM my favorite Scout (Other than my son) was a boy who joined when he was 11 having not been a Cub and stayed until he was 18, Rarely missed a Troop mtg. and never missed a camp-out, high adventure trip, or service project. He made 1st Class mostly so he would be eligible for OA. After that he lost interest in advancement, but not in Scouting, He became an ASM at 18 and was a great help until he took a job that required him to relocate at 22. In 16 yrs. we have had many boys earn the Eagle rank, but we have not had a better Scout. Advancement is a method, not an aim.

 

YIS

Baden

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In a leadership seminar at our church, it was stated that there are 4 types of people:

 

VIP Very Important People - Skilled and motivated

These people just need some encouragement and direction. They are ready to go directly into leadership.

VTP Very Trainable People - Motivated, but need training

These people are motivated and willing, but just need training. May only be ready and willing for a short time, the window of opportunity to reach and teach these people may only be a short time.

VNP Very Nice People - Nice, but they don't do much

These people just sit there; they need to have teachings and concepts thrown at them until they are ready to grasp ahold of them and are ready to begin doing something.

VDP Very Draining People - They have continual problems & They rely on your emotional energy

These people dont just have problems, they have continual problems. If they take your advice, theyll come back with another problem or stating that the solution just doesnt work for them. They can become dependant on you, relying on your emotional energy; becoming a drain on you.

 

Can these categories apply to Scouts? How about adult leaders?

 

ASM59

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...