Thread: Scouts?

Hi,
Ages?

Cheers

Unless someone has first hand knowledge of your local troop, I don't think anyone can give you a guarantee of how much your boys will get out of Scouts.

I was a Cub, a Scout, a Senior Scout (now called Venturers), a Troop Leader, a District leader, a canoeing instructor and a canoeing assessor, so I have some experience of the movement.

I can tell you that training of leaders is now quite thorough and includes an understanding of how children change as they age and how the approach to play and to skills development needs to be adapted to suit the age of the Scout.

Even so there is quite a lot of variation between troops in different towns. For example our troop and most of our district was very big on canoeing, while scouts from other troops might only get the opportunity at larger scale events like District events, Jamborettes or Jamborees.

While a lot of the activities will be common, differences will exist because of geography,resources, and leaders' expertise and experience.

A lot of the emphasis is on developing social skills, leadership skills, and so on. The practical skills are still important. I still use ropes and knots for securing things like motorcycles and canoes where everyone else seems to use ratchet straps. I also still find it useful to be able to splice rope.

As I said, I can't guarantee anything, but it is quite likely that your boys will find that Scouts gives them a chance to mix with other boys (and in some troops with girls) around their age, it will give them a chance to learn to work as part of a team, to take responsibility, to develop leadership skills, to have adventures, to test themselves, and learn practical skills (including tying knots ).

Most of this you will have read on the Scouts Australia website, but those are my impressions based on over 40 years of involvement in the movement.

If the local scout troupe doesn't fit the bill;
Military Cadets- any arm (used to be air force in Atherton). Fyi- there is a private Army cadets organization now as well. Pm for info.
St johns ambulance cadets.
Emergency services cadets. None in you're neck of the Woods, but check with your local pcyc to see if one is planned.

I suspect that your boys will respond well to the more formal structure of a cadets program.

Originally Posted by vnx205

Unless someone has first hand knowledge of your local troop, I don't think anyone can give you a guarantee of how much your boys will get out of Scouts. I was a Cub, a Scout, a Senior Scout (now called Venturers), a Troop Leader, a District leader, a canoeing instructor and a canoeing assessor, so I have some experience of the movement. I can tell you that training of leaders is now quite thorough and includes an understanding of how children change as they age and how the approach to play and to skills development needs to be adapted to suit the age of the Scout. Even so there is quite a lot of variation between troops in different towns. For example our troop and most of our district was very big on canoeing, while scouts from other troops might only get the opportunity at larger scale events like District events, Jamborettes or Jamborees. While a lot of the activities will be common, differences will exist because of geography,resources, and leaders' expertise and experience. A lot of the emphasis is on developing social skills, leadership skills, and so on. The practical skills are still important. I still use ropes and knots for securing things like motorcycles and canoes where everyone else seems to use ratchet straps. I also still find it useful to be able to splice rope. As I said, I can't guarantee anything, but it is quite likely that your boys will find that Scouts gives them a chance to mix with other boys (and in some troops with girls) around their age, it will give them a chance to learn to work as part of a team, to take responsibility, to develop leadership skills, to have adventures, to test themselves, and learn practical skills (including tying knots ). Most of this you will have read on the Scouts Australia website, but those are my impressions based on over 40 years of involvement in the movement.

I have one in the local scout group. 100% agree with the above. Most groups allow you to try it out first. They get experiences they might not otherwise get.

Try one of your local martial arts clubs .... Go along first and watch a class. You don't want meatheads (eg: some kickboxing and MMA type classes where the idea is to WIN ... KILL ... etcc...). Rather a more traditional art where they focus on technique, respect and self discipline. You may be more likely to find this iwth a small club running out of you local public hall ( as it's not a "for profit" type venture, more of a passion).

The martial art style is upto you and your kids Anything but olympic style taekwondo I reckon is fun (olympic style is just a joke ... fancy tag tiggy).

My kids have been training in Taekwondo at one of the local clubs now for a couple of years. They still really enjoy it. It's unusual for kids to stick at something for so long ( 8 & 10 year old girls ).

seeya,
Shane L.

Thanks for the replies.
The boys are
12 FAS, hearing & Intellectual disability. Very physical & active, easily lead.
11 FAS & Intellectual disability. Really physical & active, has no fear.
11 Autistic spectrum. Very big, intelligent in a lot of ways & bossy, very strong but not physical as such.
10 Hearing, mild FAS & needs a personality.


All the kids are high functioning in that they can communicate, have excellent to reasonably hand/eye & balance. Comprehension can be bad.
3 boys are what we used to call "Slow" before we all became PC.
They all have poor school grades but try their best.


All are Aboriginal & love the bush & bush activities. I used to take them camping & fishing but now I work away from home I don't get the chance any more.


Anyway, SWMBO is going to take them to a sign up day where the scouts put on displays of some of their activities.
I'll be back at work by then so I will see what SWMBO thinks.
Jonesfam
PS Regarding Cadets. 2 of the kids want to be soldiers (probably change next year) so I will investigate that.

My experience dates back a very long time Im guessing it has changed a bit now
It was very rewarding being in the cubs and scouts as a youngster back then

I lied about my age to get into (Wolf) Cubs and remained actively involved with Scouting 'til my mid-sixties.
Fantastic organisation. Even met my now wife through Scouting.
Let the boys try it and see if they want to stay.