Here’s five ways to Succeed as a Scouter
Trust the Program
- Rely on 100 years of proven results
- Embrace changes when they are announced – stay current
- No short-cuts
- When you make things easier for adults you usually diminish the experience for Scouts
Conduct activities that are age appropriate
- Understand how the Scouting program responds to the age group you are working with.
- Foster a sense of growing personal responsibility and initiative.
- Know how to manage risks and promote safety.
Be ready to work with other adults
- Work with different family standards and expectations.
- Avoid policy disagreements bring these to swift resolution with as little disruption as possible.
- Accept help.
- Exercise professionalism.
Maintain Perspective and Proportion
- Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good
- All of Scouting is an individual standard based on a Scout’s effort
- Keep your commitment – don’t over extend
- You are not likely to encounter a new problem or difficulty – there’s a world of good ideas out there.
- It’s not just about your boy but all of the Scouts. For an hour a week you are a Scout Leader first and a parent second.
Focus on the goal
- The goal is always the success of your Scouts
- Prepare them for the next step in the program
- Focus on experience rather than process
- Strive to understand your role and maintain your Scouting education
See my Fifteen Thoughts for Scout Leaders infographic