Projects for older Scouts?

[Chippewa29]

I'm happy to say that after 5-6 years of work, my troop has a full range of Scout ages and ranks again. The Scouts in my troop that are very active are able to get their First Class within a year. We've gotten a good outdoor program going with solid attendance. However, we've been so focused on what I call Phase I (getting to first class) in recent years, I'm at a little bit of a loss when trying to find stuff for our older Scouts to do. While our younger Scouts work on their basic skills, the older Scouts end up doing one of the following:

1. Planning for a campout

2. Working on a merit badge

3. Working with younger Scouts

4. Organizing equipment

 

I'm sure there are some great ideas for projects that can be worked on by older Scouts at troop meetings or campouts. If anyone has some ideas, please let me know.

[John-in-KC]

Please define "older." I'm assuming you are talking about HS students. There are many, many opportunities for older youth. Not all of them may have weekly attendance at Troop meetings tied off to them.

 

1) Look at each one of them as an individual. PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS AND DEVELOPING INTERESTS. Got a young man contemplating ministry? Make him a Chaplains' Aide, but see if the local Cub Pack would like him to counsel do God and Me (Wolf/Bear Protestant curriculum). Another interested in medicine? Send him off to take EMT training. When he comes back, make him JASM to oversee first aid instruction. He can train the trainers. A varsity swimmer? Give him oversight of the unit aquatics program.

 

2) Look at other resources: Is a young man interested in leadership? Get him involved at the Chapter or Lodge level in Order of the Arrow. Is he a budding Thespian? Again, to the OA Lodge ... but have him seek out the Ceremonial Team. Maybe there is a Scout interested in the bio-sciences. Get him on Council camp staff, and get him some skills in presenting instruction, as well as deepening his knowledge of content.

 

3) Is keeping him in the Troop the best path for the young man? Would sending him to a Venturing Crew be better for his growth and development, including his socialization skills?

 

To restate:

- Look at them as individuals.

- Look at the resources of your Council and area.

- Look at the best path for the Scout.

 

[sweetspiritpamh]

I was going to say in my son's troop they have Venture patrol geared at the older scouts High Adventure program. But I will tell you the Venture Crews in our community have opened many doors for adventure and for fun for both of my high school daughters. Any way you add it up its keeping kids involved and out of trouble with to much time on their hands.