Getting Started with Youth Shaped Scouting
So, you’ve decided to embrace the ideas of the Young People within your Unit, Group, District or County, but where do you begin? Here are a few different ideas of things you can do to make sure that the young people you support are shaping their Scouting experience.
There is no set way ‘to do’ Youth Shaped Scouting but here are a few examples that you can try!
|
Beaver Youth Shaped Ideas |
|
Hold regular Log Chew’s |
|
Work towards the Chief Scout Bronze Award with all Beavers |
|
Encourage responsible Beavers to be Lodge Leaders |
|
Get Beavers involved in planning the programme/ choosing activities to do |
|
Let Lodge Leaders run games or small activities (under supervision) |
|
Encourage Beavers to complete as many badges and awards as possible |
|
Get feedback on activities they did and didn’t like |
|
Teach Skills for Life |
|
Cub Youth Shaped Ideas |
|
Hold regular and meaningful Pack forums |
|
Work towards the Chief Scout Silver Award with all Cubs |
|
Encourage responsible Cubs to be Sixers and Seconders |
|
Involve Cubs in the programme planning process |
|
Allow Cubs to run games or activities (in pairs or sixes) |
|
Allow Cubs to help plan camps, hikes and other adventurous activities |
|
Encourage Cubs to complete as many badges and awards as possible |
|
Get feedback on activities they did and didn’t like |
|
Teach Skills for Life |
|
Scout Youth Shaped Ideas |
|
Hold regular Troop / Patrol councils/Forums |
|
Work towards the Chief Scout Gold Award with all Scouts |
|
Encourage responsible Scouts to be APLs PLs and SPLs |
|
Involve Scouts in the programme planning process |
|
Allow Scouts to plan and run parts of the programme |
|
Allow Scouts to plan and run certain games or activities |
|
Give the Scouts a small budget to use in planning and running an evening (under close supervision) |
|
Allow Scouts to plan and run parts of camps, hikes and other adventurous activities |
|
Allow Scouts to do a camp under the Passport Scheme |
|
Encourage Scouts to complete as many badges as possible |
|
Get feedback on activities they did and didn’t like |
|
Teach Skills for Life |
|
Explorer Youth Shaped Ideas |
|
Work towards Chief Scout and Queens Scout Awards |
|
Work towards Explorer Belt and Young Leader Belt Awards |
|
Encourage responsible Explorers to take on leadership roles within Explorers |
|
Form an Explorer Executive Committee to support the leadership team |
|
Encourage Explorers to take up Young Leader roles |
|
Involve Explorers in the programme planning process |
|
Allow Explorers to create most of the programme |
|
Allow Explorers to plan and run parts of the programme |
|
Allow Explorers to plan and run activities |
|
Encourage Explorers to get permits (were viable) and lead these activities |
|
Give Explorers a budget to use to develop parts of the programme (under close supervision) |
|
Allow Explorers to plan and run camps, hikes and other activities |
|
Allow Explorers to camp under the Passport Scheme |
|
Encourage Explorers to attend national events such as Gilwell 24 |
|
Encourage Explorers to work towards their DofE awards |
|
Encourage experienced Explorers to teach skills to newer Explorers (such as map reading, compass bearings and lightweight camping) |
|
Encourage Explorers to complete as many badges as possible |
|
Get feedback on activities they did and didn’t like |
|
Teach Skills for Life |
|
Group Youth Shaped Ideas |
|
Young person representatives on the Executive Committee |
|
Young people involved in planning group events (i.e. Christmas parties) |
|
All Units within the Group working towards Youth Shaped Scouting |
|
Young people involved in fundraising (ideas and implementation) |
|
Give Young Leaders responsibilities for planning and running activities |
|
Encourage Young Leaders to get involved in the running of the group |
|
Ask young people (and Young Leaders) for feedback on the group |
|
Encourage leaders to support young people to make their voices heard |
|
Encourage young people into Group Roles (Section leader, GSL) |
|
Teach Skills for Life |
|
District Youth Shaped Ideas |
|
Young person representatives on District Executive Committee |
|
Young person(s) on the Appointment Advisory Committee |
|
Appoint a District Youth Commissioner (and deputies) |
|
Encourage young people into District Roles (Commissioner, GSL, Supporter) |
|
Young people planning and running District events (i.e. camps, BBQs) |
|
Feedback from young people after District events |
|
Input from young people to help plan formal events (i.e. St Georges Day) |
|
Support U25 Leaders and Young Leaders in their roles |
|
All Groups within the District working towards Youth Shaped Scouting |
|
Young people involved in fundraising (ideas and implementation) |
|
Give Young Leaders responsibilities for planning and running activities |
|
Encourage 14-25 Leaders to get involved in the running of the District |
|
Ask young people (and Leaders) for feedback on the District |
|
Encourage leaders to support young people to make their voices heard |
|
Teach Skills for Life |